Sport Fishing in Murchison Falls National Park

Sport Fishing in Murchison Falls National Park is one of the amazing activities whereby travelers get a chance to fish for the big Nile Perch fish. Murchison falls national park is located in northwestern Uganda and is the largest national park and best visited a national park in  Uganda. Sport fishing is an exciting activity in Uganda where visitors are given an opportunity to participate in catch and release fishing on the fresh water bodies and Murchison falls national park is one of the best destinations where sport fishing activity is carried out. Sport fishing in Uganda can also be carried out on Lake Mburo which is situated within Lake Mburo national park in western Uganda, Ssese Island on Lake Victoria which is the largest fresh water lake in Uganda and the second largest lake in the whole world, Sipi falls which are situated in eastern part of Uganda in Kapchorwa district near Mount Elgon national park among others.

Sport Fishing in Murchison

Sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park

Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park is carried out at the bottom of the falls either at the river banks or downstream in the pools. Visitors who want to participate in sport fishing activity in Murchison falls national park are advised to purchase a sport fishing permit and also move with their sport fishing equipment. Due to the fact that Murchison falls national park also harbors water animals like crocodiles and hippos its recommended that visitors should move with experienced guides for safety and protection especially if you are catching out sport fishing on the water banks. Guides will also offer assistance during sport fishing especially visitors who are participating in sport fishing for the first time.  Sportfishing in Murchison falls national park is best done either in the morning or in the evening and the activity because that is when the water is rewarding and sport fishing in Uganda is carried out under the policy of catch and release method so as to conserve the fish species in the water. During sport fishing, anglers will be able to catch fish types like Tilapia, Nile Perch, Catfish, Tigerfish, Electric catfish among others.

Sport fishing Methods and Equipment’s in Murchison falls national park

Anglers who want to participate in sport fishing in Murchison falls national park are advised to carry their own fishing gears or hire the fishing equipment’s from wild frontiers a company that operates sport fishing activity in Murchison falls national park. During sport fishing in Murchison falls national park there are various fishing methods used such as casting lures, catching on live bait and spinning where you will use a 7 spinning rod with 5kilogrames to catch small fish like tiger fish. its, therefore, recommended that anglers should use rods that are between 8 feet and 11 feet with multiplier reel or a fixed stool.

When to go for sport fishing in Murchison falls national park

Sport fishing can be carried out anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season, there is less rainfall which makes sport fishing successful and rewarding. Also during the dry season, the water level becomes low therefore water will be clear for the anglers to carry out sport fishing.

Cost of sport fishing in Murchison falls national park

Sport fishing activity in Murchison falls national park costs $50 per person for 1 day and $150 for 4 days and the rates exclude park entrance fees to Murchison falls national park, therefore, visitors who want to participate in sport fishing activity will pay park entrance fees separately.

What to wear/ carry when going for sport fishing activity

Temperatures in Murchison falls national park are sometimes over 40°C like at mid-day, therefore, anglers are advised to carry various equipment’s for protection during sport fishing such as

  • Sunscreen lotion
  • Hat and sunglasses to protect your head from the direct sunshine  
  • Long sleeved shirt and long trousers to protect you from the tsetse fly insects
  • Long stockings
  • Insect repellant to protect your skin from the tsetse flies
  • Hiking shoes for anglers who will be doing sport fishing on the rocky surface area
  • Rain jacket to protect you from the rain in case it rains
  • Life jacket
  • First aid box
  • Camera to take plenty of photos while holding fish and capture the moments to show people back home 
  • A pair of binoculars to spot bird species and far animals

How to get to Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park is located in the northern part of Kampala and can be accessed by both road and air transport means

Road transport, Murchison falls national park has several gates in the northern and southern sectors such as Tangi, Chobe, Mubako, Wankwar, Kichumbanyobo and Bugungu gate. When traveling to Murchison falls national park you can either private means or public means of road transport to drive from Kampala via Karuma-Pakwachi road to the park headquarters which is 305 kilometers and takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive. 

Air transport, Murchison falls national park can be accessed by air transport means whereby there are domestic aircraft like Aerolink airline which operate scheduled and chartered flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Pakuba airfield, Chobe airfield and Bugungu airfield which take 1 hour and mostly operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flights to Murchison falls national park can be arranged through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris and once you land at one of the airports in Murchison falls national park the tour guide will be available to transfer you to the lodge where you will be staying during your safari.

Sport Fishing in Murchison
Sport Fishing in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park offers the best sport fishing activity in Uganda in that it can be combined with other activities in the park such as Game drive where you will be able to view various animal species like buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, waterbucks, oribi, giraffes, lions, leopards, side-striped hyena, spotted jackal among others, Birding with views of the rare shoebill stork, Boat cruise at the bottom of the falls and on Nile Delta, Hot air balloon, Nature walk, Hiking to the top of the falls, Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest where you will also be able to view other primate species like red tailed monkeys, black and white monkeys, baboons among others.       

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