African Waters Tigerfishing

Lodging Details
African Waters has partnered with long-standing Tanzanian safari outfit Kilombero North Safaris (KNS) to offer the finest logistics, accommodations, and amenities found anywhere in this part of the country. With established outfitting services, concession management, and year-round anti-poaching (land and river) efforts, this is without a doubt the finest operation in the entire region. Over the course of a week of fishing with African Waters, you will split your time between two different camps. Dhala Camp, comprising of 4 wooden fishing cabins and a central thatched mess and lounge area, is the bast for your stay on the Mnyera River. The camp consists of 4 cabins with twin or double configurations. All cabins have a view overlooking the river. All cabins are en suite, offering a shower and toilet.  Meals are enjoyed in the main central camp area under thatched roof overlooking the river. This area contains a small library, lounges, and electric points for charging cameras and laptops, and a comprehensive fly-tying station. Samaki Camp is a rustic bush camp where all the tents contain twin or double beds, showers, flush toilets, and hand basins. All linen is provided. Hot water is from a “donkey boiler” which is filled and warmed each morning and evening. The sleeping and tent accommodations are spacious and comfortable, especially when you consider just where it is you are sleeping! Dinners are enjoyed under the stars in the outdoor “boma” or around the campfire on the beach. There is no electricity at Samaki camp.

Food and Beverages
Breakfast is served early each morning in the dining area of each camp and lunch can either be packed for your day on the water or taken back at camp if you desire a mid-day break (depending on your daily fishing schedule). Each evening, guests enjoy nightly dinners in the dining area, and fresh African game is usually on the menu. Each camp also has a gas-powered refrigerator, which means that cold beers are available.

Typical Length of Stay
Most trips are nine days long, which include a night on arrival in Dar Es Salaam, seven (7) nights in camp, and another night in Dar on the back end of the trip. Trips include six (6) full days of fishing and possible partial days of fishing on arrival and departure days.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
This is probably not the place to go if you are a non-angler. If you want a non-angling African experience, then we suggest that you go on a standard safari. This is a remote, fishing-focused operation first and foremost. That said, while you are with African Waters, you can expect to experience all of the amazing sights and experiences that the African bush has to offer. Buffalo, lion, leopard, and elephant are common in the area, as well as a host of plains game species including puku, warthog, hartebeest, zebra, eland, and bushbuck. The birdlife is exceptional with many rare and endemic species found in the area.

African Safari Trip Add-On
Yellow Dog Flyfishing works hand-in-hand with both SafariScapes and Machaba Blue to provide traveling anglers and their companions with unforgettable African safari experiences. There is no better way to top off a trip than with a visit to one of many beautiful African lodges after a week of battling giant trevally in the Seychelles or tigerfish in Tanzania. Whether you are eager for an expedition into the plains to witness the African wilderness firsthand, or looking for a few days of luxury accommodations on the shores of the African coast, we are able to coordinate the idyllic custom itinerary to maximize your experience abroad.

Internet / Communications
There is wireless access at the airport in Dar and at the Sea Cliff Hotel in Dar. Once in camp, however, there is no wireless access or cellular access at all.

How To Get There
Tanzania and the capital city airport – Dar Es Salaam International (DAR)- is served by several internationally scheduled flights, including direct services from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, and several other cities. From the U.S. you will typically fly to Paris, London or Amsterdam, and from there fly directly to Dar Es Salaam (DAR). Each flight is approximately eight to 10 hours long. Often guests arrive with at least a full night in the city of Dar before catching the private charter flight out to camp. We will be delighted to assist you with all the trip details and travel options for this trip.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Most flights that arrive in Dar Es Salaam arrive in the late evening or at night. The typical itinerary can accommodate most arrival and departure times. 

Documents Required
A passport that is valid for six (6) months after the last day of your trip is required for entry into Tanzania. Visas are also necessary for all visitors, and these are easily obtainable upon entry at the airport in Dar. Valid yellow fever inoculations are required by most countries (on return from Tanzania). Due to the remoteness of this location, Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures requires the purchase of medical evacuation and trip insurance.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The discovery of the Mnyera and Ruhudji river systems in 2008 has been acknowledged by many serious anglers as one of the biggest things to happen in African sportfishing in the past 20 years. To indicate the enormity of the discovery, in the past half-century that fly fishermen have been targeting tigers on the fly, a 20-pound fish had not been landed. This statistic was shattered in 2008 when eight fish over the 20-pound mark were landed in as many days on one section of the Mnyera!

The typical season on these two rivers runs from August 1 to mid-November. It is during these months when the water temperatures rise and the clarity increases, that trophy tigerfish of this region begin to feed aggressively. Fly fishing large black whistlers, clousers, and Puglisi-style baitfish patterns to the banks and into the river structure has proven the most successful way of tempting these aggressive and predatory tigers. Seasonal catch data from the past two years indicates clearly that the strict beat rotation that was implemented by African Waters in fishing these rivers has been a success. The average number of trophy fish landed per week has been consistent throughout each season, and the average numbers caught have been impressive.

