Rubondo Island Camp: Our View

Rubondo Island Camp overlooks the vast waters of Lake Victoria. As the only camp in the wild Rubondo Island National Park, it is a truly special place to experience. Besides a handful of park wardens, researchers and the camp staff, the island is totally uninhabited by humans. Set aside as a refuge for endangered chimpanzees and other animals since the 1960s Rubondo Island National Park also has elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, otters, bushbuck and shy sitatunga antelopes living on the island.

The pristine 460km2 Rubondo Island and its surrounding protected islands is 75% perfectly untouched equatorial forest, which guests can explore on drives and walks while learning about the animals and plants that make up this extraordinary protected ecosystem. Wake up to the serene lake views from your beachfront cottage and enjoy catch-and-release fishing the massive Nile perch and tilapia that dwell in the surrounding waters in the afternoon. Spend a night out in the fly-camp immersed in the forest wilderness, or explore the area by motorboat.

A stay at Rubondo is a great add-on to your safari in Eastern Africa, if time and budget permit.

Rubondo Island Camp: Quick Facts

• The only island National Park on Lake Victoria, Tanzania
• Maximum 18 guests at any one time
• Game drives, boat cruises, walks, catch-and-release big game fishing Nile Perch
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Island airstrip
• Over 400 species of endemic and migratory bird species
• Tropical Island
• Over-night fly camping in the forest
• Wifi in the public areas

Rubondo Island Camp: The Details

The eight waterfront thatched-roofed cottages have been hand-built using traditional methods and local materials. The cottages have high ceilings and are decked out in natural colours that mirror the lake and forest. En suite bathrooms all have hot running water and flush toilets. In front of each cottage, a terrace overlooking the lake is the perfect spot from which to watch the island life pass by. 

Children over the age of 5 years old are welcome and the camp has a larger family cottage to accommodate families. There are also special activities for kids, including identifying animal tracks, learning about local cultures, taking guided nature or butterfly walks and learning bush skills. 

The camp is closed during the long rains April and May but is open throughout the rest of the year. The drier season ranges from June to October, although it can rain on any given day being a tropical island. For birders, the high season is from November to March, when the migratory birds arrive to breed and feed. Many wildflowers bloom in the wet season including wild orchids, lilies and jasmine, which attract the birds and butterflies in their thousands.

The Rubondo Island airstrip is only a 20-minute drive from camp and is serviced by daily scheduled light aircraft flights from Kigali in Rwanda and various airstrips within the Serengeti, making it an easy add on to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and/or safaris in Tanzania.