Rubondo Island Park: Chimp Trekking Safari Tanzania

Discover a truly unique sanctuary in the heart of Africa’s largest lake: Rubondo Island National Park. Nestled in the southwestern waters of Lake Victoria, Tanzania, this pristine island wilderness offers an unparalleled escape for discerning travellers seeking exclusivity, rainforest immersion, and the rare opportunity to track chimpanzees. Imagine trekking through lush forests guided by experts, listening for the calls of our closest relatives, exploring tranquil beaches, and retreating to an exclusive luxury camp. Bubble Tours & Travel, your Kenyan based East Africa specialists, crafts bespoke journeys to this hidden gem, handling the special logistics required for a seamless luxury island safari.

Chimpanzee Encounters: Tracking Our Closest Relatives

Rubondo Island’s main draw is its population of chimpanzees. These individuals are descendants of rescued and orphaned chimps introduced to the island decades ago as part of a pioneering conservation effort. Thanks to ongoing habituation work by researchers and park authorities, guided treks offer a chance to find and observe them in this protected, natural forest environment.

Important Note: While the chimpanzees are becoming accustomed to human presence, sightings are not guaranteed. Tracking them through the dense forest can take several hours and requires patience and reasonable fitness. The true reward lies in the immersive rainforest experience, learning tracking skills from expert guides, and the profound feeling if and when you do encounter a chimpanzee family group going about their natural lives. Learn about chimpanzee conservation via the [Link to Jane Goodall Institute ]

Island Biodiversity: Beyond the Chimps

Rubondo is more than just chimpanzees. Its protected status has allowed other wildlife to flourish:

• Native Species: The island is a sanctuary for the shy, semi aquatic Sitatunga antelope. Hippos and crocodiles patrol the lake shores, while Vervet monkeys are common. Birdlife is prolific, with over 400 species recorded, including many water birds and forest specials.
• Introduced Species: To enrich the island’s fauna historically, species like elephants, giraffes, black and white colobus monkeys, and suni antelope were also introduced and now roam freely, adding to the diverse viewing possibilities during forest walks or limited game drives where accessible.

Lush Rainforest & Lake Victoria Scenery

Rubondo Island offers a complete change of pace from Tanzania’s savanna parks. Explore:

• Dense Tropical Forest: Covering much of the island, offering shaded walks and an immersive natural experience.
• Secluded Beaches: Sandy shores along Lake Victoria provide tranquil spots for relaxation and bird watching.
• Lake Victoria Views: Enjoy expansive views across Africa’s largest lake, with stunning sunrises and sunsets.

Activities on Rubondo: Forest, Lake & Relaxation

Experiences on Rubondo, typically arranged through the island’s main lodge, focus on nature immersion:

• Chimpanzee Trekking: The primary activity, involving guided walks searching for the habituated groups.
• Guided Forest Walks: Explore the island’s trails focusing on birds, plants, primates, insects, and animal tracks.
• Boat Safaris: Cruise the lake shoreline to spot hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and potentially otters.
• Fishing: Try your hand at catching Nile Perch or Tilapia in designated areas of Lake Victoria (catch and release usually encouraged).
• Bird Watching: Exceptional opportunities for birders with specialist guides available.

The Bubble Tours Luxury Rubondo Experience

Accessing this remote island sanctuary requires expert planning. Bubble Tours ensures a seamless luxury journey by:

• Exclusive Accommodation: Featuring stays exclusively at Asilia’s Rubondo Island Camp [Link to Asilia Rubondo Camp page], the sole high end lodge on the island, known for its beautiful waterfront chalets, excellent service, expert guiding, and commitment to eco sensitivity.
• Expert Guiding: Coordinating treks and activities with the camp’s highly trained specialist chimpanzee trackers and naturalist guides.
• Essential Fly In Logistics: Arranging necessary charter or scheduled light aircraft flights to the Rubondo airstrip (RTD) from key hubs like Serengeti, Arusha, or Mwanza. This is the only practical access method for luxury travel. We handle all airstrip transfers.
• Bespoke Itinerary Planning: Integrating Rubondo seamlessly into your broader Tanzanian or East African luxury safari, tailored to your interests.

