Red Sea - The Adulis Flats

Season: February - May| Duration: 8 Nights | Fishing Days: 6 Fully Guided | Guests: Maximum 6
Location: The Red Sea - Eritrea

In May 2024, we set off with three close friends to explore a remote corner of the Red Sea that had long captured our imagination. Spread across the horizon lay a vast chain of islands that appeared almost forgotten by time. Apart from a handful of small settlements, most remained completely uninhabited. Many had likely never seen a fly angler. We arrived with little more than a collection of charts, satellite imagery and what, in hindsight, could generously be described as a plan.

What we discovered exceeded every expectation. Permit were present in numbers far greater than we had anticipated. Vast schools drifted across white sand flats whilst giant trevally prowled reef edges and triggerfish patrolled coral gardens.

What began as a simple exploratory trip gradually evolved into something much larger. Over the seasons that followed, we expanded our understanding of the fishery, explored new islands and refined the operation. Yet despite this progress, the sense of discovery remains very much intact. The Adulis Flats are not a destination built around luxury lodges or predictable fishing schedules. They remain an expedition in the truest sense.

The fishery rewards anglers willing to walk, explore and embrace a degree of uncertainty. Some days demand patience. Others provide the sort of moments that stay with you long after the journey home. A school of permit appearing from nowhere on an incoming tide. A giant trevally materialising over a shallow reef. Triggerfish tailing happily in ankle deep water. Endless islands stretching towards the horizon with scarcely another boat in sight. For anglers who value exploration as much as fishing, the Adulis Flats offer something increasingly difficult to find. Even after several seasons, we still find ourselves arriving at islands we have never fished before.That, perhaps more than anything else, is what makes this place so special.

The Fishery

Stretching along the Eritrean coastline, this Archipelago forms one of the largest island groups in the Red Sea. Scattered across the horizon are hundreds of islands, reefs and sand cays, creating an intricate maze of channels, coral gardens and expansive white sand flats.

It was the sheer scale of the archipelago that first drew us here. Even after several seasons of exploration, there remain islands we have yet to fish and areas of water we are only beginning to understand. That sense of discovery remains one of the defining characteristics of the fishery.

The diversity of habitat is what makes the area so unique. Vast sand flats provide ideal conditions for permit, shallow coral gardens hold triggerfish, whilst reef edges and channels create opportunities for giant trevally and a host of other species. Over the course of a single day, anglers may move between completely different environments, each offering its own challenges and possibilities.

Whilst the fishing is undoubtedly exceptional, it is the feeling of exploration that leaves the greatest impression. This is not a fishery built around a handful of well-known spots or predictable routines. Tides, weather and curiosity continue to shape much of what we do.

For thousands of years, these waters formed part of one of the great maritime crossroads of the ancient world. Today, much of the archipelago feels remarkably unchanged. It is still possible to spend an entire day exploring islands and flats without seeing another boat.

In a world where genuinely unexplored fisheries have become increasingly rare, this Archipelago remains a place where discovery is still very much part of the experience.

  • Two men holding a large Giant trevally in shallow ocean water, smiling, with a beach in the background in the Axum Flats with Enkare Wild and Blaede Russell in The Red Sea

  • The Axum Flats tented camp on a sandy private island under a starry night sky with visible stars and Milky Way, illuminated from within. This is with Enkare Wild in The Red Sea

  • Man holding a large Indo - Pacific Permit in shallow water, wearing sunglasses and a hat, with a fishing rod in the background on the Axum Flats with Enkare Wild in The Red Sea

  • Aerial view of a narrow sandbar extending into a turquoise sea, with shallow water and vegetation on either side on the Axum Flats with Enkare Wild in The Red Sea

  • A man wearing sunglasses and a hat is standing in shallow water, smiling, and holding a large Trigger fish he caught while fishing with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • Man smiling while holding a large Grouper fish he caught during a fishing trip in the water, with a clear sky in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum Flats in the red sea

  • Man sitting in small blue boat holding a large queen fish with a silvery body and a pointed tail, smiling, with water and sky in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • Man wearing sunglasses and a cap holding a large Bohar Snapper fish in shallow ocean water with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

Species

  • Person holding a Indo Pacific Permit fish in shallow water near a beach with sandy shorelines and blue sky in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

    Indo-Pacific Permit

    The Indo-Pacific is considered to be the holy grail of flats species. There is no trickier species to catch on a fly than the elusive permit. They form the pinnacle of the Red Sea trilogy of grand slam flats fishing coupled with GT and Triger Fish. We caught many in the 3-10lb range but the opportunity for a fish in the 70cm+ calibre category is real.

