Safari Activities at Rubondo Island National Park

1. Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

One of Rubondo’s most captivating experiences is its chimpanzee habituation program. In the late 1960s, a small group of rescued chimpanzees was introduced to the island as part of a conservation effort. Today, their descendants thrive in the park’s forests.

Through the habituation experience, visitors can participate in the process of familiarizing chimpanzees to human presence—a critical step before they are fully opened up for tracking. This immersive activity allows guests to observe behaviors such as foraging, nesting, grooming, and maternal care, all while contributing to important conservation science. It’s a rare chance to walk in the footsteps of these intelligent and endangered primates in their natural habitat.

2. Game Viewing and Boat Safaris

Rubondo offers a mix of traditional game drives and boat-based safaris, thanks to its island geography. Wildlife sightings may include hippos, elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, sitatunga antelope, duikers, vervet monkeys, giraffes, mongoose, warthogs, and occasionally chimpanzees.

The waters surrounding the island are home to Nile crocodiles, and the skies are alive with birds—particularly African fish eagles, for which Rubondo may hold one of the highest population densities in the world.

3. Guided Nature Walks

For a more intimate connection with the island’s ecosystem, guests can embark on guided nature walks led by expert rangers. These treks through forest paths and along lake shores offer exceptional opportunities to spot both large mammals and smaller, often-overlooked wildlife species.

You may encounter black-and-white colobus monkeys, sitatunga, giraffes, duikers, Grey parrots, and various species of butterflies and insects. Nature walks also afford guests the chance to explore the island’s botany, geology, and the subtle sounds and rhythms of the wild—often missed on vehicle-based safaris.

4. Birdwatching (Birding Safaris)

Rubondo Island is a birding paradise, hosting over 400 recorded bird species, making it one of Tanzania’s most rewarding destinations for ornithologists and birdwatchers. The island’s forests and wetlands attract a mix of resident birds like African grey parrots, hornbills, herons, spoonbills, and kingfishers, along with migratory birds from Europe and Asia during the wet season.

The best birding experiences are often found near the papyrus-fringed shores, forest edges, and during early morning or late afternoon excursions.

5. Cultural Encounters and Community Visits

While the park itself is largely uninhabited, cultural visits to the neighboring communities around the shores of Lake Victoria provide a fascinating contrast to the wilderness experience. These excursions allow travelers to engage with local fishing communities, learn about tribal traditions, and explore cultural sites such as Maji, Altare, and Ntugamirwe.

Here, visitors gain insight into traditional lifestyles, indigenous knowledge systems, and the vital connection between local people and the natural environment.