Bigodi Community Nature Walk

Bigodi Community Nature Walk, If you are seeking something that will let you experience living like locals alongside enjoying nature at its very best, Bigodi is where you need to head. Bigodi is a vibrant local community that is situated in Bigodi Wetland close to Kibale National Park, one of Uganda’s most renowned attractions. As you settle into your new surroundings, you will find that Bigodi has loads to see and do, and one of its top attractions is something called the Bigodi Community Nature Walk.

Bigodi Community Nature Walk: What is It All About?

The Bigodi Community Nature Walk is so much more than just going for a walk in the wetlands; it is also an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Uganda and learn about how it benefits the local community. This walk will take you to the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, which is home to many plants and animals. Nature walks here are led by trained local Guides who are very knowledgeable of the local terrain. They are able to identify all the animal, bird and plant species and explain details about their mating and breeding habits.

What to Expect During the Walk

While on your Bigodi Community Nature Walk, you can expect to spend about three hours in the region. Also expect to encounter rich vegetation, wild plants and flowers. The guides are just so eager and knowledgeable about this environment, to say the least. They can identify various animals, birds, and plants.

They give you brief descriptions of how they breed, how they relate to the ecosystem, and how they contribute to that environment. You can ask to view the forest and vast wetland from a tall treehouse. There is a well-established network of boardwalks through the vast wetlands to allow tourists to visit the best spots.

One of the most interesting things about this walk is seeing how the local community is part of the conservation efforts. While visiting the communities, visitors have an opportunity to experience the local food, learn how coffee is grown, and visit the local schools.

You can also go and see how the Bigodi Wetlands project has impacted the villagers by employing the local folk, helping lower school fees, building medical centers and supplying water to the community. Alternatively, one can visit the Bigodi Women’s Group. This group is comprised of over 40 individuals, and you’ll see how they make stunning African crafts, including beads from recycled paper or materials gotten from the swamp.

While on this walk, you’ll also have the chance to visit some operating village small enterprises, including craft shops, cafes, and homestays.

Nature walks here begin either in the early morning at about 7:30 am or in the late afternoon at 3:00 pm. This is ideal since most animals are most active during these hours, giving you a very good opportunity to see interesting wildlife. The walk costs about $30 for foreigners, and this money is well spent.

The Pathways and Viewing Points

Bigodi has well-organized wooden walkways and bridges that interconnect the wetlands. This makes it very convenient to walk through Bigodi without getting dirty or lost. One other great experience in Bigodi is climbing up into a very tall treehouse. This provides visitors with a scenic view of Bigodi wetlands and forests. This is an ideal spot for photography and sightseeing.

Wildlife and Birdlife

This region is a haven for bird watchers. One can see the Abyssinian ground thrush, African pitta, Black bee-eater, Black-capped apalis, Black-eared ground thrush, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Brown-chested alethe, Collared apalis, Crowned eagle, Dusky crimsonwing, Green-breasted pitta, Little greenbul, Purple-breasted sunbird, Yellow-spotted nicator and the Yellow-rumped tinker bird. Bigodi wetland is also home to some primate species, such as black and white colobus monkeys making their way up or down trees or even bush babies or other small mammals. One can also see various frogs and insects within this wetland.

Other Exciting Activities to do in Bigodi Wetland

Although its big attraction is the Community Nature Walk, Bigodi has other fun and important activities that you can give a try:

1. Cultural Tours and Village Walks

See what life is like for the locals by taking a cultural tour. Explore Bigodi on foot by walking through the village and experiencing how the locals live by visiting their homes. While visiting the villages, visitors have an opportunity to see how local crafts are created, including basket weaving, pottery, and cooking. You can also participate in cooking lessons where you can learn to prepare matoke or groundnut sauce.

2. Bird Watching

Bigodi is also a haven for birders. You require binoculars and your camera too, as you will find an incredible number of birds.  Most of the birds find the swamp a perfect sanctuary and breeding ground (fewer predators). The Bigodi Wetlands sanctuary is also a great feeding ground because it attracts insects and frogs, which are favored by the birds.

While on your birdwatching tours, you’ll have the chance to spot different bird species, such as the White-breasted Negrofinch, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Western Nicator, Papyrus Gonoleks, the Brown-Throated Wattle-Eye, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Black-capped Apalis, Great Blue Turaco, Blue-Headed bee-eater, Nahan’s francolin,  Masked Apalis , as Black and white casqued hornbill, Black Bee Eaters, cinnamon, Cuckoo shrike, egret, African jacana, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Black-crowned Waxbill among others.

3. Visit the Local Schools and Community Projects

Numerous community-based tourist trips include visits to local schools or project locations. You can see how education is going in rural Uganda or find out about sustainable farming practices. This is more than just meeting new people or seeing new places—it’s important to understand their struggles and successes.

4. Visiting Kibale Forest national park

Kibale forest national park tours can be combined with visits to the Bigodi community and tourists can engage in various activities such as chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation and guided nature walks.

Chimpanzee trekking happens either in the afternoon or in the morning, and it is basically spending time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitats. The forest is full of more than 13 primate species, including colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, red tails, vervets, and l’hoest monkeys. You spend about one hour relaxing with the chimpanzees during the tour.

Another exciting thing you can do in Kibale Forest is chimpanzee habituation. This is a full-day journey where you’ll spend time out in nature with the chimps to try to habituate them to your presence.

Guided nature walks can also be done during tours around the Kibale Forest national park. You can walk around various areas within the forest with assistance from a ranger to give you a sense of the environment.

How to get to the Bigodi community

The Bigodi community can be accessed by road. Visitors undertake the travel to the community in comfortable safari vehicles that can make it through several terrain types.

Visitors drive along the Kampala–Mubende–Fort portal highway. The trip usually takes around 4 to 5 hours and covers about 276 kilometers.

Bigodi Community is approximately 30 kilometers from Fort Portal and about 6 kilometers from Kibale Forest National Park.

Best time to visit Bigodi

If you’re thinking about embarking on a thrilling adventure at Bigodi community walks, good news—you can go anytime all year round.

However, it is equally important to note that the dry seasons offer amazingly incredible experiences and come off as the best seasons in which one can indulge in community walks.

The long dry season runs from June to September, and there’s also a shorter dry spell from December to February. Those times are definitely the best for really soaking in everything.

Where to stay around Bigodi wetlands

If you’re wondering where to stay for the night while exploring Bigodi communities and wetland areas, no worries at all. You can stay at the same hotel’s lodges as visitors to Kibale National Park.  some of the accommodation you may opt for includes Ndali Lodge, Primates Lodge, kyaninga lodge, Crater Lodge and Chimps nest.