Rubondo Island National Park is a forested island in the south-western corner of Lake Victoria, one of the most peaceful and least visited parks in Tanzania. There are no roads and no crowds, and the main sounds are birds, water and the calls of chimpanzees in the forest. It is a rare chance to combine a sanctuary experience with a lakeside retreat.
The island was a refuge for wildlife in the 1960s, when chimpanzees, elephants, giraffe and black-and-white colobus were brought here for protection. Today it holds a habituated group of chimpanzees that can be tracked on foot, sitatunga in the swamps, hippos along the shore and more than 400 bird species, including the African fish eagle and Nile perch of the lake.
Rubondo suits travellers who want a slow, quiet stay at the end of a Serengeti safari, with walking, boating and fishing.
The island is home to chimpanzees, giraffe, elephant, hippo, bushbuck, vervet monkey and the elusive sitatunga antelope, which lives in the swamps and can be seen from a boat. Lake Victoria has Nile crocodile and otters, and the island’s forests shelter many small mammals.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The island is wrapped in dense forest and surrounded by the calm blue waters of Lake Victoria. Sandy beaches, rocky headlands and wooded hills give a sense of peace, and the sunsets over the lake are quiet and golden.
Activities here
Rubondo is warm and humid with a mild lake climate: days of 26°C to 28°C and nights around 16°C to 17°C. Rain falls through much of the year and is heaviest from November to May.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 17 | 150 |
| Feb | 27 | 17 | 150 |
| Mar | 27 | 17 | 170 |
| Apr | 26 | 17 | 200 |
| May | 26 | 17 | 130 |
| Jun | 26 | 16 | 50 |
| Jul | 26 | 15 | 30 |
| Aug | 27 | 16 | 40 |
| Sep | 27 | 17 | 80 |
| Oct | 27 | 17 | 100 |
| Nov | 26 | 17 | 180 |
| Dec | 26 | 17 | 170 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to September is the driest and sunniest time, with clear skies for walking and boating. The lake can be breezy.
November to May is wet and humid, but showers are mostly short. The forest is lush, and birds are at their most active.
June to September is the best time for walking and chimpanzee tracking, though the island can be visited all year. Some lodges close in the heaviest rains.
Best time to visit Jan, Jul to Sep
Rubondo is reached by light aircraft from Mwanza or the Serengeti in about 45 minutes, or by boat from the mainland port of Nkome, which takes about an hour. We combine it with a Serengeti safari and a stay in Mwanza.
Park fees are included in our safaris. Most visitors need a Tanzania visa, applied for online before travel or bought on arrival, and a passport valid for at least six months.
The island is remote, and medical help is a flight away, so we plan with good insurance. Swim only where the lodge advises, because crocodiles and bilharzia are found in the lake. Please take advice on malaria before you travel.
National ParkSerengeti National ParkThe Great Migration
Wildlife Reserve & SanctuaryNgorongoro Conservation AreaA day on the crater floorOur take
“Our take”
Rubondo is a quiet add-on for travellers who like chimpanzees and boats, and a good way to end a western Serengeti trip.
Safaris from
US$2,190 per person
Plan your time in Rubondo Island
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