Conservation Commitment

Rubondo Island National Park plays a vital role as a sanctuary and breeding ground for endangered species like chimpanzees and sitatunga. Managed by TANAPA [Link to TANAPA Rubondo page ], tourism revenue helps support ongoing conservation work. Choosing to visit responsibly contributes to these efforts. Learn about Lake Victoria’s broader ecosystem via [Link to WWF Africa page].

Planning Your Rubondo Island Getaway

Best Time to Visit

• Chimp Trekking: Possible year round, but the dry season (June to October) often makes forest trekking easier and potentially improves visibility slightly.
• Weather: Generally pleasant equatorial climate year round. Rainy seasons are typically April May and November.

Getting There (Fly In Essential)

• Access is exclusively via light aircraft landing at the Rubondo airstrip (RTD).
• Scheduled or charter flights are arranged by Bubble Tours, typically connecting from Mwanza (MWZ), Arusha (ARK), or various Serengeti airstrips.

Luxury Accommodation

• The definitive luxury accommodation option is Asilia’s Rubondo Island Camp, offering high quality ensuite chalets nestled in the forest near the lakeshore. Bubble Tours partners with Asilia to provide this exclusive experience.

Responsible Tourism Practices

• Chimpanzee Trekking Etiquette: Follow guide instructions strictly regarding distance, noise levels, health precautions (masks may be required), and time limits to minimize disturbance.
• Respect all wildlife and maintain safe distances.
• Stay on designated paths during walks.
• Minimize environmental impact; pack out waste, conserve resources.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How likely am I to see chimpanzees on Rubondo Island? Rubondo offers a unique opportunity to track habituated chimpanzees. While the expert trackers are very skilled, sightings depend on the chimps’ location and behaviour on the day and are not guaranteed. The immersive forest trek itself is a key part of the experience.

2. How do I get to Rubondo Island? Is flying the only option? Yes, for practical and luxury travel purposes, flying via light aircraft to the island’s airstrip is the only feasible option. Bubble Tours arranges these flights from various points in Tanzania or potentially Kenya.

3. What is the accommodation like at Rubondo Island Camp? It’s a high end luxury lodge operated by Asilia Africa, featuring spacious, beautifully designed chalets with ensuite bathrooms, private decks, a main lodge area with dining/lounge, and a swimming pool, all set in a stunning lakeside forest location.

4. Besides chimp trekking, what are the main activities? Guided forest walks, bird watching (excellent), boat safaris on Lake Victoria (for hippos, crocs, birds), and fishing (Nile Perch) are the other key activities available.

5. Is Rubondo suitable for everyone? What is the trekking difficulty? Chimpanzee trekking involves hiking through dense, sometimes uneven forest terrain for potentially several hours. A moderate level of fitness and mobility is required. The remote island setting appeals most to dedicated nature lovers and those seeking unique primate experiences.

6. How does Rubondo combine with a Serengeti safari? Very well. There are often direct flights connecting Rubondo Island with various Serengeti airstrips, making it an excellent combination for a diverse Tanzanian itinerary focused on both primates/forest and classic savanna wildlife/migration.

---

Combine Rubondo with Your Tanzanian Safari

Add a unique island chapter to your East African adventure. Combine Rubondo Island National Park with:

• The vast plains and Great Migration of the Serengeti.
• Other parks in Tanzania’s Northern or Southern Circuits.
• A relaxing stay on Zanzibar or Pemba Island.

Discover Tanzania’s Island Sanctuary

Ready to track chimpanzees through pristine rainforest and unwind on the shores of Lake Victoria? Contact Bubble Tours & Travel today. As your East Africa specialists, we craft unique luxury journeys to Tanzania’s hidden gems.