Tiger Fishing in Tanzania = The Perfect Adventure
Tanzania has loads of popular destinations where you can relax and take pictures of awesome scenery, but what can this country offer to the more adventurous traveller? George van der Westhuizen finds out the adrenaline rushing way on his search for the elusive Tiger fish.
Tiger Fishing in Tanzania = The Perfect Adventure
Posted by George van der Westhuizen on 30 Sep 2011, 09:39
Categories: Travel News
As regular travellers, we were looking for something different in Tanzania that not too many people had done. Everybody is visiting the same destinations for photographic safaris and visiting Dar es Salaam and the lakes, but is there something more that this beautiful country has to offer?
In these waters the elusive Tiger Fish awaits those brave enough to lure him in.
We decided that we are going to go off the beaten track into the hunting concessions to meet up with the camp staff and game scouts to hunt for the elusive Tiger Fish inhabiting these rivers.
Our journey began with a flight from Johannesburg International Airport to Dar es Salaam. Once we arrived in Dar es Salaam the company we were using picked us up at the airport and transported us to the Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam. We stayed there one night and left the next morning for the Selous Game Reserve.
On the journey to the game reserve we passed through the Mikumi National Park where you can stay in tented accommodation in the park where there is an abundance of wildlife.
Above: Nothing compares to the romantic scenes in this hidden park in the middle of Tanzania. Photo by: George van der Westhuizen.
The wildlife consists of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, impala, giraffe, zebra, hartebeest and many, many more fascinating species.
The drive from Dar es Salaam to the camp we intended to stay is about five hours of driving. It is, however, worth every minute of it because the scenery is absolutely superb.
Once we passed through the park we then headed for the Selous Game Reserve. From the Mikumi National Park it is still about an hour and a half. In this time we passed through the sugarcane plantations and these come to an abrupt ending where the Selous Game Reserve starts. We were full of anticipation for we knew what lay ahead.
More exciting every time
The next stop is the game post where people entering these parts of the reserve get allocated a game scout to guide one in these parts and oversee that nothing goes wrong. Once through the game post, we set off for camp which is about an hours drive away.
Above: Zebra's at the Mikumi National Park show off their stripes. Photo by: George van der Westhuizen
The scenery we're met with is familiar, but it gets more exciting every time. The charming camp staff and luxurious dining area are what we are greeted by upon arrival.
From here the river meets us with the sun glimmering on it, enticing us to completely forget about unpacking and other worldly duties and head for the beautiful Ruaha River. An instant adrenaline rush awaited as we dropped our lines in the water. The Tiger fish were biting and boy, were they big!
After a dose of adrenaline, brunch was on the cards. The kitchen is very out of date but the food is absolutely marvellous and one cannot believe what they do with the little that they have.
As we left early in the mornings, breakfast was quick and in the afternoon we would have ourselves a picnic underneath the big trees next to the river.
The shade is most welcome in the mid-day for in the summer it is extremely hot, but is the best time for fishing. At night we enjoyed a three course meal and some of Tanzania's finest local beer.
Easy, Tiger!
Here, everyone mostly does fly fishing and these rivers in Tanzania have got the best fly fishing opportunities for Tiger fish available in Africa. In fact, you can easily catch well over ten kilograms of fish here.
Standing in the boat or on shore casting for these monsters is quite an adventure. During the initial take, your adrenaline is pumping so vigourasely through your veins that your whole body is shivering.
Everything combined with the anticipation of the fight that will not soon be forgotten. These fish are so fast and strong that once hooked they jump out of the water. In that moment you catch a glimpse of what is on the other end of the line. Awesome indeed! This jumping out of the water is characteristic of these fish as they try to dislodge the hook from their mouths. If the fish doesn't manage to dislodge the hook on the first jump, the chance of reeling your catch in improves significantly.
Above: Phillip Steyn is the proud owner of a Tiger fish he caught... and faught! Photo by: George van der Westhuizen
After a hard day of fishing, we returned to the luxury en-suite safari tents that few have the privilege of experiencing in this area. After a relaxing shower we headed down to the fireplace for an ice cold beer.
The wildlife in the Selous Game Resrve is plentiful and one can find crocodiles and hippopotami in the rivers. On land you the same wildlife as in Mikumi National Park.
In the camp we had Colobus Monkeys and even elephant passing by! The birdlife was spectacular and it included Fish Eagles, Crested Eagle, Crested Guinea Fowl and many more.
For a fisherman, this trip is a must! At the end of the day you are left with memories and pictures of your journey into the wild rivers that are home to the big elusive Tiger Fish that are the object of the hunt.
At the end of the last day of fishing, while watching over a pod of hippopotami in the Ruaha River, we settled down next to the fire with a cold Tanzanian beer, talking about our truly memorable experience.
Want to have your own fishing adventure in Tanzania? Hire a 4x4 and make it happen!
