The fishing in Lake Victoria for Nile Perch – the king of the lake’s fish – can be very exciting: some grow to 1.8 metres (6 feet) long, and weigh 140 kilograms (300 pounds). But more normally fish of about 15 kilos can be regularly caught, and taken back to your lodge for your chef to prepare. The unspoilt Mfangano Island on Lake Victoria, which measures no more than 65 square kilometers but rises to 1,700 meters, has no motorised vehicles, just a network of footpaths that meander through forests and across hillsides between scattered villages. The main attraction is fishing, for which the area is well-known, but the peace and beauty of the island (plus the opportunities for bird watching) give it an appeal to travellers and provides a contrast to the traditional wildlife-based safari. The island is accessible by charter flights or by road and boat from Kisumu.
Mfangano Island Camp is situated under ancient fig trees on the lake shore. The six luxury rooms all have en-suite bathrooms and private verandah with stunning uninterrupted views of the lake and offer complete privacy. Both the Camp’s sitting room and dining room look out from the lake shore, and are decorated in a distinctive ethnic style. There are plenty of opportunities for bird watching (fish eagles and cormorants can be spotted). The camp can provide all the necessary fishing tackle, and their boatmen are ready to help.