Lake Victoria & Rubondo National Park

Lake Victoria covers an area of 68,000 km2; it is the largest lake in Africa, the largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is home to a number of islands and its waters and reefs are home to over 500 species of fish. The lake is located in a depression that is at the center of a great plateau stretching between the eastern and western Rift Valleys.

Of all the islands in the lake, Rubondo Island is one of the most beautiful; it is home to the largest island national park in Africa. Rubondo Island National Park is made up of grasslands, dense forest, and sandy shores.

A visit to Rubondo Island offers visitors a unique game viewing experience in a tranquil and serene setting. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, bushbucks, colobus monkeys and chimpanzees can be seen in the park. The sitatunga which is an amphibious antelope that hides in the marshes around the lake can also be seen.  

Apart from game viewing, other popular activities include exploring the tranquil surroundings of the park in boats,  forest walks were you get to walk through pristine equatorial forests, fishing expeditions in Lake Victoria, chimpanzee tracking, and bird watching – the park is home to over 300 resident and migratory birds.

The beaches in Rubondo are beautiful and inviting but under the water, danger lurks; hippos and crocodiles reside in the waters hence swimming is prohibited.

Rubondo Island National Park is accessible throughout the year, though the dry season(between June and October) is the best recommended time to visit. For bird lovers,  December to February is also a good time to visit because the park sees a large number of migrant birds.

Popular activities inside Rubondo National Park

• Game Drives
• Walking Safari
• Bird Watching
• Canoeing
• Chimpanzee Tracking