Lake Victoria - Rubondo Island

Rubondo Island sits in Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and second largest in the world. This island sanctuary is largely forested with small sandy beaches and home to many species of animals, but most notably chimpanzees. Many visitors think it's the best place to stay on Lake Victoria.

Rubondo Island has a unique history and became a game reserve in 1965 to provide sanctuary for animals. Until then there were about 400 people living on the island, mainly fishermen, who were relocated by the government to neighbouring islands in order to create the sanctuary. Over a four-year period bin the 1960s Professor Bernhard Grzimek of the Frankfurt Zoological Society released 16 chimpanzees in four cohorts onto the island. In addition, seven other species were also introduced including Roan antelope, rhinoceros, and Suni antelope.

There is only one lodge on the island, Rubondo Island Camp, which is upmarket and allows guests to enjoy guided walking safaris in the dense forests to see the chimpanzees on a 'habituation experience'. Other animals such as elephants, giraffe, black & white colobus monkeys, antelopes and many birds can also be seen in the forest. Guests will experience a back to nature adventure with a night fly camping in the forest whilst tracking the chimpanzees. Having only one lodge with eight rooms on the island makes a luxury Rubondo Island holiday a very exclusive experience.