High-quality accommodation is in spacious chalets with wonderful views of the lake.

Rubondo Island is a 25 000 hectare untouched, natural paradise on Lake Victoria. It is a protected National Park and provides a vast variety of habitats with open grasslands, primeval forest, dense woodland thickets, papyrus swamp as well as pretty lakeside beaches. This is a haven for bird-watchers, wildlife photographers or any lover of the natural world, and is the perfect addition to the end of any Tanzania safari.

Within the diverse habitats is a broad range of animals such as sitatunga, bushbucks, velvet monkeys, genet cats, spotted necked otters, hippopotamus and crocodiles, chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, black and white colubus monkeys, bush pigs and suni. The park is also renowned for its variety of migratory birds from many different parts of the world.

Rubondo Island Camp has a lovely setting overlooking the lake and provides high-quality accommodation in the midst of this spectacular scenery.

Accommodation

Rubondo Island Camp has just eight luxury chalets – six Double Rooms, a Family Room and a Honeymoon Suite. Each has en suite facilities with walk-in hot & cold shower, flush toilet and twin basins. Rooms are attractively decorated with solid stone features, high-quality furnishings and pure cotton linen and there is a veranda for guests to relax and observe the surrounding natural environment. All rooms have a hair dryer and tea / coffee facilities.

The spacious Family Room has a day bed and hammock on the verandah and is close to the main area and camp’s swimming pool.

The large and luxurious Honeymoon Suite is perfectly set on the edge of the forest, furthest from the main area to ensure peace and privacy, and it has sensational views of Lake Victoria. It features a King Size bed and an indoor and outdoor hot shower.

Rubondo Island Camp’s public areas include a large, open-plan lounge and bar (with local and imported beer, wines and spirits) and a dining area. Like the chalets, views from the public areas are wonderful and it is the ideal place to relax after the day’s activities. Dining can be communal, sometimes on the beach, but private tables can be arranged. Food is of the highest standards with a good range of international cuisine.

Activities

The days are less structured than at traditional safari camps, and guests can choose to either relax at camp or join the various excursions on offer.

Game Viewing: daily boat excursions and game drives in open vehicles are conducted by expert wilderness guides

Forest Walking: guided walks through the forest are tailored to each guest, and can be from an hour to half a day.

Forest Hiking: guided longer day hikes and multi-day hikes are available for keen hikers. It is possible to arrange overnight fly-camping on the beach or on a platform in the forest.

Canoe Safari: guided canoe trips (self-paddle or assisted) allow you to explore quiet corners of the island and soak up the tranquillity of Rubondo.

Massage & Relaxation: unwind and rejuvenate with a massage in the privacy of your own room, looking out over the soothing views of Lake Victoria.

Wild Chimpanzee Experience: although the island’s chimps are slowly habituating to humans, sightings unfortunately cannot be guaranteed. The emphasis of this experience is more on learning about chimps, and members of the research team are often in camp and are likely to join guests for drinks or dinner.

Fishing: Rubondo Island offers some of the best fishing in East Africa and is renowned worldwide amongst anglers who travel here for the opportunity to hook into one of Africa’s biggest and most sought after fresh water species – the Nile Perch, which can weight in excess of 100kgs. Tilapia are an entertaining target for recreational fishermen. Catch-and-release fishing from Rubondo Island Camp can be done off the beach and rocks, or by boat. The camp has two fishing boats which can be shared or privately hired.

Birding: Rubondo Island National Park is a twitchers paradise with over 300 endemic and migratory species. December to February is best for spotting migratory birds.