With just a few weeks to go until the start of the 2026 Tanzania tigerfish season we’re delighted to share this report from our partners on the ground in Tanzania.
Preparations are well under way for what is shaping up to be a very strong season on the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers.
Last season, we witnessed the best recruitment of juvenile tigerfish we have seen in more than a decade. This, combined with stable water conditions and our most successful off-season anti-poaching efforts to date, all point towards a productive and exciting season ahead.
The benchmark for trophy tigerfish
Fly fishing for trophy tigerfish across 80 kilometres of exclusive river deep in the Tanzanian wilderness remains the main attraction.
Guests fish from drifting and poled skiffs, as well as on foot, across six beats on two very different river systems. The fly fishing is dynamic and engaging, and consistently produces the largest fly caught tigerfish on the continent.
Year-round conservation work, regular encounters with African big game, and a highly experienced team built over the past 18 years ensure that the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers continue to set the benchmark for tigerfishing in Africa.
Kwazi and Samaki Camps
The 2025 upgrades to Kwazi Camp, previously Dhala Camp, on the Mnyera River, and Samaki Camp on the Ruhudji River, made an immediate difference to the overall experience.
We have continued building on these improvements ahead of the coming season, while retaining the character and sense of place that make time in this remote part of Tanzania so rewarding.
A new chapter at Nyerere Dam
The 2026 season will also see our first guided fly-fishing groups take on the evolving Nyerere Dam fishery within Nyerere National Park.
This vast stillwater system is already producing fast-paced fishing, aggressive takes and impressive numbers of tigerfish. There is still much to learn, which is exactly what makes the opportunity so compelling.
The Shangaa Tigerfish Experience has been created around exploring this fishery responsibly and contributing to its long-term development and conservation.
Available as either a standalone trip or an extension to a week on the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers, it offers a completely different way to experience Tanzania’s tigerfish fishing.
Three- to seven-night options are available here.
Combine tigerfishing with safari
Happily, the prime fishing season of September to November coincides with Tanzania’s peak game viewing months. That makes it an ideal window to go on safari. From the less visited parks of Ruaha and Nyerere (Selous) or to see the amazing spectacle of the migration in Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, this is an ideal time to be in Tanzania. For a fully relaxing end to your stay, enjoy the white sands and wonderful properties on Zanzibar. We will be delighted to help you plan your safari through our safari company, Ganders Travel.
Charlotte’s live chat video is a great place to start if you’d like to hear first-hand what it’s like to fish for these ferocious predators.
If you would like more information please contact Charlotte Chilcott or call us on ++44 1980 847389. Alternatively click HERE if you would like us to contact you.
