Lying in the southwestern corner of Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, Rubondo Island is a small isle teeming with big surprises. There’s so much to explore here, from the sandy shores to the depths of the forests.
Pristine and untouched equatorial forest makes up over three-quarters of the island, serving as a habitat to wild chimpanzee, elephant, giraffe and more. Surrounding Rubondo on all sides are the waters of Lake Victoria, which are a vital breeding ground for wildlife such as the tilapia and the enormous Nile perch.
Uninhabited by humans, Rubondo Island is a haven for local wildlife including elephant, giraffe, chimpanzee and antelope.
There are many hidden treasures to be found on Rubondo Island, from unique beach getaways to secret boating spots. Read our top picks and be sure to mention these spots to your guide.
Experience unspoiled nature in the pristine forests of Rubondo Island.
Here are a few amazing experiences you can enjoy during your Rubondo trip.
The pink sand beach on Rubondo Island is an amazing spot for fly camping and wildlife sightings, with elephant often walking by in the evenings to drink water from the lake. This private beach is a 20-minute boat ride from the main Rubondo Island Camp beach. Arrange a fly camping trip to the pink beach and you can spend the night under the stars on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. We’ll set up a tent, dining area and bathrooms for you to use for the night, so you can enjoy the experience in comfort.
This is a dream come true if you’re a butterfly lover. Butterfly Glade is filled with a huge variety of butterflies showing off their many different colours and patterns. If you’re heading out on a famous Rubondo chimpanzee trek, you’ll come across this magical place.
About a 30-minute walk from the opening of the forest, you’ll step into the forest clearing, coming out into an open rocky and grassy glade. Here you will see thousands of butterflies, fireflies and bees, floating and fluttering around the foliage. A magical sight indeed.
A Lake Victoria boat trip gives you the opportunity to spot hippo, elephant, crocodile, otter, monitor lizard and many water birds. And we know a secret spot that will make your boat safari that much more memorable.
Elephant Marsh Land is a special place – here you can enjoy spending time with foraging bush pig, scurrying marsh mongoose, and of course, herds of elephant who frequent the area. Speak to the camp manager on duty about taking a boat trip to experience this secret gem.
Explore the waters surrounding Rubondo Island by boat and you’ll see plenty of wildlife and aquatic birds, while enjoying some great fishing opportunities.
The waters around Rubondo are full of tilapia and massive Nile perch, one of the most sought-after freshwater fish which attracts anglers from around the globe. Catch-and-release fishing from Rubondo Island Camp can be done by boat or from the shore.
The area known as The Wall is the best place for fishing – all the biggest Nile perch tend to hang around here. We’re talking monsters weighing up to 70 kilograms! You may even be treated to a backside view of the resident giraffe coming to drink water close to The Wall while you wait for the fish to bite.
Rubondo is well-equipped for a variety of fishing techniques, including trolling, spinning live and dead bait, and fly fishing. The camp has two fishing boats which can be shared or privately hired.
Rubondo Island is famous for its chimpanzee conservation efforts. It was here that Professor Bernhard Grzimek of the Frankfurt Zoological Society made the first-ever attempt to rehabilitate captive chimpanzee. The chimp population has since grown from 16 to around 35. Chimp trekking is a popular pastime on Rubondo Island, tracking these elusive primates through the forest with an experienced guide.
There are many giraffe roaming free on Rubondo as well. Giraffe Alley is made up of a mixture of open plains and thick bushes, so it is an entirely unique way of sighting giraffe in the wild. The Giraffe Alley area is undoubtedly the best place to watch unhabituated giraffe go about their business – ask your guide to show you the way to this spot.
Have you heard of Africa’s amphibious antelope, the sitatunga? This unique swamp-dwelling buck can be spotted on Rubondo Island. Sitatunga Bend is the best place to watch these fascinating animals in their natural habitat, while allowing you to spend time with our resident bushbucks and suni antelope too.
Named after Daniel, our wonderful manager, Daniel’s Beach is one of the best-kept secrets of Rubondo Island! Join us in the evenings at Daniel’s Beach to hear stories about the island from Daniel himself, accompanied by sundowners and a bonfire near the lake. If you want a romantic location to enjoy dinner and drinks, this is it.
Daniel likes to say that if all you’re after is a place to chill in the evening with the coldest glass of white wine while listening to the waves, then this is your spot. He describes this beach as a stress-free zone, and it also happens to be the best place to watch kasuku (parrots) and kites sunbathing on the beach – a real treat for birders.
