Author's family member with a fish caught on the trip

To the Orange River in Richtersveld, South Africa

The Richtersveld is a World Heritage Site situated on the west coast of Africa near the mouth of the Orange River between Namibia and South Africa. It is one of the most inhospitable places on earth as it almost never rains and, while summer day temperatures are constantly in the 40’s, winter nights can be so cold that the air sneaks inside almost any clothing or sleeping bag. The Orange is the longest and one of the largest rivers in South Africa and has origins and inputs from places as diverse as the pristine highlands of Lesotho and the sprawling townships of Johannesburg. From another perspective, however, the Richtersveld is one of the very best, and yet least known, sport and game fishing destinations in Africa. 

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Tigerfish in Southern Africa

This charismatic fish is well known for immediately leaping out of the water on being hooked and then repeatedly jumping to try and dislodge, often successfully, any hook in its mouth. Its mouth displays a mass of sharp pointed teeth and there is very little soft flesh around it. Africa has many splendid freshwater fish, but most experienced sport anglers would agree that the African tigerfish is in a class by itself.

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