Lake Tanganyika is home to some of the best freshwater angling found anywhere on earth. More than a dozen species are regularly caught on rod and line. With years of experience at Ndole and basic fishing tackle for hire or purchase, a good catch is virtually unavoidable. Fishing is best done in the national park, which does incur park entry fees.
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‍COMMON SPECIES CAUGHT
‍Tanganyika Perch (up to 50kg), Lake Salmon (up to 25kg), Nkupi/Yellowbelly (up to 4kg), Tigerfish, Bream, Lake Trout ,Vundoo, Frontosa, Mbilli and a variety of other fish.Less common but still occasionally caught are the rare Golden perch and the giant Goliath tiger (up to 30kg). While Ndole Bay Lodge encourages catch and release, many  fish are exceptional eating and we can easily prepare your day’s catch for dinner.
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‍TACKLE
‍At least 12lb breaking strain is advised with 15lb -20lb more suitable for trolling and bottom fishing.Deep diving lures are essential with diving plates often producing good fish. Trace is a good idea although not essential.Light tackle fishing is extremely rewarding for experienced anglers.

Bespoke tours available on request.

You can snorkel directly off the shore from Ndole bay Lodge. Snorkel equipment is free to use for room stay guests and the best time for snorkeling is mid-morning when the water is clear and the sun is out.
Most cichlids tend to display their colours best in full sunlight. Adventure snorkel trips are a lot of fun and usually done in our custom built dhow with plenty of shade and a ladder for easy access to the water. We have 3 or 4 sites within 30 minutes of the Lodge that all offer something different in terms of habitat and fish life.

SCUBA Diving
With a biologically unique habitat at your doorstep, and the topography of the Rift Valley all around, diving in Lake Tanganyika provides something new and exciting for everyone, from adventure seekers to the simply curious.
Lake Tanganyika is extremely tropical and blessed with clear water. Visibility averages at around 15m although at some sites it rarely goes below 20m. Temperature is in the late 20’s (C).The steep shorelines mean most dives take place close to the shore and are along steeply sloping bottoms, depth at some sites is only limited by recreational limits. Rocky headlands, interspersed with beaches provide diverse habitats for a range of fish life. Sandy bottoms provide a playing field for the unique ‘shell dwellers’ of Tanganyika where the bottom is covered with empty shells half a meter deep as far as you can swim. The isolated steep rocky coastline is the dwelling place of the famed Tanganyika perch.

Must be medically fit to dive. Pool introductory dives are available on request for beginners.

A popular activity for our guests is the sunset cruise, departing at 4:30pm and ending as the sun sets (approx 1.5 hours). The boat used is normally our wooden dhow- Sokonto, but depends on client numbers.
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There are 2 routes:
‍Mungela Sunset Cruise
‍This trip is north of Ndole Bay alongside pebble fishing villages. You may see some wooden dhows being made is this is where the boat builders reside and if the weather permits you will see the golden sun setting behind the mountains.

‍Nsumbu Island and Fish Cages Cruise
‍This cruise travels east towards the town of Nsumbu and takes you past Mpende Fisheries bream cages and around Nsumbu Island, an old slaving island. You may also see some hippos in the Nsumbu Bay area. This cruise can be done in the day or as our alternate route for the sunset cruise.
*New addition to this route* We are now also offering the Nsumbu Island cruise into the National Park. After a short cruise, we enter the park nearby and stop off on a beach where we set up mats to sit on to get the most majestic sunset view possible. (DNPW park fees are extra).

One of the world's largest freshwater headland bypass dune fields measuring over 700m wide. A popular destination for travellers to the park for views of the bay and to track animal activity.
The best boat cruises for wildlife are through the protected bays around Kala Bay. The bay is filled with hippo pods, basking crocodiles, herds of Puku, bushbuck and blue duiker. Late afternoons also provide a good chance of viewing elephants coming down to the water’s edge to drink.

Game cruise around the bay, add in some fishing if you like, and then climb the dune for 360-degree views of the bays for a sundowner drink. Try your hand at sandboarding for the adventurous.
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The local people of the Ndole Bay area are from the Tabwa tribe. There are several sites of significance to these peoples which can be visited.The balancing stones of Nundo Point are situated in the National Park and are the site of ceremonies involving sacrifice to the God Nundo. This ceremony is extremely traditional and usually takes place in the first week of June but has hardly ever been observed by outsiders. The Nundo ceremony is performed to ask the Gods for a good fishing season for Kapenta and takes place before any people are allowed to set up temporary fishing camps on the nearby Chisanse beach.Further east the lands are those of the Lungu people who are traditionally the people of the lake. Yendwe valley and mount Kapembwa (spirit of the lake) fall in their area. Kapembwa has religious significance to the local population.Visits to Kapembwa Village and Mount Kapembwa can be arranged.Ndole Bay Lodge is situated near Ndole village which has been at this site for almost 100 years. The Lodge enjoys a good relationship with the village and tours to observe this traditional way of Zambian life are easily arranged. Thevillage school and Ndole Bay Lodge are working together to develop funding and awareness through our community shop. Locally produced artefacts, hammocks and donations are available through our shop.Fishing is the way of life for almost everyone along the shores of the lake and fishing at night for Kapenta (Sardine like fish) is a fascinating insight to local’s lives. We easily organise a night time lake trip to observe how this staple of Zambia is caught

Balancing Stones Walk:
The shoreline near Nuundo head is beautifully strewn with granite boulders and white sand coves. We usually include a visit to the balancing boulders of Nuundo, a place of spiritual significance to the local Tabwa people, late in the year this walk often comes across baby crocodiles as they are emerging from their sandy nests.

‍Muzinga small Hidden Waterfall:
There is a small seasonal waterfall near Nsumbu that offers a pleasant walk along a beach an under a canopy of fig trees. Muzinga falls only flows until about mid-September but even in the dry there is a pool of water at the foot of the falls that provides a protected drinking spot for wildlife

We are able to create bespoke tours or work programmes to suit your needs on Lake Tanganyika. With decades of experience, we can suggest appropriate itineraries that highlight your specific interests.
Such tours include:
- Overnight camping safaris in Nsumbu National Park
- Muti-day kayak excursions
- Lufubu River trekking and kayaking
- Organised trips into Tondwa GMA to see the sable herds and birdlife
- Village interactions

Contact us with your desired itinerary and we will handle the logistics to make it happen.