  • A man wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a backpack holding a large Giant Trevally fish in shallow water with a clear sky in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

    Giant Trevally

    These do not need any further introduction, appropriately referred to as the bully of the flats these fish test both angler and gear to its limit. Although this destination doesn’t hold huge numbers we still landed and lost a healthy number of big specimens some that were well and truly over the Meter+ mark. If you’re willing to put in the work there could be a chance at a once in a life time fish.

  • Close-up of a large Trigger fish being held in shallow water near the shore with a rocky background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

    TriggerFish

    We encountered several species but the most prolific was the moustache triggerfish Arguably these fish are one of the quickest ways to see your backing on a 9wt, and if GTs are the bulldogs of the flats, then triggers have to be the terriers. Although we did not encounter many, the ones we did see were very big.

  • Man sitting on a boat holding a large Queen Fish with a blue sky and ocean in the background in Eritrea with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

    OTHER SPECIES:

    Bohar Snapper, there was a healthy population of big Bohar snapper. Often sight fished, and hungry for a fly these fish kept us busy during our initial exploration. - Grouper: We saw multiple big specimens whilst walking the coastline, and managed to land one in particular that surprised us all with its size. - Queenfish: Dave managed to land a tank by dredging the drop offs, a method that was incredibly effective during the course of the initial exploration. - Milkfish: We saw many schools on the flats offering opportunities to fish for them in deeper water. Something we intend on doing next year.

Adulis Private Camp - Uninhabited Island

There are few places left in the world where you can step out of your tent each morning onto untouched white sand, coffee in hand, and watch the tide slowly creep across endless flats.

Welcome to the Adulis Flats Camp.

Situated on a remote island in the heart of the Eritrean Red Sea, our purpose-built expedition camp combines comfort, practicality and just enough civilisation to remind you that hardship is generally best enjoyed in moderation.

Positioned centrally within the fishery, camp allows us to maximise fishing time and minimise long boat runs, placing some of the Red Sea's most productive water within easy reach.

This is not luxury in the conventional sense.

There are no infinity pools, valet parking or breakfast buffets.

What you will find are comfortable safari tents, attentive service, excellent food and a front-row seat to one of the most remarkable fisheries in the Red Sea.

The camp consists of six spacious safari tents, each equipped with comfortable beds, quality linen and ample room for gear and personal belongings. Designed with both comfort and practicality in mind, they provide a welcome retreat after long days spent exploring the flats and islands.

At the centre of camp sits our custom-built mess tent where guests gather for meals, trip planning and the inevitable discussion about the fish that got away.

A highlight of camp life is undoubtedly the food. Meals are prepared daily by our highly regarded private chef, whose reputation is well deserved. Drawing inspiration from both Eritrean and East African cuisine, the menu combines fresh ingredients, locally sourced seafood and vibrant regional flavours with the sort of hearty meals anglers appreciate after a full day on the water.

Freshly baked bread, seasonal salads, grilled seafood and carefully prepared evening meals are served around a communal table where stories from the day naturally unfold. The result is a dining experience that feels authentic to the region whilst remaining surprisingly refined given the camp's remote location.

After a long day exploring the flats, few things are more welcome than returning to camp for a cold drink, good company and a meal prepared with genuine care and attention.

Dedicated coffee stations and rod rigging areas ensure anglers are always ready for the day ahead, whilst the mess tent naturally becomes the social heart of camp once fishing hours are over.