The discovery of excellent waters closer to the headwater of the Ruhudji Rivers has also opened up a further 30 kilometers of productive waters. The end result is that African Waters now offers seven individual beats that can be fished and visited on a rotating basis. On top of this, the season has been limited to the 16 absolute best weeks in the year, with a maximum of only eight rods per week. Each beat will be fished only once or twice every seven days, ensuring that no area is ever over-fished. Tigers that are caught in both rivers can run anywhere from a few pounds in size to over 20 pounds. Most fish caught will run between five and ten pounds, and larger fish are caught on a very regular basis.

+ Listen to this WAYPOINTS Podcast: Keith Clover and Rob Scott: Pioneering African Waters

Boats and Equipment
The majority of the fishing is done on the drift on both the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers. African Waters utilizes 16-foot aluminum boats with 25HP outboards for all fishing on the rivers. Wade fishing is unusual and not recommended. Because of the remote nature and location of the operation, it is recommended that you bring all of your own equipment. Bring several rods and extra fly lines as well. Yellow Dog will provide you with a complete packing list and equipment list in your pre-trip confirmation packet.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person, based on double or single occupancy, and quoted in US dollars. Trips of any length can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing. PLEASE NOTE: All fishing packages run from Saturday to Saturday with six full days of fishing.

2024 Rates:
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $9,650 base package + $1,750 roundtrip domestic air charter ($11,400 per person total)

What’s Included:

• Transfer from the airport to Seacliff Hotel on arrival in Dar Es Salaam (DAR).
• Transfer from Seacliff to charter flight on the morning of departure.
• Transfer from charter terminal to airport or Seacliff on arrival back in Dar Es Salaam
• Round-trip air charter flights to and from Dar to camp (20kg luggage limit per person)
• All overnight camp accommodations
• All meals and beverages (limited beer, bottled water, and soda) while in camp
• Six full days of guided fishing (2 anglers per boat)
• Boats and fuel
• All taxes and tourism levees on camp package
• 16% Tanzanian Tourism VAT
• Fishing licenses and concession fees

What’s Not Included:

• International flights to Dar Es Salaam (DAR)
• Visa and entry fees into Tanzania (obtainable on arrival in Dar)
• Hotel overnights and other costs in Dar Es Salaam (Yellow Dog will set up the hotels for you)
• Rods, reels, terminal tackle, and flies
• BYO liquor and wine and beers over-allocated amount in camp
• Mandatory travel and medical evacuation insurance (available through Yellow Dog)
• Gratuities for guides and staff

African Waters Tigerfishing (Tanzania)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all trip packages and reservations, and final payment is due 90 days prior to arrival. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. For all Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, L.L.C. (YDFA) African Waters fishing packages, both deposits and final payments are non-refundable. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge/operator or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a 10% per person cancellation fee charged by the outfitter and a $100.00 per person cancellation fee from Yellow Dog Flyfishing. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. If no replacement is found, the following cancellation terms will apply:

For cancellations outside of 180 days from the start of trip date, a 90% credit (minus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee) will be issued for a trip to be rescheduled within one year from original trip date.

For cancellations made 179 to 90 days from the start of trip date, a 50% credit (minus a $100.00 per person Yellow Dog cancellation fee) will be issued for a trip to be rescheduled within one year from original trip date.

For cancellations inside of 90 days from arrival date, all payments will be forfeited, and no credit will be issued.

Yellow Dog Flyfishing strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for your trip. No refunds will be given for services, activities or accommodations voluntarily not participated in by the guest. This is the clients’ own responsibility and should be arranged in your country of origin, when you first book your African Waters trip and itinerary. It is mandatory that all clients have adequate medical insurance that includes medical evacuation from point of injury. We strongly recommend you obtain this through Global Rescue, who are world leaders and are strongly linked with the fishing travel industry. African Waters, its agents and affiliates, take no responsibility for change in international and local flight schedules. At time of quote, all flight charges, island fees and government taxes are correct but nonetheless are subject to change without prior notice. Client bookings are accepted on the understanding by the client that all tours are of an adventurous nature and involve an element of personal risk which is an inherent part of international travel. Clients undertake all tours entirely at their own risk and while African Waters takes every precaution to ensure the safety of clients, Yellow Dog accepts no responsibility for any death, injury or loss which might occur to such clients, sustained from any cause whatsoever. Please be aware that all guests will be required to sign and return the African Waters Indemnity Form prior to the trip, and there will be no exceptions to this. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these African Waters packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

“Dodging hippos & crocs, finger burning runs while landing big tigerfish to an audience of yellow baboons and waterbucks can’t get much better.” – G. White

“The team of guides at African Waters exceeded my high expectations in a myriad of ways. The team of 4 was dedicated to making sure we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the Ruhudji and Mynera Rivers. Even though it was the last week of the fishing season, and the guides were understandably exhausted both mentally and physically from a grueling stretch of 100 days, they still managed to bring their A game for one last push for trophy tigerfish. The guides were a mix of seasoned vets, who know more about targeting tigers on a fly than frankly anyone else alive, and eager young guns who brought new tricks and techniques. Not only were they experts at putting us onto fish, they also had to keep us safe from potential lethal danger around every corner in the form of angry hippos and cold-blooded crocs. They did this skillfully with an appetite for raw instinct. It all made for an incredible week of adventure fishing.” – Andy T.