You find this unspoilt wilderness in the southwest corner of the large, shallow Lake Victoria, bordered by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The hilly island has some open areas – mostly papyrus swamps and long grass plain – but over 80% is dominated by forest. Before the 1960’s one wouldn’t stand a chance of spotting picture perfect safari wildlife. It was Professor Bernard Grzimek – famous for putting the Serengeti under worldwide attention – who included Rubondo in a mammal rescue project as a reaction to poaching and shrinking environments. And so, in the 60’s and 70’s, the remote human and predator-free Rubondo became the perfect refuge for the introduction of large mammals such as rhinoceros, elephants, roan antelopes, chimpanzees and giraffes.

Rubondo isn’t the island of big cats, nor of large herds of grazers; it is home to the more elusive treasures. One of the most striking creatures hiding in the wetlands and the forest watery borders is the sitatunga antelope. A sighting is a special treat: you will hardly ever spot it anywhere else in Tanzania. Another famous resident is the wild chimpanzee, which was introduced between 1966-1969. The population has been growing ever since and is slightly more habituated nowadays. Furthermore, the entire island is buzzing with butterflies. Luckily they seem to have a preference for animal droppings, which sees them leave the flowery forest and makes them much easier to spot. The pristine tropical forests, beaches and lakes are all yours to explore; the island doesn’t have human inhabitants.