Rubondo Island National Park

Rubondo is a large island in the southwestern corner of Lake Victoria, most of it closed forest, and its history is unusual: in the 1960s chimpanzees taken from West and Central Africa into European zoos and circuses were released here, and their descendants now live wild in the forest. Habituation has taken decades and tracking is possible. Elephant, giraffe, sitatunga and colobus were also introduced, and the shoreline holds otters, crocodiles and fish eagles.

What you actually see

• The chimpanzees - a wild population descended from animals released from captivity.
• The forest - closed canopy covering most of the island.
• The sitatunga - swamp antelope common in the wetland edges.
• The birdlife - fish eagles, kingfishers and lakeshore species around the island.

When to go

June to August and December to February are the drier windows. Chimp tracking success varies and habituation is not complete. The wet seasons make trails difficult.

Honest expectations

Access is expensive: flights are limited and boat transfers take hours. Chimp tracking here is much less reliable than at Gombe or Mahale. Accommodation is limited to one lodge and the park bandas.

Nearby

Mwanza is east across the lake, and Ukerewe is northeast.