Separate from the dining area is our Bedouin Lounge. As the boats return each evening, this relaxed gathering space becomes the focal point of camp life. Comfortable seating, cold drinks and uninterrupted views across the water provide the perfect setting to relive the day's successes, failures and occasional exaggerations as the sun slips below the horizon.

Simple, comfortable and perfectly positioned, the Adulis Flats Camp delivers everything required for a week of serious fishing in one of the most remote and exciting corners of the Red Sea.

Beach camps with a beige and black tent, a blue camping chair, a bed with pillows, and a small portable stove on sandy ground with grassy dunes in the background under a sunny sky in The Red Sea with Enkare Wild
Fishermen organizing equipment after breakfast in Mess tent with a table set for a meal at sunset, ocean in the background, various gear and equipment around with Enkare Wild
Guests relaxing under a Bedouin-style canvas lounge at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea
  • Camping tents on a beach at sunset with a boat and two people near the water at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

    CAMP LIFE

  • A person stands on a sandy beach near calm water, with a large canopy and camping equipment set up nearby during sunset at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

    CAMP LIFE

  • Group of friends relaxing on a beach under a large beige canopy, sitting on cushions and pillows, with a table holding glasses, a bottle of alcohol, and a can of beer at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red

    Camp Life

  • Beachside dining setup with a table, chairs, and various drinkware and supplies, under a canopy at sunset, with two men preparing near the water at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

  • Inside a camping tent with a bed, pillow, beige hat, document, feathered artificial flies, and a rolled-up blue towel at Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

  • Beachside outdoor dining setup inside a large yellow tent with a table, chairs, and a person sitting outside near the beach Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

  • Beach scene at sunset viewed from under a canopy with cushions and a folding chair, with a boat on the water in the distance Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

  • A line of fishing rods with reels, placed on a fishing shelter, with the sky in the background Enkare Wild’s remote island camp in the Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea in the red sea

Over Night - Mobile CAMP

One of the great advantages of operating in such a vast fishery is that there is always more water to explore. The challenge, of course, is reaching it.

New for the 2027/28 season, our Forward Operating Camp allows us to push deeper into the fishery and access islands and flats that would otherwise remain beyond practical reach.

Rather than returning to the main camp each evening, selected tides and conditions may see us establish a temporary beach camp closer to the fishing grounds, dramatically increasing the amount of water we can effectively explore.

Guests spend the night in spacious mosquito domes positioned directly on the beach beneath some of the clearest night skies in the Red Sea. A dedicated Bedouin-style mess accompanies the camp, providing a comfortable space for evening meals, cold drinks and conversation long after the sun has disappeared beyond the horizon.

The Forward Operating Camp is intentionally more basic than the main camp.

It is also considerably more adventurous.

By utilising this system, we are able to access more distant islands, spend longer exploring new areas and continue expanding our understanding of a fishery that still holds many surprises.

For many guests, a night spent sleeping on a remote island, with nothing but the sound of the sea and tomorrow's unexplored water waiting beyond the beach, becomes one of the defining memories of the expedition.

ERITREA

Nestled along the western shores of the Red Sea, Eritrea remains one of Africa's least visited and most intriguing countries.

Rich in history and culture, Eritrea occupies a unique position between Africa and the Middle East. Ancient trade routes once passed through these waters, connecting distant civilisations across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Today, much of the country retains a character and authenticity that can feel increasingly rare elsewhere.

During our travels, we found the Eritrean people to be exceptionally welcoming, warm and quietly proud of their country. Visitors are often struck not only by the hospitality but also by the sense of calm that seems to permeate everyday life.

The capital city of Asmara is undoubtedly one of Africa's most fascinating cities. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, it is renowned for its remarkable collection of Italian Art Deco architecture, wide boulevards and historic cafés.

It is also one of the few places where stopping for a coffee can unexpectedly occupy a significant portion of the afternoon, although nobody appears particularly concerned by this.

From the colonial architecture of Asmara to the remote islands of the Red Sea, Eritrea offers a travel experience that feels refreshingly different from much of the modern world.

For those willing to venture a little further afield, the rewards extend well beyond the fishing itself.

