Location: South-western corner of Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
Size: About 457 km², making it the largest island national park in Africa.
Vibe: Remote, untouched, and wild a hidden gem for adventurers who want something unique.
Rubondo Island National Park
All about Rubondo island
Rubondo Island, tucked away in the southwestern waters of Lake Victoria, is Africa’s largest island national park and one of Tanzania’s best-kept secrets. Covering 457 km² of pristine forest, savannah, and shoreline, the island feels untouched and wild a sanctuary where wildlife thrives with minimal human presence.
The park is especially famous for its chimpanzee population, introduced in the 1960s, and now offering rare opportunities for chimp tracking. Beyond chimps, the island shelters elephants, giraffes, hippos, sitatunga antelope, and an astonishing array of birdlife with over 300 recorded species.
What makes Rubondo truly unique is its mix of forest adventure, lake exploration, and absolute seclusion. Guests can enjoy guided forest walks, boat safaris, canoeing, fishing for giant Nile perch, or simply relaxing on sandy beaches with no crowds in sight.
For adventurous travelers, Rubondo offers an off-the-beaten-path safari experience unlike anywhere else in Tanzania remote, exclusive, and deeply connected to nature.
Activities on Rubondo
Chimpanzee habituation experience (walk with researchers).
Guided forest walks (spot sitatunga, bushbuck, and rare birds).
Game drives (low density, but very wild feel).
Canoeing & boat safaris (hippos, crocodiles, birdlife).
Sport fishing (catch-and-release Nile perch, some over 100 kg!).
Relaxing on remote sandy beaches of Lake Victoria.
Best Time to Visit
Dry Season (June–October): Best for chimp tracking and general exploration.
Green Season (Nov–May): Lush landscapes, excellent birding, but heavier rains.
Getting There
By Air: Small charter flights from Arusha, Serengeti, or Mwanza land directly on Rubondo.
By Boat: Some lodges arrange private boat transfers from Mwanza or the mainland.
Why Rubondo is Special
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Rubondo is one of the only places in Tanzania (outside of Gombe & Mahale) where you can track chimpanzees.
The chimps were introduced in the 1960s and have since thrived in the island’s dense forests.
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Over 300 bird species including African fish eagles, kingfishers, storks, and migratory birds.
The island is especially rewarding for rare and aquatic bird sightings.
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Home to sitatunga antelope, bushbuck, elephants, giraffes, and hippos.
Lake Victoria shores bring in Nile crocodiles and giant Nile perch.
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Few visitors compared to Serengeti or Ngorongoro.
Offers a true off-the-beaten-path safari experience forests, beaches, and lake exploration.
ITINERARY
DAY 01:
Set off early for the airport for your (Time) flight to Rubondo Island on Tanzania’s Lake
Victoria, a flight of approximately …. hours, stopping en route at Mwanza/Bukoba to
complete immigration formalities. The friendly team from Rubondo Island Camp await you
and will drive you through the forest to the camp, where you can relax before a leisurely
lunch overlooking the lake. This afternoon, you can choose from a relaxing time beside the
swimming pool, or learning about the island’s chimpanzees in The Nest information Centre,
or enjoying a guided nature walk if you wish to stretch your legs. The island is home to a
wide variety of unique wildlife including sitatunga, African grey parrot, forest elephant and
spotted-necked otters.
Each of the 8 individually crafted cottages are shaded by lush indigenous forest, while Lake
Victoria winks her welcome through the trees. The small and exclusive camp offers
unrivalled access to this one-of-a-kind destination, with forest walks, game-watching,
birding excursions, canoe trips, trekking through wild and unexplored forest territory, catch
and-release fishing, and a host of other eco-sensitive activities. Elephants roam wild,
colorful birds and butterflies flit through the boughs of pristine indigenous forest, and the
waters teem with the iconic Nile perch. This unique corner of Africa may be the ultimate
destination for those seeking the ultimate wilderness adventure.
DAY 02:
Spend today with a guide in search of the chimpanzees on the island, as part of the chimp
habituation experience. Sightings are not guaranteed as the habituation is still a work in
progress, but there are several individuals who are becoming much less shy around visitors,
and if you are lucky enough to enjoy a sighting, it is in the knowledge that you are amongst
the first travelers to spend time with these primate cousins on the island. The walking
requires a reasonable level of fitness, although there is not the altitude or steep-sided
mountain slopes to contend with that you’ve experienced in Rwanda, as the vegetation can
be very thick and you sometimes need to keep up a good pace to reach the chimpanzees.
DAY 03:
A day to enjoy other activities on Rubondo Island – there are two boats to explore the lake
on, either to get a good view of the hippos, crocodiles and birdlife including fish eagles or to
enjoy some Nile perch fishing. It is also possible to visit Muganza village, which takes 1 hrs
by boat, where Asilia sponsors the local school and supports a vegetable garden initiative,
and the home of many of the camp.
DAY 04:
Enjoy a final breakfast overlooking the lake before the drive to the airstrip for your morning
flight to ARK/JRO