GUIDE ON RUBONDO ISLAND CAMP IN TANZANIA

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As the only proper tourist accommodation in Rubondo Island National Park, Rubondo Island Camp is a small, very personable deluxe camp that is situated in the southwestern portion of Lake Victoria. The camp offers tranquil rainforest scenery that provides a diverse kind of experience during your terrestrial, aquatic and avi-fauna safari in Africa.

The guest cottages are located on the shores of the largest lake in Africa, and you are lulled to sleep by the soothing sound of waves. As the morning sun rises, AfricanMecca guests are awaken to see glistening rays dance upon the surface of the lake, disturbed only by a fish eagle demonstrating spectacular hunting skills. As you prepare for a day of activities, the sound of grazing hippo gawkily diving into the waters blending with the morning melodies of birdlife -- a tender reminder that you indeed are within the pristine African bush.



Rubondo Island Camp offers walking, boating and game driving safaris, and the time of year that you plan to travel in Africa may affect your wildlife experience at the camp and in the national park. Being a water-based camp, the wet season can prove challenging to maximize on fully experiencing the diverse activities on offer though resident birdlife is spectacular including migratory avi-fauna arriving just after the short rains of December, and the landscape is transformed with the fused colors of wildflowers. In broad-spectrum, Rubondo Island Camp offers peace and solitude amidst the Lake Victoria seascape and its equatorial forests.

Accommodation At Rubondo Island Camp

Choose one of the 8 lakeside cottages at Rubondo Island Camp and make your unadulterated vacation in Africa a remarkable experience. Your private sanctuary on the banks of Lake Victoria is hand-crafted from local materials and tastefully decorated to help you feel at home. Each cottage features a large bed, nightstand and bedside lamps, sitting area with lighting and full bathroom with rain shower, basin and toilet.

As you awaken each morning, you enjoy incredible seascapes of the lake amidst the humming tropical forest, and a private, shaded veranda is the perfect place to have your morning coffee or tea. Spend your afternoons napping or reading a book on the hammock or sofa in the communal areas and also observing birdlife with binoculars.



Parents with children over six years of age who are on an AfricanMecca family vacation in Tanzania are welcome at the camp and may be most comfortable in the camp's triple family room. If you would like to experience uninterrupted hippo activity and behavior from your veranda, cottages that are situated away from the main area of the camp are recommended though never approach them as they are highly perilous and can outrun you very easily.

Rubondo Island Camp also has a swimming pool with sun deck, and you may opt for an outdoor massage during your relaxation tour of Rubondo Island National Park. Due to the remote location of the camp and proximity to wildlife, always request an escort at any time during your stay (read more on when is the best time to visit Rubondo by Lake Victoria).

Safari At Rubondo Island Camp

The safari activities at Rubondo Island Camp are as intriguing and insightful as the beautiful lake forest setting that surrounds you during your stay. Although Rubondo Park (view map to appreciate its remoteness) is not visited for vast numbers of wildlife and spectacular big-game behaviors as other prime wildlife parks in Tanzania, the park offers a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere that invites you to explore a unique equatorial African ecosystem at your own pace.



The wildlife species that exist in the park are diverse, ranging from amphibious to bush antelopes – sitatunga and bushbucks, webbed paws otters, African genet cats, prehistoric crocodiles and plump hippos with a myriad of birdlife – from White Faced Whistling Ducks, Squacco Heron, Sacred Ibis, Open Billed Stork, Egrets and Cormorants, African Jacana, Kingfishers and many more.

Introduced species that exist since 1966 at Rubondo park are majestic elephants, Colobus monkeys, African gray parrots and graceful giraffes. The island is also home to an introduced but wild chimpanzee habitat, and AfricanMecca can arrange for a trekking tour to observe these primates in a natural setting amidst the dense forest.

Driving, walking and boating safaris allow you to satisfy your curiosity during your Rubondo Island Park travels in northern Tanzania with AfricanMecca. Many types of walking safaris are available for your tour in Africa, such as forest walks, birding experiences, swamp excursions, as well as longer forest hikes and multi-day trekking. These unique hiking safari experiences in Tanzania showcase many of Africa's smaller flora and fauna, and your experienced and knowledgeable guide explains traditional methods of tracking, survival, dung identification, navigation, medicinal uses and much more.



Imagine walking a path that has been used by evolutionary generations of wildlife and seeing a delicate unidentified butterfly flittering near a wild orchid – a Mecca of undiscovered Galapagos of Tanzania! With Lake Victoria at your doorstep, boating safaris, canoeing and fishing are just some of the ways that you can revel in the bounty and magnificence of the lake, and cultural tours take you inside local fishing villages to learn about the peoples who depend on the lake for sustenance. Lake fishing is a popular activity at Rubondo, and Tilapia and Nile perch are the two prime fish species that draw anglers from all earthly expanses.

Dining At Rubondo Island Camp

For your AfricanMecca trip to Rubondo Island National Park, you may look forward to delicious meals that satisfy your appetite and keep your energy high for your activities. Being in a remote location does not mean that you sacrifice comfort and panache for your meals. The dining area and lounge are filled with natural light during the day while at night, an ever presence of soft glowing romantic lanterns at handpicked locations around the common areas supplemented with phase moonlight.

Bay views complement the African and international cuisine, and a selection of local and international wine, beers and spirits are available from the bar, as well as soft drinks, Tanzanian kahawa coffee, chai tea and many other options. Breakfast choices during your Rubondo Island Camp culinary tour include hot and cold options, such as cereal, toast with local jam or honey, eggs, potatoes, home bread, waffles, to name a few of the most common guest preferences.



Lunch platters include a selection of salad, meat wraps, vegetable sides, and dessert with an option of a picnic lunch on a full day safari activity at Rubondo Park. Sunset cocktails are the perfect way to relax under the stars as the kitchen prepares dinner that may include options of succulent lamb, beef or goat meats, fresh fish, poultry, salads, soup, vegetarian options and much more. After dinner, listen to the gentle sound of the waves on the beach and end your day with glass of cognac or wine and a delicious dessert, such as citric sorbet or mousse cake.

Related Pages

1. Rubondo Island Safari Park Guide	2. Best Time & Weather To Visit Rubondo Island
3. Rubondo Island Map	4. Safari Lodges, Camps & Hotels In Rubondo Island