I have often been asked if I have ever fished for tigerfish in Africa. Somehow, it never happened, but this adventure has always been on my bucket list. Then, in autumn 2023, Christiaan Pretorius approached me, saying he was organizing a group trip to Tanzania through the operator African Waters and asked if I wanted to join. Without hesitation, I confirmed for myself and Vaidas.
The journey went smoothly: a flight from Munich to Istanbul and then on to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. We stayed there for one night, and the next day, we took a small aircraft to the first camp.
We started at Dhala Camp on the Mnyera River, and midway through the week, we moved to Samaki Camp, where we fished the Ruhudji River, which was slightly smaller. Since a helicopter for hunters was stationed at the lodge, we had the opportunity to take a paid fly-out for a day. We fished a smaller river, which was stunning, but unfortunately, there were very few fish.
Unfortunately, the rivers carried too much water – over a meter higher than usual for this time of year. The water was also more brownish in color. Fishing was really challenging, and we all struggled to find fish.
Overall, it was a fantastic adventure with plenty of wildlife, great vibes, and amazing people. That‘s why I’ll be heading back to Tanzania in 2026 and bringing a group with me. Hopefully, I will get to experience the rivers at their best.
