Rubondo Island National Park covers an area of 240 square kilometers and is located in the southwest of Tanzania, at the southwest corner of the world’s second largest lake, Lake Victoria, about 150 kilometers west of Mwanza.

Rubondo is like a fairyland on water, where desolate sand seas connect with pristine forests. Baobabs, palms, figs, and ficus trees create a maze, and the impala run fast and silently among them. The fluffy waterbuck, rarely seen elsewhere, is common here. Birds are also abundant, with peacock-blue malachite kingfishers nesting in the reeds, enchanting with their beauty. Herons, storks, breeding goliath herons by the lake, and thousands of Eurasian migrants in winter all flock here.

90% of the park is wet forest, with the remaining areas ranging from open grasslands to paper grass riverbeds. Wild jasmine and 40 species of orchids compete in beauty, filling the forest with a mix of aromas. In addition to native mammals like hippos, vervet monkeys, civets, and genets, there are also introduced species such as chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, elephants, and giraffes. Due to the limited accessibility of Rubondo, all animals can live here in peace.

Rubondo Island National Park

Reasons to visit: Tanzania’s most beautiful untouched park

Continent: Africa

Country: Tanzania

Region: Kagera Region