Hi, being new to this please bear with me, but I think the information here can at least help others to avoid the pitfalls and cons we have just experienced on our recent trip to Corumana Dam in Mozambique.
Our trip was planned through a company operating out of Centurion and was costed in at R950.00 per person per day.
We were also told the that the best times to fish were from and I quote directly from their email to us: "
“July is a very good time for Tigerfishing in Mozambique. Most of our big fish are caught in the winter months as the weather is alot more stable than in the summer months.â€
Being there and fishing there last week, I somehow find it hard to believe, we caught in 4 days, three tigers max size 800gms, 4 minute tigers of about 10cm. We fished about 6 - 7 hours non stop each day, at the river below the dam and also in the dam itself.
I do know that big tigers have been taken here but I dont think in the type of quantities and sizes being bandied about by these guys,
however there is never a guarantee to catch fish no matter how good the conditions and place, but one thing is that at least you get what you're paying for, namely:
1. An experienced guide. Cant say our guide instilled any confidence in us with regards to fishing experience and know how of the dam or tiger fishing.
2. Decent accommodation, ( We originally booked for 5 persons which was organised with the operator but the 5th guy fell out before we left so we confirmed the 4 guys with them.
The accommodation itself is in the old Italian Camp where the dam builders had stayed and can be loosely described as a type of compound.
We arrived only to find out that firstly the camp is about 2km from the dam itself, this was not conveyed in anyway to us before departure. There were only three beds and we were told that the other beds had been pinched so one of us had to sleep on a basic stretcher.
The dining room chairs had to be sat on carefully to avoid them falling apart
Food that you'd normally expect for the pricing (Not that some of the food was not excellent, but throwing in burgers that we had to make ourselves just shows their lack of tourism knowledge)
Not being properly prepared to offer what we paid for (lack of petrol, no bed, f@#$%d up toilet, dining room chairs, only 3 people to shower before having to wait, 1 toilet between 6 or more guests
Guides and clients sleeping together also very unprofessional in this type of environment
But what f#$%@s my mind even more is that I never said anything to the guy, I think due to him having his son there may have been the factor but it was totally a f$@* up and I am putting this up on the web not to try and mess up anybody's businesses or opportunities to make money and deliver a service, but to warn any prospective fishermen that these guys are just a plain con trick which you cannot deal with once you're there as the money has already been paid and you have no recourse in not paying the balance.
I hope this helps somebody out there when considering a trip to Corumana make sure of the items I have listed as they are very carefully avoided when you book.
Really disappointed
Our trip was planned through a company operating out of Centurion and was costed in at R950.00 per person per day.
We were also told the that the best times to fish were from and I quote directly from their email to us: "
“July is a very good time for Tigerfishing in Mozambique. Most of our big fish are caught in the winter months as the weather is alot more stable than in the summer months.â€
Being there and fishing there last week, I somehow find it hard to believe, we caught in 4 days, three tigers max size 800gms, 4 minute tigers of about 10cm. We fished about 6 - 7 hours non stop each day, at the river below the dam and also in the dam itself.
I do know that big tigers have been taken here but I dont think in the type of quantities and sizes being bandied about by these guys,
however there is never a guarantee to catch fish no matter how good the conditions and place, but one thing is that at least you get what you're paying for, namely:
1. An experienced guide. Cant say our guide instilled any confidence in us with regards to fishing experience and know how of the dam or tiger fishing.
2. Decent accommodation, ( We originally booked for 5 persons which was organised with the operator but the 5th guy fell out before we left so we confirmed the 4 guys with them.
The accommodation itself is in the old Italian Camp where the dam builders had stayed and can be loosely described as a type of compound.
We arrived only to find out that firstly the camp is about 2km from the dam itself, this was not conveyed in anyway to us before departure. There were only three beds and we were told that the other beds had been pinched so one of us had to sleep on a basic stretcher.
The dining room chairs had to be sat on carefully to avoid them falling apart
Food that you'd normally expect for the pricing (Not that some of the food was not excellent, but throwing in burgers that we had to make ourselves just shows their lack of tourism knowledge)
Not being properly prepared to offer what we paid for (lack of petrol, no bed, f@#$%d up toilet, dining room chairs, only 3 people to shower before having to wait, 1 toilet between 6 or more guests
Guides and clients sleeping together also very unprofessional in this type of environment
But what f#$%@s my mind even more is that I never said anything to the guy, I think due to him having his son there may have been the factor but it was totally a f$@* up and I am putting this up on the web not to try and mess up anybody's businesses or opportunities to make money and deliver a service, but to warn any prospective fishermen that these guys are just a plain con trick which you cannot deal with once you're there as the money has already been paid and you have no recourse in not paying the balance.
I hope this helps somebody out there when considering a trip to Corumana make sure of the items I have listed as they are very carefully avoided when you book.
Really disappointed
)