Lying in the southwestern corner of Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, Rubondo Island is a small isle teeming with big surprises. There’s so much to explore here, from the sandy shores to the depths of the forests.
Pristine and untouched equatorial forest makes up over three-quarters of the island, serving as a habitat to wild chimpanzee, elephant, giraffe and more. Surrounding Rubondo on all sides are the waters of Lake Victoria, which are a vital breeding ground for wildlife such as the tilapia and the enormous Nile perch.
Uninhabited by humans, Rubondo Island is a haven for local wildlife including elephant, giraffe, chimpanzee and antelope.
There are many hidden treasures to be found on Rubondo Island, from unique beach getaways to secret boating spots. Read our top picks and be sure to mention these spots to your guide.
Experience unspoiled nature in the pristine forests of Rubondo Island.
Here are a few amazing experiences you can enjoy during your Rubondo trip.
The pink sand beach on Rubondo Island is an amazing spot for fly camping and wildlife sightings, with elephant often walking by in the evenings to drink water from the lake. This private beach is a 20-minute boat ride from the main Rubondo Island Camp beach. Arrange a fly camping trip to the pink beach and you can spend the night under the stars on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. We’ll set up a tent, dining area and bathrooms for you to use for the night, so you can enjoy the experience in comfort.
This is a dream come true if you’re a butterfly lover. Butterfly Glade is filled with a huge variety of butterflies showing off their many different colours and patterns. If you’re heading out on a famous Rubondo chimpanzee trek, you’ll come across this magical place.
About a 30-minute walk from the opening of the forest, you’ll step into the forest clearing, coming out into an open rocky and grassy glade. Here you will see thousands of butterflies, fireflies and bees, floating and fluttering around the foliage. A magical sight indeed.
A Lake Victoria boat trip gives you the opportunity to spot hippo, elephant, crocodile, otter, monitor lizard and many water birds. And we know a secret spot that will make your boat safari that much more memorable.
Elephant Marsh Land is a special place – here you can enjoy spending time with foraging bush pig, scurrying marsh mongoose, and of course, herds of elephant who frequent the area. Speak to the camp manager on duty about taking a boat trip to experience this secret gem.
Explore the waters surrounding Rubondo Island by boat and you’ll see plenty of wildlife and aquatic birds, while enjoying some great fishing opportunities.
The waters around Rubondo are full of tilapia and massive Nile perch, one of the most sought-after freshwater fish which attracts anglers from around the globe. Catch-and-release fishing from Rubondo Island Camp can be done by boat or from the shore.
The area known as The Wall is the best place for fishing – all the biggest Nile perch tend to hang around here. We’re talking monsters weighing up to 70 kilograms! You may even be treated to a backside view of the resident giraffe coming to drink water close to The Wall while you wait for the fish to bite.
Rubondo is well-equipped for a variety of fishing techniques, including trolling, spinning live and dead bait, and fly fishing. The camp has two fishing boats which can be shared or privately hired.
Rubondo Island is famous for its chimpanzee conservation efforts. It was here that Professor Bernhard Grzimek of the Frankfurt Zoological Society made the first-ever attempt to rehabilitate captive chimpanzee. The chimp population has since grown from 16 to around 35. Chimp trekking is a popular pastime on Rubondo Island, tracking these elusive primates through the forest with an experienced guide.
There are many giraffe roaming free on Rubondo as well. Giraffe Alley is made up of a mixture of open plains and thick bushes, so it is an entirely unique way of sighting giraffe in the wild. The Giraffe Alley area is undoubtedly the best place to watch unhabituated giraffe go about their business – ask your guide to show you the way to this spot.
Have you heard of Africa’s amphibious antelope, the sitatunga? This unique swamp-dwelling buck can be spotted on Rubondo Island. Sitatunga Bend is the best place to watch these fascinating animals in their natural habitat, while allowing you to spend time with our resident bushbucks and suni antelope too.
Named after Daniel, our wonderful manager, Daniel’s Beach is one of the best-kept secrets of Rubondo Island! Join us in the evenings at Daniel’s Beach to hear stories about the island from Daniel himself, accompanied by sundowners and a bonfire near the lake. If you want a romantic location to enjoy dinner and drinks, this is it.
Daniel likes to say that if all you’re after is a place to chill in the evening with the coldest glass of white wine while listening to the waves, then this is your spot. He describes this beach as a stress-free zone, and it also happens to be the best place to watch kasuku (parrots) and kites sunbathing on the beach – a real treat for birders.
