RobondoNational Park – Lovebird Safaris

Rubondo National Park

Introduction

Rubondo Island National Park: A Pristine Wildlife Haven in Lake Victoria

Rubondo Island National Park is a remote and pristine wildlife sanctuary located in the southwest corner of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Covering an area of about 456.8 square kilometers (176 square miles), the park is made up of Rubondo Island and several smaller islets. Known for its rich biodiversity and untouched landscapes, Rubondo is a unique haven for wildlife, including chimpanzees, elephants, and a variety of bird species. Its isolation and natural beauty make it a peaceful destination for eco-tourism and wildlife conservation.

Welcome To Rubondo National Park

Rubondo Island National Park is home to a population of chimpanzees that were introduced in the 1960s as part of a conservation effort. These primates have successfully adapted to their island habitat, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to observe them in the wild.

About the Area

Climate

Rubondo Island National Park has a tropical climate characterized by warm temperatures and two main rainy seasons. The average temperatures typically range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) throughout the year. The long rainy season occurs from March to May, while the short rains are seen from October to November. The dry season, from June to September, offers the best conditions for wildlife viewing, as animals are more likely to gather around water sources.

How To Get There

Rubondo Island can be reached by Air Chatters and Public transport & then boats to the park.

(A)By Air: Rubondo Island can be reached both by charter/air. Visitors who prefer to travel by air should in advance check with the tour operators in Bukoba, Mwanza, Arusha and Dar es Salaam for flight schedules.

(B) By public transport and Boat: By public transport leads you from Mwanza to Nkome via Geita town which is approximately 3-4 hours (164km) drive, 100km through a tarmac and 64 rough road. At Nkome Rangers post you can be picked by park boat and will take 1 hour to the park. Another route is Mwanza to Mganza through Bukoba road (270km – 5hrs), Biharamulo to Mganza through Chato – Bukoba road and from Bukoba to Mganza through Bukoba – Chato road. At Muganza you can take a taxi or motorcycle (5min) to Kasenda where Park boats are parking and there you will be picked-up by park boat and will take about 20-25 min to the park.

Best Time To Visit Park

The best time is from June through September and wet season from November to March when wild flowers are flourishing and plentiful of butterflies

For bird watchers is from December to February when most migratory birds are nesting.

PARK ATTRACTIONS

The park is bestowed with magnificent attractions that tourist can enjoy these include diversity of wild life including elephants, giraffes, bushbucks, hippos, yellow-spotted otters, crocodiles, chimpanzee, sitatunga and offers best fish breeding sites. other attractions are birds diversity with more than 400 species of nesting birds resides the park. The grey parrot, introduced in 2000 when 34 birds were rescued from illegal trade, is a spectacular newcomer. Another noisy specimen is the African fish eagle.