Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park
Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park: Murchison falls national park is one of the places in Uganda known for having fresh waters which are good for sport fishing. Murchison falls national park is an ideal place for sportfishing in Uganda with some part of the park covered by River Nile. The Nile passes through Murchison falls national park on its way to the Mediterranean sea from Lake Victoria.
Murchison falls national park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda 4-6 hours from Kampala using road transport. Murchison falls national park is a protected area that was gazetted in 1952 by the government of Uganda. The national park is home to 76 mammal species, 13 primate species, and about 451 bird species.
The sport fishing activity in Murchison falls national park
Sport fishing activities in Murchison falls national park is an amazing activity where tourists get a chance to catch different kinds of fish in the River Nile such as Nile perch. This great safari activity in Murchison falls national park is done on a catch and release method however at the end of the activity, participants are rewarded with fish to take and eat.
Tourists going for sport fishing in this mighty park meet at Paara and they move to the bottom of the falls where this activity is done. Well-trained guides will be with tourists intending to do this safari activity for safety and protection from animals that could be dangerous. These include crocodiles that are always near the river banks as well as hippos.
During sport fishing safaris, tourists are asked to come along with their own sport fishing equipment or hire them from world frontiers. The fish is caught in a catch and release method using rods in order to conserve the fish species in River Nile. During sport fishing, tourists will be able to catch fish such as Nile perch, catfish, tilapia, and tigerfish among others.
Murchison falls national park is one of the few places which offer the best fishing activities but again it has more to offer. Some of the activities that can be enjoyed in Murchison falls park include game drives where tourists are able to spot over 76 mammals, birding activities where birds have an opportunity to encounter over 451 bird species, nature walks, and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest.
How much is sport fishing ?
To be part of the sport fishing in Murchison falls national park, you need a permit from the park headquarters. Each permit comes at a fee of $50 for foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African citizens. For travelers who want to be part of sport fishing for 4 days while on a safari in the park, it’s $150 for all categories.
Tourists that are planning to pass by Murchison falls national park for sport fishing, they should know that one must pay the park entrance fee to access the park. The park entrance fee to Murchison falls national park is $45 for foreign non-residents, $35 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 east African citizens.
Best time for sport fishing ?
Are you wondering what could be the best time for sport fishing? Well this thrilling safari activity in Murchison falls national park can be done all throughout the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months from June to September and December to February is the best time to have sport fishing done in Murchison falls national park and this is because there is little or no rainfall in the park which keeps the water levels low hence giving the best experience.
Tourists can still visit Murchison falls national park in the rainy seasons from March to May and October to November for sport fishing because the park will always be open. During the rainy season, those who visit the park will enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities as prices are lowered to attract the few tourists to the park. The rainy season, however, comes with too much rainfalls which increase the water levels and that is not good for the activity.
What to pack for sport fishing?
Are you intending to have a sport fishing safari and you don’t know what to pack? we got answers, any travelers visiting Murchison falls national park for sport fishing, they need to come well prepared in order to have the best of experience. Travelers need a light backpack, a life jacket, a rain jacket, a sweater, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen, insect repellents, sunglasses, a hat, a drinking water bottle, a camera, and a pair of binoculars among others.
Accommodation during a sport fishing tour in Murchison falls national park
While on this safari activity in Murchison falls national park, you will find several accommodation facilities in the park ranging dring budget to mid-range to luxury options, and where to finally stay depends on your travel budget. Some of the accommodation in Murchison falls national park includes Chobe Safari Lodge, Paara Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Safari lodge, Bakers Lodge, Amuka Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Budongo Eco-Lodge, and Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
Getting to Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park in northwestern Uganda can be accessed using road transport or air transport within a single day. The national park is about 305 km from Kampala which takes 4-6 hours to access park. By road transport, travelers can access Murchison from Kampala via Karuma- Pakwach road to the northern gate or Kampala via Masindi to the southern gate.
By air travelers, it’s possible to access the park from Kajjansi airstrip in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to Pakuba airstrip or Chobe airstrip. Different airline companies organize chattered flights to Murchison falls national park twice a day and these are Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda.