Capitaine

Nile Perch – Tigerfish – Yellowfish

SEASON: Jan – April
DURATION: 8 Nights in camp (6 fishing days)
GUESTS: Max 4

Capitaine is a fishing experience that is more about challenging your fishing ability in the wilds of Cameroon and experiencing the African bushveld, at its absolute best. Capitaine is not about fish after fish or easy-to-catch species. What you will get in Cameroon at Capitain is casting giant flies in the hope of catching a meter-long Nile Perch, and there’s an excellent chance you’ll achieve that and more.  The biggest perch taken from this stretch of river bottomed out on a scale of 100kg.

Fishing for Nile Perch takes place almost exclusively from dusk until about 22:00, in other words,  night fishing. But there are plenty of other species to keep you occupied during daylight hours.

Fishing at Capitaine

The average fishing day starts with breakfast in camp at 07h30. At 9h00 guests and the guides, accompanied by armed game scouts, head out in a 4×4 vehicle to the allocated fishing area for the day. To ensure comfort, a small camp is built in a shaded spot on the river bank as a base for the fishing day. Anglers spend the mid-morning session targeting tigerfish and yellowfish. If conditions allow, some time may be dedicated to chasing Nile Perch.

A late lunch is taken at 2 pm and in preparation for the evening session, anglers are encouraged to rest, rehydrate, take a swim and relax. Fatigue is the last thing you need when fighting a trophy Nile Perch.

While there is still light you’ll target Tigerfish in the same water that you’ll fish in the evening. This allows anglers to familiarise themselves with the water & the lay of the land before nightfall.

Once the sun begins to dip on the horizon, anglers will switch from the 9wt Tigerfish outfits to heavier 12wt rigs ready with bigger, water-pushing flies for the Nile Perch. Fishing for Nile perch continues into the darkness. Your guide will generally call lines up at around 21h00 each evening, thereafter you will return to camp for a late dinner and some drinks before heading to bed.

All fishing is done on foot. All fishing is strictly catch-and-release fly fishing, with single debarbed hooks only.

Nile Perch

Fishing for Nile Perch, on foot, in big game territory, is as wild an experience as you are likely to encounter with a fly rod in hand. Added to this, the prime Nile Perch fishing times are sunset until 21h30 when the sounds of the African night are amplified by the darkness. this means you will certainly experience a fly fishing adventure, unlike anything you have encountered before.

We recommend  9ft, 12wt rods loading with intermediate and sink-tip lines.

The deep pool and gorge refuges are the perfect hiding and feeding grounds for Nile perch as the river levels drop dramatically over the dry months from December to April. Nile Perch are structure-orientated ambush predators. This means they prefer to hunt mostly at night and during low light conditions.

Tigerfish

Guests target tigerfish in the morning and afternoon fishing sessions. Tigerfish are valuable species & worthy of targeting as a stand-alone trip – but with 1-meter long Nile Perch on the menu, they become the perfect distraction waiting for the last light.
We target Tigerfish with 9wt 9-weight rods & fish floating lines with surface flies, as well as sink tip lines and baitfish patterns.

Yellowfish

When the sun is at its highest & the Tigerfish are off the bite, guests can take the opportunity to sight cast to Yellowfish.  This section of the river offers anglers rocky runs, deep gorges, and fast riffle water. Fishing is technical and all sight-fishing on 5wt Rods with floating lines and nymphs.

Capitaine is a true multi-species destination, with anglers rigging 5wt, 9wt, and 12wt gear each day to cover all the species and situations on offer.

Accommodation at Capitaine

Fishing tours to Capitaine operate out of two separate camps, on neighboring, private concessions during the fishing season. Each camp allocated four beats to alleviate fishing pressure and create more opportunities for guests to hunt giant Nile Perch. The fishing camps rotate during the season to allow longer resting periods for each section of the river. As such, no camps are fished simultaneously.

Lower Camp:
This is a small tented camp catering for 4 anglers, 2 guides, and camp staff. It is erected & dismantled each season.

The lower camp offers guests an authentic West African safari experience with its open plan living and dining area, and bespoke safari tent set up. The camp is located on the banks of the Faro River. The area is perfect in a shaded section of riverine forest and enclosed in a natural amphitheater. Guests will be amazed at the great views and the exciting fishing right in front of the camp.

Upper Camp:
Upper Camp is a permanent camp. The camp is run in conjunction with long-established conservation and hunting operator, Faro Safaris. The camp is perfectly located in the deep shade of the mature riverine forest and is inspired by local architecture. This means large, open rondavels, all tastefully decorated with local fabrics and soft furnishings and en suite bathrooms.

Talented camp chefs prepare each meal fresh from a simple camp kitchen. The food is absolutely brilliant. Continental breakfasts start each day and after a quick tea/coffee geats head out to begin fishing. Lunches are Picnic-style and taken on the river banks between fishing sessions. This is simply to allow more time on the river.

Getting to Capitaine & Itinerary

Sunday: Arrive Douala. Guests catch the connecting flight to Garoua at 16h00 and arrive at 18h15. (Tour costs cover this flight). On arrival, we will arrange a transfer by a Capitaine representative to a local hotel. Overnight in Garoua. Accommodation is in single rooms. (Tour costs cover this accommodation).
*All meals are for your own expense.

Monday: Breakfast (own expense), followed by 4 – 5-hour drive to camp. After settling in, guests meet in the dining areas for a late lunch and a full brief by the guide team. Afterwhich guides will help with correct tackle set-up and time permitting, you’ll head out for an evening session.

Tuesday to Sunday: 6 days fishing for monster Nile Perch.

Monday: In preparation for the day guests eat an early and hearty breakfast. After breakfast, guests begin the 4 – 5-hour transfer to Garoua for the regional flight from Garoua to Douala. (Tour costs cover this flight). Guests depart Garoua at 18h15 and arrive in Douala at 20h50. From there it’s a simple connection to your international flight home.

Rates

8 Night Package: POA

Price includes

• Return regional flights from Douala to Garoua + Meet and Greet on arrival.
• Transfer from Garoua airport to the hotel
• One night accommodation in Garoua on arrival
• Return transfers from Garoua hotel to camp
• 7 nights accommodation + all meals in camp.
• Tea, coffee, water, soft drinks, limited beers in camp (4 beers/person/day)
• Fishing guide & trip leader (2 guides per group of 4 anglers)
• Fishing Permits
• Game Scouts + Conservation & Anti-poaching levies

Price excludes

• International flights to & from Douala
• Visa’s. Visas must be obtained before departure. (Approximately €100)
• Meals in transit (Douala & Garoua – roughly €30 in total)
• Wine and spirits (please bring your own)
• Beers above the allocated 4 per person per day
• Accommodation and meals in Douala. We can arrange post-tour accommodation if necessary.
• Transfers in Douala. If it helps, we can help arrange transfers should they be required.
• Fishing Tackle
• Guide & Camp Staff gratuities

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