 FAQs

  • Tourist visas are now easily arranged through a Visa on Arrival system, which we can help organise. This is currently the most straightforward method for entry.

    Cost
    140 US Dollars in total
    70 US Dollars on arrival at the airport
    70 US Dollars paid to our local facilitator after entry

    If you would prefer to arrange a visa in advance or have specific requirements, let us know and we will be happy to assist.

  • While Asmara offers a few decent hotel options, we recommend the Asmara Palace Hotel. It is the most comfortable and reliable, with all the essential amenities to ensure a smooth start and end to your trip.

    We are happy to assist with reservations, or you are welcome to book directly with the hotel.

  • There will be three professional guides on the trip, with a maximum of two clients per guide. This ensures a highly personalised and focused experience on the water.

  • While we will have access to pangas for transport, most of the fishing is done on foot by wading, so come prepared for long, rewarding days in the flats.

  • The local currency is Nakfa (NFK). The fixed exchange rate is 15 Nakfa to 1 US Dollar. We recommend bringing USD in cash, which can be exchanged locally.

  • We understand that travelling to a lesser known destination often raises questions around safety. Between us, we have spent decades working in Eritrea and not once have we had a single issue.

    What surprises many people is just how calm, clean and genuinely welcoming Eritrea is. There is a quiet pride among its people, a warmth and generosity that is hard to find elsewhere. The streets are tidy, the atmosphere composed, and there is an enduring sense of order and dignity wherever you go.

    Asmara, the capital, sits over 2,300 metres above sea level. The climate is mild throughout the year, with crisp mornings, cool evenings and skies that stretch for miles. The city itself, once known as Piccola Roma or Little Rome, is home to some of the finest examples of 1930s Italian modernist architecture in the world.

    Down on the coast, the Dahlak Archipelago remains one of the most undisturbed marine environments anywhere, a scattered chain of islands that feel utterly removed from time.

    So while Eritrea may not feature heavily in glossy travel brochures, the reality on the ground is something else entirely. Peaceful, safe and quietly unforgettable.

  • Day temperatures can reach up to 24- 36°C while Evening temperatures drop down to the low twenties.

  • We will have Garmin In reach for communication and emergencies. Starlink is banned.

  • The Camp does have Electricity and capacity for charging your devices.

  • WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?

    The Adulis Flats are best suited to anglers who enjoy exploration and are comfortable fishing in remote environments.

    This is not a destination built around convenience, luxury or guaranteed outcomes.

    Success often comes to those willing to walk long distances, adapt to changing conditions and maintain a sense of humour when permit behave exactly as permit tend to.

    The fishing can be demanding.

    The environment can be challenging.

    The rewards, however, can be exceptional.

    Those who tend to enjoy the fishery most are anglers who appreciate the process as much as the result. People who enjoy exploring new water, learning unfamiliar fisheries and embracing the occasional uncertainty that accompanies genuine adventure.

    The Adulis Flats are not for everyone.

    That is rather the point.

    For those who value exploration, wild places and the possibility that the next island may hold something entirely unexpected, few destinations remain quite like it.

  • A man in green fishing attire wades in clear, shallow water holding a fish with a striped pattern. There are distant islands under a blue sky in the background in the red sea

  • Person wearing outdoor gear and carrying a backpack, standing on the rocky shore of a turquoise lake, fishing with a rod with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • Man wearing sunglasses and a beige cap holding a large spotted fish in shallow water near a sandy beach with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • A person wearing a gray hoodie, shorts, and hiking shoes standing on large rocks by the beach, with hills and sparse vegetation in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • A man holding a large barracuda fish in clear green waters with a light blue sky in the background with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • A boat named 'Berhan' with the home port 'Massawa' is anchored in calm water during sunset. A person is hanging upside down from the bow, with their head submerged in the water, creating a unique scene with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red s

  • A man wearing sunglasses and a hat holding a large Indo Pacific Permit fish in shallow water on a sunny day with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

  • A boat with two outboard motors moored on a sandy beach at sunset, with a person sitting at the bow and another person near the water's edge, and a view of a calm body of water and distant land with Enkare Wild on the Axum flats in the red sea

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