DR CONGO: Boyoma Falls

Boyoma Falls, formerly known as Stanley Falls, consists of seven cataracts, each no more than 5 m (16 ft) high, extending over more than 100 km (62 mi) along a curve of the Lualaba River between the river port towns of Ubundu and Kisangani/Boyoma in the Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At the bottom of the rapids, the Lualaba becomes the Congo River. The seven cataracts have a total drop of 61 m (200 ft). The two major cataracts are the first below Ubundu, forming a narrow and crooked stream that is hardly accessible, and the last that can easily be seen and also be visited from Kisangani.

A 1m-gauge portage railway bypasses the series of rapids, connecting Kisangani and Ubundu.

Boyoma Falls is the largest waterfall by volume of annual flow rate in the world, nearly ten times larger than the next largest waterfall in the world by volume annual flow rate.

Especially among French speakers the cataracts are also known as Wagenia Falls, referring to the local people of fishermen named Wagenia or Wagenya who have developed a special technique to fish in the river.

They build systems of wooden tripods across the rapids fixed in holes carved in the rock by the water current. They serve as anchors for baskets that entrap large fish.

According to Stanley,by taking advantage of the rocks, the natives have been enabled to fix upright heavy poles, 6 inches in diameter, to each of which they attach enormous fish-baskets by means of rattan-cane cable.

There are probably sixty or seventy baskets laid in the river on each side, every day; and though some may be brought up empty, in general they seem to be tolerably successful, for out of half-a-dozen baskets twenty-eight large fish were collected.



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Goliath Tigerfish

When your name is Goliath, you'd better be one humongous, ferocious creature, and the Goliath tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath) definitely lives up to its moniker. A native of the Congo River basin, the Lualaba River, Lake Upemba and Lake Tanganyika in Africa, it's the largest member of the tigerfish clan, a genus of fierce predators with protruding, daggerlike teeth. The biggest one on record was nearly 5 feet long and weighed 154 pounds, the equivalent of a super-welterweight prizefighter. And it outclasses other African game fish in speed and power.

Locals say it's the only fish that doesn't fear the crocodile and that it actually eats smaller ones. It's also been known to attack humans in rare instances. It's so lightning quick and forceful that not only will it snap an angler's line, but it will sometimes make off with his or her tackle. No wonder one fishing safari promoter requires clients read a cautionary treatise on the Goliath before agreeing to a fishing trip.

Bully of the Congo Basin
The Goliath tigerfish has an olive-colored back and a silvery underbelly. But if you see one, what you'll remember is its mouthful of 32 jagged, razorlike teeth. Each tooth can be up to one inch long. The Goliath's teeth are set at the edge of the jaw -- the monster has barely any lips. And when those teeth slam down on prey, it's a clean, almost surgical cut. Those attributes, combined with its muscular physique, make the Goliath a state-of-the-art mayhem machine.

It likes turbulent waters, where fish who are less powerful swimmers struggle against the current, rendering them vulnerable to attack. It has excellent eyesight and the ability to sense low-frequency vibrations emitted by prey. It generally circles the unlucky fish before striking with the brutality of a piranha. The Goliath has been known to pounce on a 60-pound catfish and literally slice it in half. Scary, huh? The Goliath's lifespan in the wild is uncertain, but they've lasted 10 to 15 years in captivity.

Catching a Goliath
The Goliath is a tough fish to catch, but it can be done, provided you've got heavy-duty gear, a sharp enough hook and you're willing to remain vigilant for long stretches. They'll strike either lures or live bait. If you have good fortune, your hook will set deep enough in the mouth that it will survive the Goliath's head-thrashing. When the Goliath jumps, be sure to lower the rod tip to reduce shock against the line. This is a fish that won't allow you to make any mistakes.

Why You Should Throw It Back
The Goliath tigerfish puts more energy into killing than breeding. It can take a local population between five and 14 years to double in size. Ergo, every one you release helps ensure that the monsters remain in adequate numbers to keep the ecosystem in stasis.