A pleasant sport fishing experience is one of the most memorable things you will wish to do on Lake Victoria. Get on a speed boat or powered canoe and move to the pristine Ssese Islands. These Islands offer some of the best sport fishing spots in Lake Victoria. Other spots on Lake Victoria offering opportunities for sport fishing include Munyonyo and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center. The guided sport fishing experience can be enjoyed mostly in the daytime, while nighttime sport fishing activities can also be arranged for you.
Fish species to catch during your sport fishing in Lake Victoria
The commonest fish to catch while on Lake Victoria is the Nile Perch, which is the biggest. Others are the Nile Tilapia, catfish, and lungfish. It is better if you travel with your fishing gear to catch the fish in Lake Victoria. However, you may get fishing gear offered by the sport fishing service providers. The fishing gear includes a fishing rod with a reel/spool attached. You might want to use the live baiting or fly-fishing method to lure the fish. The procedure is catching a fish, taking photos, and releasing it back into the lake as instructed by the fishing guide.
Best time to go for sport fishing in Lake Victoria
We recommend going for sport fishing in Lake Victoria on any day of the year. Nevertheless, the waters of Lake Victoria are calmer during the rainy season in comparison to the dry season. Lake Victoria experiences the rainy season from October to May, with the peak occurring in March to May. In June and July, the dry season is at its peak. This causes unpredictable violent storms and strong winds that may increase the water waves. These may subsequently cause accidents like toppling your boat or canoe.
Traveling for sport fishing in Lake Victoria
Traveling for sport fishing in Lake Victoria is done either by road or water transport. From Kampala, you will reach Entebbe in approximately 1 hour, which covers a road distance of close to 50 kilometers. Reaching the Ssese Islands on the other hand is done by ferry from the shores of Lake Victoria. Arranging your travel needs can be done by an experienced tour operator like Standard Safaris. We will offer you the best selection of cars to select from. These range from 4×4 safari cars and drones. We can also book your accommodation and meals.
Some facts about Lake Victoria
In terms of total land surface area, Lake Victoria is the largest in Africa, occupying about 68,800 square kilometers. It is also the largest tropical lake in the world and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. Lake Victoria is situated in East Africa and is shared by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Lake Victoria has a maximum depth of about 70 meters. There are numerous rivers and streams that either drain it or supply water to it. The most notable rivers include the Nile, Kagera, Nzoia, Nyando, Migori, etc.
There are a variety of fish species that can be found in Lake Victoria. The endemic haplochromine cichlid is plenty, with over 500 species recorded. There are 2 species of tilapia. Other fish species recorded here include African tetra, spiny eel, lungfish, shrimp, catfish, Nile perch, climbing gourami, and elephantfish. Lake Victoria is also home to countless fauna besides fish. These are Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, bohor reedbucks, mongooses, defassa waterbucks, turtles, crabs, snails, giant otter shrews and sitatungas.
Other activities to enjoy on and near Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is not only popular with anglers. This lake is also known for other exciting activities that are similarly captivating. Some of them are.
Beach experiences along Lake Victoria’s sandy shores. This offers opportunities for both local and foreign visitors to enjoy the cool breeze. They can relax, swim, attend music concerts, and play soccer, and volleyball among others.
Shoebill excursion at Mabamba swamp. This is a unique way of locating the rare shoebill in one of the best places to see it. Spotting a shoebill stock is done while on a boat or canoe with an experienced birding guide.
Visit to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. This is an exciting experience that will bring you closer to man’s closest relatives in captivity. The place also offers you opportunities to feed the chimps, while raising public awareness of these primates and their conservation.
A boat cruise on Lake Victoria is another unique way of enjoying yourself on Africa’s largest lake. You will enjoy a sundowner during the evening, you may also like to cruise along the equator which is a unique way of being on either side of the hemisphere.
Visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. This offers opportunities to explore a plethora of Uganda’s flora, all in one place. Come and learn about the country’s botanical aspects and how plants are used for various purposes including medicine, food, ornaments, etc.
Visit the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center, also known as Entebbe Zoo. This is another breathtaking site offering opportunities to see Uganda’s wild animals in captivity. Key animals include lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, snakes, shoebill, snakes, ostriches and chimps.
