The Zambezi Classic returned to the Zambezi River in Namibia from 24 to 28 August 2026, bringing together 58 teams and 165 anglers for four days of competitive angling, early mornings and plenty of time on the water.
Hosted at the Nwanyi Angling Club grounds, with accommodation at the club and nearby lodges including Kubi & Kwena Lodge, Muchenje River Lodge, and Zambezi Mubala Camp. The competition tested anglers across a range of species and conditions on the Zambezi River in Namibia.
Big Nembwe caught on the Zambezi
This year's Classic saw an impressive 1,734 fish caught, a significant increase from the previous two years. In 2025, 49 teams caught 571 fish, while 61 teams recorded 686 fish in 2024.
The competition began with registration, boat inspections and the Captain's Meeting on Monday, followed by four days of fishing. Each team could have between two and three anglers, with catches measured by length, recorded on video and released back into the river.
Gondwana Destert Fishing team member, with a lovely Nembwe
While the fishing was productive overall, the tiger fish bite proved to be a little quiet this year, with only a handful of tigers making their way onto the score sheets. Nembwe, Three Spot, and Pinky, however, were plentiful, with anglers finding plenty of action among the Zambezi's other species and helping push the total catch to a record 1,734 fish for the event.
Nembwe fish caught on the Zambezi River
Gondwana put in a strong showing, with the team finishing 8th overall after catching 18 fish across six species, scoring 391.30. The Gondwana Development team also had a solid outing, finishing 39th with 16 fish across six species and 312.88 points. The Gondwana Desert Fishing team finished 30th overall, also catching 18 fish across six species and scoring 350.32 points.
The Classic also had one if its youngest anglers on the water. Twelve-year-old Alexander took part in his very first Zambezi Classic, making the week a memorable one beyond the competition itself. He went on to win the biggest fish prize, making his debut even more special. For a first Classic, four days on the Zambezi is certainly one way to learn the river.
Alexander receiving his award for catching the biggest fish
Behind the competition is also a strong spirit of collaboration, with Gondwana Collection Namibia, African on Wheels, who supported the Gondwana Fishing Team, and Zambezi Mubala Camp supporting the event.
By Friday afternoon, the boats were back, the final catches had been recorded, and the competition came to an end with the prize-giving that evening.
Alexander, with a 51.5 cm winning Nembwe
The Zambezi Classic is about more than the final score. It brings anglers together on one of Namibia's great rivers, creates a few stories along the way, and – judging by the 1,734 fish caught this year, keeps plenty of people busy at the measuring station.
And yes, those queues were justified. There really were a lot of fish. A big thank you to the event organisers for putting together a fantastic Zambezi Classic 2026 and for another memorable week on the Zambezi.
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