Safari · Lake Victoria Circuit
Rubondo Island, Lake Victoria
This tour takes you from Mwanza to spend two wonderful days on Rubondo Island on this six-day trip. Enjoy the beauty of the island while a friendly local guide shares with you entertaining stories of Lake Victoria’s checkered history and its legendary characters, as you explore the park on foot and by fibre boat.
You will also experience a culture tour in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza during your stay.
- Walking safari on foot with an armed ranger
- Boat safari into the remote reaches of Lake Victoria
- Over 400 bird species recorded on the island
- Chimpanzee tracking outside Gombe and Mahale
6 Days
5 Nights Full Board
Rubondo
400+ Bird Species
Fly-In
Local Flights Included
Walk & Boat
Ranger-Guided Safaris
Day by Day
Your Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Dar es Salaam International Airport
Pick up from Dar es Salaam International Airport and transfer to Dar es Salaam city.
Dar es Salaam from the Arabic world means “the house of peace”; formerly Mzizima, it is the former capital and largest city in Tanzania. It is known as the safari capital of Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit. It is the largest city in East Africa by population, as well as a regionally important economic centre. Located on the Swahili coast, the city is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
- 🛬 Airport Transfer
- 🏙️ Dar es Salaam
- 🏨 Hotel in Dar
Day 2
Full Day Dar es Salaam
Pick up from the hotel and depart for the Dar es Salaam city tour.
Embark on a city tour in Dar es Salaam and experience a mix of sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. The largest city in Tanzania reflects a fascinating combination of its rich historical past and its sophisticated contemporary present. This tour of Dar es Salaam will take you to the National Museum, Village Museum, Mwenge Carvings Market, Tingatinga Art Gallery, Slipway Shopping Centre, The Fish Market, City Centre, Historical Buildings, and many other sites. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
- 🏛️ National Museum
- 🎨 Tingatinga Gallery
- 🐟 The Fish Market
- 🏨 Hotel in Dar
Day 3
Dar es Salaam – Mwanza, Lake Victoria
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Mwanza, Lake Victoria.
Mwanza City welcomes visitors with natural and fresh weather from the source of the River Nile off the shore of Lake Victoria. Mwanza City is an ideal place to start your adventure with wildlife safaris, boating and fishing on Lake Victoria or Rubondo Island, conducting research, or enjoying business. Mwanza City is the fastest-growing city in Tanzania, and is a dynamic, colorful destination of culture and life. It is a central point for great lakes countries in Africa, and the transit hub for many of Tanzania’s world-renowned tourist destinations like the western and northern circuit wildlife safaris. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel in Mwanza.
- ✈️ Flight to Mwanza
- 🌊 Lake Victoria
- 🏨 Hotel in Mwanza
Day 4
Mwanza – Rubondo Island
Breakfast at the hotel and ride a boat to Rubondo Island, with picnic lunch.
You will be privileged to do game viewing on foot accompanied by an armed ranger in the middle of the African forest. Walk around the beach while learning a lot from Mother Nature. Have a glance at the schools of hippo. Keep your eyes watching for sitatunga, otters, bushbuck and vervet monkeys. Rare sightings are black and white colobus monkey, genet, marsh mongoose, suni antelope, and elephant. Rubondo Island is a perfect paradise for birding as over 400 species of birds have been seen including the African fish eagle. Our friendly guide is always happy to share with you the behind-the-scenes perspectives of this beautiful island and much more. Some of Africa’s biggest crocodiles bask and lie in wait on the banks of Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
- 🛶 Boat to Rubondo
- 🥾 Walk with a Ranger
- 🦅 African Fish Eagle
- ⛺ Camp on Rubondo
Day 5
Full Day Rubondo Island
A full day exploring Rubondo Island, with a boat safari and picnic lunch.
This is the best experience for game viewing on Lake Victoria as we will be able to reach very remote parts of the lake. Explore an uncountable number of Nile crocodiles, stop over at the breeding site for birds and observe schools of hippos. Rubondo Island offers an extraordinary experience you can’t imagine. Rubondo is another destination in Tanzania where you can also track chimpanzees, apart from Gombe and Mahale. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
- 🛶 Boat Safari
- 🐊 Nile Crocodiles
- 🐒 Chimpanzee Tracking
- 🍽️ Picnic Lunch
Day 6
Rubondo – Mwanza – Dar es Salaam
Depart Rubondo, ride a boat to Mwanza and connect the flight back to Dar es Salaam.
Arrive Dar and connect your international flight back home. End of programme.
- 🛶 Boat to Mwanza
- ✈️ Flight to Dar
- 🛫 International Connection
Cost
What Your Trip Covers
What’s Included
- Airport transfers
- Local flights
- Meals and accommodation
- All entry fees
- Cultural tour in Dar and Mwanza
- English Speaking guide
Not Included
- International flights, visas & taxes
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities (approx. $20 per person per day)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional extras and personal excursions
- Personal items and souvenirs
Get Your Tailored Quote
Rates vary with group size, season and accommodation level. Tell us your dates and party size and we’ll send a detailed, no-obligation quote within 24 hours — usually much faster on WhatsApp.
Map
Where You'll Be Travelling
An Island All to Yourself
Rubondo combines well with Saanane or a northern circuit safari. Tell us how long you have.