Red Sea - The Axum Flats

In May 2024, I set off with three close friends on an adventure to explore a remote archipelago—an untouched chain of islands, with only three semi-inhabited and most completely unfinished. What we found out there was beyond anything we expected. Permit were thriving in unbelievable numbers, and while Giant Trevally and triggerfish weren’t everywhere, the ones we did encounter were absolute monsters.

After the Extended Exploration in 2025, we knew we were onto something truly special—a wild, raw fishing Red Sea destination with real potential for Permit, GTs, and Triggers, all at a price that makes it more accessible than most top-tier Red Sea flats fishing destinations. But this isn’t your typical lodge trip. It’s for the adventurous. You need to be in decent shape, ready to put in long days on foot, and open to the unpredictability of remote exploration.

This isn’t a place where you’re guaranteed non-stop action—but if you’re willing to grind, the payoff can be enormous. The sheer number of Permit alone is staggering, and the size of the GTs and Triggers we’ve seen makes us believe the best is still to come.

If you're drawn to the idea of fishing Red Sea waters barely touched by anyone before, being part of a project that’s the first of its kind, or simply want to experience a place that feels frozen in time—then this is the adventure for you.

  • 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.

Private Camp - Uninhabited Island

Welcome to the first-ever camp of its kind on this stretch of the Red Sea—designed with care, built for adventure, and surrounded by untouched natural beauty. Picture this: you wake up each morning to the sound of gentle waves, step outside your tent onto soft white sand, and look out over clear, turquoise waters—all from the comfort of a peaceful, uninhabited island.

Our custom-built camp was created with the Red Sea climate in mind. It’s comfortable, practical, and perfectly placed on a central island, giving you quick and easy access to all our best fishing spots. Less time traveling, more time on the water.

What to Expect at Camp:

Six Private Tents – Thoughtfully designed for remote island living, each tent offers a balance of comfort and privacy, surrounded by nature.

Comfortable Beds – A simple, welcoming place to rest your head after long days on the water or exploring the islands.

A Fully Equipped Camp – Two communal areas: one for shared meals under canvas, and another—a relaxed, Bedouin-style lounge—perfect for unwinding between adventures.

Proper Kitchen Setup – Fresh, wholesome meals are prepared daily in a well-equipped camp kitchen.

Modern Essentials – A generator powers fridges, freezers, and charging stations, while solar fans help keep your tent cool.

Showers and Toilets – Clean, functional, and refreshingly simple—everything you need for life on the islands.

Private Chef from Kenya – Our camp is joined by a respected Kenyan chef, who’ll prepare delicious meals inspired by both East African and coastal influences.

This isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s a place to slow down, tune in, and immerse yourself in the raw, untamed beauty 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

 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.

  • 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

Your quest for life begins here