Something fishy holds hope for Angola tourism

Post-war Angola may not stand out as a top African tourist destination but adventure anglers fishing for the giant tarpon look set to put the country back on the visitors map.

The powerful game fish, which can weigh more than 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds), is mainly found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, a prized catch among avid sport fishermen.

The area around the mouth of the Kwanza river, which spills into the Atlantic, has been bracing for a flurry of activity since the fishing season got underway in November. Adventurers and fishing enthusiasts travel from as far as Namibia and South Africa to Angola, in search of the ultimate catch a major boost for a lethargic tourism industry crippled by almost three decades of civil war.

“People come here for only one thing. To catch the tarpon. That is every fisherman’s dream, it is a catch of a lifetime,” Kwanza River Lodge, south of Luanda manager Many Milner said. Although the fishing season only lasts for about five months, Milner says the influx has created a peak season for the fledging tourism industry.

AFP