Rubondo National Park

Location:  Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania

Area: 456.8 km²

Overview

Rubondo National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Lake Victoria, Tanzania about 150km (93mi) west of Mwanza. Rubondo became a game reserve in 1965, for the purpose of providing a sanctuary for animals and was gazetted as a national park in 1977. This park is one of two Tanzanian national parks located on an island in Lake Victoria (the other being Saanane Island National Park).

Rubondo today is uninhabited, where 80% of the island remains forested today as the 400 “fisher folk” of the Zinza tribe who lived on the island were resettled on the neighbouring islands and mainland by the government in the late 1960s. The island is administered by the Geita District of the Geita Region and under TANAPA.

The size of the main island Rubondo is 237 km², in addition to the other 10 islands that form the Rubondo Island National Park covering an area of 456.8 km² (176.4sq.mi). The highest point on Rubondo is Masa Hills further south, at an elevation of 1,486m (350 above the level of the lake). The Island is on a rift in the lake and measures 28km from north to south and is 3-10km wide.

Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world, 1,134 meters above sea level. Rubondo consists of a partially submerged rift of four volcanically formed hills, linked by three flatter isthmuses, with no rivers and volcanic soil in nature.

With a habitat of mixed evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, interspersed with patches of open grassland, whilst the eastern lakeshore is characterized by rocky areas and sandy beaches, and the western shore support extensive papyrus swamps, lined with date palms. The island attracts mainly game fishermen and bird enthusiasts each year. Courts pass sentences of six weeks imprisonment for unauthorized landings on the island and six months for attempted poaching.

The Uniqueness of this Park

• • More than 75 percent of the island is covered in pristine equatorial rainforest.

• • Since the 1960s, the island has been a haven for wild chimpanzees, Sitatunga antelope, elephants, and giraffes.

• • Has only one accommodation camp – Rubondo Island Camp in the National park.

Accommodation Options

Only one Tourist Camp on the Island:

• • Rubondo Island Camp (8 rooms including 1 four-sleeper family room and a honeymoon suite)

Activities at the Destination

Chimpanzee Trekking, Game Viewing drives, Fishing Safari, Bird watching, Boating, and Canoeing safari.