Mountain Holiday

If you are considering a Mountain Holiday that combines technical fly fishing with big landscapes and quiet evenings, this particular week in the Lesotho highlands showed exactly what that can look like.

This past week we welcomed a lively group of longtime friends who had organised the trip as a chance to reconnect properly. From the outset, the energy in camp was high. That carried through the entire week, both on and off the water.

Low Water, Longer Leaders and a Slower Approach

With very little recent rain, river levels were low and clear. That changed the game immediately.

Leaders needed to be extended and tippet scaled down to 6X. Anything heavier resulted in refusals. Larger dry flies were ignored, so smaller parachute patterns became the consistent producers. Even then, delicate presentation was critical.

In skinny water, fish are wary. You cannot rush in and expect success. One careless step or a shadow across the pool and the opportunity is gone. This forced the group to slow down and think.

You could see the shift by midweek:

• Approaches started further downstream

• Anglers stayed lower and used available cover

• First casts were treated as the only cast

• Drifts were longer and more controlled

The river turned into a hunt.

That is where it becomes exciting. When you finally see a fish tilt up to a well-presented parachute in water barely covering its back, you know it was earned. Technical conditions sharpen your awareness. You start reading subtle seams. You pay attention to micro-drag. You become deliberate.

Ask yourself this. When was the last time you had to truly work for each rise?

A Mountain Braai Close to Camp, Far From Everything

One of the most memorable moments of this Mountain Holiday happened just above camp.

The mountain spur overlooking the Bokong River is a short walk away, yet it feels removed from everything. From up there, you look down onto the river threading through the valley, surrounded by high peaks and open sky.

You feel small in that landscape.

A simple fire was lit. Food went onto the coals. Cold beers were passed around. No rush to get anywhere. Just good conversation and the kind of quiet that only high mountains seem to offer.

As the sun dropped, the light shifted across the valley walls and eventually gave way to a sky full of stars. Being that close to camp makes it easy, but standing there makes it feel remote.

Back in camp, evenings were filled with competitive table games and steady banter. It rounded off a week that demanded focus during the day and offered space to unwind once the rods were packed away.

A Mountain Holiday like this is not just about numbers. It is about adapting to conditions, refining your approach, and sharing those moments with people who appreciate both the challenge and the setting.

If you are planning your own Mountain Holiday for next season, now is the time to secure your dates. Get in touch and let’s help you experience the Bokong under your own terms.