Destination Guide
ON SAFARI
Introduction | Getting to Lake Nasser | Getting Ready | What To Bring | On Safari | Target Species
| Fishing Methods | Tackle Advice | Lures | Tackle Hire | Home Page
Content
Safari Start Point
Re-Confirming international Flight Tickets
Booking An African Angler Fishing Guide
Time Spent Trolling
Hygiene
Shore Hazards
Crocodiles
Snakes and Scorpions
SAFARI START POINT
We start our safaris from either the High Dam at Aswan or from Garf Hussein, which is 160 kilometers south of Aswan.
Safaris that start from Aswan involve a fifteen-minute bus ride from either Aswan airport (or hotel) to the High Dam where we meet the boats. We normally travel, in the fishing boats, for two to three hours to reach the best fishing areas and then start the safari. This journey will give you a good opportunity to tackle up and get organized.
Garf Hussein is on the West bank of Lake Nasser and about a 1 ½-hour road journey
from Aswan (see map Lake Nasser).
It's expensive for us to transport anglers and the provisions needed to start a safari at Garf Hussein but it is well worth the effort. The lake is huge, covering an area of over 6,200 square kilometers, which means the middle and southern parts of the lake require long hours of travel to reach by boat. For example Aswan to Garf Hussein takes 11 hours by boat. Covering this distance by road enables us to reach parts of the lake, which would take too long reach by boat. By starting in Garf Hussein we considerably expand our fishing grounds into the south of the lake and at the same time we are giving the Northern half of the lake a rest.
RE-CONFIRMING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TICKETS
When you arrive in Aswan please be sure to give your flight tickets to the African Angler representative who meets you at Aswan airport. He has the responsibility of re-confirming your return flight. Your flight ticket will be kept safe until the end of your safari and then returned to you.
BOOKING AN AFRICAN ANGLER FISHING GUIDE
Half of the anglers who come on a safari have already been with us before and have made friends with one of our Nubian guides and would like to fish with them again. If you would like to book an individual guide please advise us and we will do our best to provide you with the guide you want.
TIME SPENT TROLLING
Your Nubian guide is expected to troll for at least 8 hours a day, which is included in the price of the safari. You should find this plenty; combined with shore fishing you will almost be able to fish from dawn to dusk. Bait can be put out at night for catfish, which means you can fish for 24 hours, if you've got the energy.
The main reason for a eight hour trolling limit is that it is hot and tiring work trolling under the desert sun; your guide is much more alert when he is not tired. Another reason is the fuel supply; we have reserves but have to be careful, as there is no fuel available on the lake.
HYGIENE
It is important to maintain your health while on safari. The most common complaint is tummy trouble or the runs. Our supply boat staff has been instructed to use potassium permanganate for washing all your fruit and vegetables. It is very rare for anyone to get infected while on safari.
The ice we use cannot be used in drinks. When you drink your cold beer straight from the can please make sure that it is well wiped down because you might be picking up germs from the can - better still use a glass.
If you get a dose of the runs use the medicine that you have brought with you but if this does not work ask your guide for the medicine we have in our first aid box, which works well. It is Antinal (nifuroxazide), which is a broad spectrum Intestinal antiseptic.
SHORE HAZARDS
Loose, fragile rocks pose the greatest personal hazard on Lake Nasser. Never trust your weight to unattached boulders, or overhangs, and be very wary of wet, algae covered rocks in the splash zone. If you need to use your hands to climb up a rock face, don't attempt it.
As a matter of precaution always wear shoes and always look where you are walking. Take care when shore fishing and wear shoes with a grip.
It is always advisable to go shore fishing with another person if you are going out of sight of camp.
Do not swim while you are shore fishing. There is a slight risk of crocodiles that might not have been scared off by your quiet approach.
CROCODILES
The Lake Nasser Crocodile is much more timid than his southern relatives. Lake Nasser area has been in a desert for thousands of years, which mean there is practically no wild life on the shore that is of any interest to a crocodile. The Nasser crocodile's instincts are tuned to hunting fish in the water and not to taking animals from the shore.
On many occasions our fishing boats get involved in saving the life of a crocodile, seen News From Lake Nasser No. 4. Crocodiles sometimes get tangled up in the fishermen's nets and normally what happens is that they get tied up in a very tight bundle and then along comes one of our boats with sympathetic anglers who negotiate a price for the reptile and then set off and release it. I am convinced that the fishermen think we are just a little bit mad. Fishermen spend a lot of sweat and toil catching fish and then along we come, with expensive boats and equipment, catching fish and then letting them go not to mention paying money to release crocodiles?
It's safe to swim in the lake providing certain common-sense rules are followed. These being never swim at night, in weeds or away from the boats or camp.
SNAKES AND SCORPIONS
The scorpions found in the Egyptian desert are not fatal but their sting is very painful. They live under rocks by day coming out at night. If you see a Scorpion do not worry, it will not attack you - its sting is only a form of defense. As a precaution always wear shoes at night and if you put anything down on the ground always pick it up carefully - check first. Never leave open bags on the shore at night.
There are snakes in the desert most notably cobras and vipers. Snakes are timid animals - much more afraid of you than you of them. The chances are extremely remote that you will even see a snake but if you do don't panic, instead calmly back away slowly and let it go on its way.