January 15, 2025 | Bujo Safaris
Sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda covering over 3,840 square kilometers. The park stands at an average altitude of 127 meters above sea level stretching as far as four districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The park is divided by the Victoria Nile from east to west for a distance of about 120 kilometers. The Victoria Nile flows at approximately 45 meters over the rest of the rift valley wall creating the mighty Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall. It is here that the water squeezes through an 8-meter-wide gorge pouring into the Devil's Cauldron creating a beautiful rainbow and a thunderous roar.
Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest national park in Uganda. It was established and established in 1952 by the then government of the British administration as a national park. Before it was established, it was a game reserve that was expanded to the River Nile after the evacuation of the locals due to tsetse fly infestation. Murchison Falls National Park was originally known as Kabalega Falls National Park named after the Bunyoro King “Omukama Kabalega”. In 1863 and 1864 Samuel and Florence Baker visited and explored the park area and named the waterfalls Murchison Falls. This was after the then president of the Royal Geographical Society and geologist Roderick Murchison.
Sport fishing is one of the best and most popular tourist activities in Murchison Falls National Park. Visitors interested in this activity can obtain fishing permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority a management body of all protected areas in the country. Visitors can carry their fishing gear or even hire from the park. This experience involves catching and releasing the fish back into the water though after the sport, one is allowed to take one and experience its taste. Methods used for this activity include gill net, spearing, shoot arrow, scoop net, cast net, hooks, and many more. Sport fishing is done using live bait or casting lures, and the latter is usually used for Nile perch and catfish. Sport fishing on the Victoria Nile can be done by both professionals and beginners with the help of a fishing instructor with ample knowledge of the different fish species in the river.
Sport fishing permits can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted local tour operator. A sport fishing permit is a document that allows visitors to engage in this activity. Sport fishing permits cost USD 50 per day or USD 150 for 4 days and this fee excludes the park entrance fees. Sport fishing at Murchison Falls is done on the boat around the banks of the river near Paraa Safaris Lodge and Karuma Falls which is next to Chobe Safari Lodge. The turbulent falls of the Karuma Falls are rich in oxygen, which attracts huge numbers of Nile perch at the site. Other fish species to expect include tilapia, giant catfish, tigerfish, and yellow fish.
Murchison Falls National Park given its location in East Africa in the Albertine Rift Valley region receives an equatorial type of climate. This tropical or equatorial type of climate is characterized by two dry and wet seasons per year. Sport fishing at Murchison Falls National Park can be carried out throughout the entire year. However, the dry season which runs from June to September and December to February is the best sport fishing season. This is because during this season there is little or no rainfall to disrupt your activity and also there are no high winds that may cause strong waves on the river.
Uganda is a rich diverse country with various water bodies that drain her land beautifying her lowland. Murchison Falls National Park is not the only hot spot destination for sport fishing but there are also other places which include the following.
Lake Mburo is found in the 370 square kilometers of Lake Mburo National Park. This park is the smallest Savannah park in the country. With over 228 kilometers on the road from Kampala the capital city of Uganda, it is the closest park to the city. The sport fishing activity is done in the Mazinga area well known for the different types of fish. The area has no hippos, crocodiles, and several other animals that might be dangerous to visitors.
With over 68,800 square kilometers, Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa. It is a hot spot for sport fishing because of the various fishing spots or landing sites. The lake is popular for hosting the Nile perch fish species and other species like lungfish, catfish, and tilapia. Sport fishing at Lake Victoria costs USD 115 per person for half-day activity while full-day fishing activity is USD 185 per person.
For visitors to have a successful sport fishing experience in Murchison Falls National Park, one should ensure to have proper fishing gear. This can be hired from the park or visitors can come with their fishing gear. The following is what visitors should ensure to pack for a successful and enjoyable sport fishing experience.
Sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda covering over 3,840 square kilometers. The park stands at an average altitude of 127 meters above sea level stretching as far as four districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. The park is divided by the Victoria Nile from east to west for a distance of about 120 kilometers. The Victoria Nile flows at approximately 45 meters over the rest of the rift valley wall creating the mighty Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall. It is here that the water squeezes through an 8-meter-wide gorge pouring into the Devil's Cauldron creating a beautiful rainbow and a thunderous roar.
Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest national park in Uganda. It was established and established in 1952 by the then government of the British administration as a national park. Before it was established, it was a game reserve that was expanded to the River Nile after the evacuation of the locals due to tsetse fly infestation. Murchison Falls National Park was originally known as Kabalega Falls National Park named after the Bunyoro King “Omukama Kabalega”. In 1863 and 1864 Samuel and Florence Baker visited and explored the park area and named the waterfalls Murchison Falls. This was after the then president of the Royal Geographical Society and geologist Roderick Murchison.
Sport fishing is one of the best and most popular tourist activities in Murchison Falls National Park. Visitors interested in this activity can obtain fishing permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority a management body of all protected areas in the country. Visitors can carry their fishing gear or even hire from the park. This experience involves catching and releasing the fish back into the water though after the sport, one is allowed to take one and experience its taste. Methods used for this activity include gill net, spearing, shoot arrow, scoop net, cast net, hooks, and many more. Sport fishing is done using live bait or casting lures, and the latter is usually used for Nile perch and catfish. Sport fishing on the Victoria Nile can be done by both professionals and beginners with the help of a fishing instructor with ample knowledge of the different fish species in the river.
Sport fishing permits can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted local tour operator. A sport fishing permit is a document that allows visitors to engage in this activity. Sport fishing permits cost USD 50 per day or USD 150 for 4 days and this fee excludes the park entrance fees. Sport fishing at Murchison Falls is done on the boat around the banks of the river near Paraa Safaris Lodge and Karuma Falls which is next to Chobe Safari Lodge. The turbulent falls of the Karuma Falls are rich in oxygen, which attracts huge numbers of Nile perch at the site. Other fish species to expect include tilapia, giant catfish, tigerfish, and yellow fish.
Murchison Falls National Park given its location in East Africa in the Albertine Rift Valley region receives an equatorial type of climate. This tropical or equatorial type of climate is characterized by two dry and wet seasons per year. Sport fishing at Murchison Falls National Park can be carried out throughout the entire year. However, the dry season which runs from June to September and December to February is the best sport fishing season. This is because during this season there is little or no rainfall to disrupt your activity and also there are no high winds that may cause strong waves on the river.
Uganda is a rich diverse country with various water bodies that drain her land beautifying her lowland. Murchison Falls National Park is not the only hotspot destination for sport fishing but there are also other places which include the following.
Lake Mburo is found in the 370 square kilometers of Lake Mburo National Park. This park is the smallest Savannah park in the country. With over 228 kilometers on the road from Kampala the capital city of Uganda, it is the closest park to the city. The sport fishing activity is done in the Mazinga area well known for the different types of fish. The area has no hippos, crocodiles, and several other animals that might be dangerous to visitors.
With over 68,800 square kilometers, Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa. It is a hot spot for sport fishing because of the various fishing spots or landing sites. The lake is popular for hosting the Nile perch fish species and other species like lungfish, catfish, and tilapia. Sport fishing at Lake Victoria costs USD 115 per person for half-day activity while full-day fishing activity is USD 185 per person.
For visitors to have a successful sport fishing experience in Murchison Falls National Park, one should ensure to have proper fishing gear. This can be hired from the park or visitors can come with their fishing gear. The following is what visitors should ensure to pack for a successful and enjoyable sport fishing experience.
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