We offer world class fishing on the Orange River, which is famous for small and large mouth yellow fish. There are also dams on the farm which are stocked with bass for catch and release fishing.

Fish for Yellow Fish on the Orange River, Tzamenkomst

South Africa has 9 species of yellow fish and largies are the biggest of them all. They are top of the food chain predators in this river system as there are no crocodiles here. The river also boasts a healthy population of smallmouth yellow fish, sharp tooth catfish, carp, and three species of bream.

Interested in fly fishing at Tzamenkomst River Lodge during your stay. Here’s what the experts say.

Yellowfish: Guide to Flyfishing

The Orange River

The Orange River, South Africa’s largest river, originates in the Drakensberg in Lesotho, where it is known as the Senqu. From where the river leaves Lesotho, it flows westward for some 2200km to where it finally flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.

The Gariep Dam near Colesberg, is the main storage structure within the Orange River. Eskom operates a hydro-electric power-station at Gariep Dam.

  • The total catchment of the Orange River (including the Vaal) extends over 973 000 square km, i.e. about 77% of the land area of the country. Approx 366 000 square km (38%) however is situated outside the country in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.
  • The river is 2,090 km long
  • The Vaal River is its chief tributary.
  • The lower Orange River flows through Namaqualand and the Ai-Ais Richtersveld National Park and in very dry years it does not reach the sea.
  • At the mouth of the river are rich alluvial diamond beds.
  • The Augrabies Falls is 122 m high and largest waterfall in the river and situated within the Augrabies Falls National Park.
  • The river is used extensively for irrigation.