Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania

Rubondo Island National Park was gazetted in 1977. It is an important breeding ground for both migratory birds and fish species (especially Tilapia and Nile perch) as for a long time it stood to be the only area in the waters of Lake Victoria which was well protected and preserved.

Wildlife - About 80% of the park is covered by a dense forest thus providing a variety of habitats to wildlife ranging from savannah, open woodland, papyrus swamps to dense forest. These habitats form a home for various wild creatures such as sitatunga, bushbucks, velvet monkeys, genet cats, spotted necked otters, hippopotamus and crocodiles which share the ecological niches with introduced species such as chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, black and white colubus monkeys, suni and African grey parrots. The park is famous by holding a variety of migratory birds from different parts of the world and some birds native to the area are in Emin Pasha Gulf with the African fish eagles distinctly appreciated.

Location - The park is located on the south-western corner of Lake Victoria in Geita region about 150 km (95 miles) west of Mwanza city. The Lake (Victoria) is the second largest lake in the world. The Lake is also the source of the longest river in the world, River Nile.

Size- The park has 456.8 km2 of which 236.8 km2 is dry land and 220 km2 is water comprising of 11 small islets of varying sizes.

Park attractions

• A variety of water birds , Eurasian migrants and introduced African grey parrots
• High density of African fish eagles distinctly seen
• Animal species including Sitatunga, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Bushbucks, Pythons, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees (not fully habituated), Bush pigs and Suni
• The Lake Victoria forming a spectacular sight for visitors with the deepest point in the lake (Irumo) forming part of the park
• Magnificent view of one of the last remaining representatives of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique habitat mosaic in the midst of high biodiversity value
• Beautiful and attracting beaches such as Fly catcher, Mchangani and Michicoco
• Important gulfs of Irumo and Kamea
• Clear sighting of both sun rise and sun set
• Cultural sites such as “Ntungamirwe”, “Maji Matakatifu”, “Altare” and “Solo” which explain the life of natives who once stayed in the park
• “Birds Islands”, breeding sit for water birds
• Crocodile island

Tourist Activities- Game Drives, Bird Watching, Walking Safaris, (Rangers required.  Can be arranged in advance through Park Office, visitors are advised to carry some dry stuff while going for long walks.

Getting there-The Park can be accessed by road in approximately 4 hours drive on a tarmac road from Mwanza to Geita and a morum road from Geita to Nkome. Visitors travelling through this route can be picked up by the park boat at Nkome, and will take a maximum of one an half hours cruising to Rubondo main island (Kageye, the park HQ).

By air- Visitors who prefer to travel by air should check in advance with the tour operators in Bukoba, Mwanza, Arusha and Dar es Salaam for flight schedules to the island. Currently, Auric Air is only flight which has a route via Rubondo from either Mwanza or Bukoba.
Accomodation- there is lodge, Bandas, rest house, youth hostel, and four resting shelter, shop, public campsites and picnic sites.