The Bigodi community walk parades an experience of deep immersion into breathtaking nature around the western part of Uganda. The pathways through the moist, riverine, and evergreen vegetation offer visitors the opportunity to marvel at some of the most exciting primate species there are in Uganda. Bigodi Community is located in the Bigodi wetland on the outskirts of Kibale National Park.
Experience of the Bigodi community walk
The Bigodi community walk presents the chance to indulge in the swamp walks that in an exceptional way allow the visitor to appreciate the natural endowments of Uganda. Visitors get to observe the various types of wetland vegetation that are good for photography and videography since they form a visually appealing scenery.
The community walk helps visitors participate in empowering local communities. Various visits are launched to the homesteads and schools in the community to help empower and inspire them. This is done through several humanitarian work that helps boost the lives of the locals.
While on the guided nature walk around Bigodi swamps, guests can spot several primates especially the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, and the blue monkeys that enjoy wandering in the nearby forests.
Travelers also have the golden opportunity to learn about the cultures and traditions of the local people. The Bakonzo who inhabit the villages around have such an exciting culture.
They are such a hospitable community that always welcomes visitors and showcases their unique traditional dances as a form of entertainment to the visitors in their land. Such exciting moments make the trip worthwhile.
How the community walk is conducted and how much it costs
The Bigodi community walk is conducted under the full-time guidance of a professional tourist guide. The guide is well-versed with information about most creatures in the area and other aspects of the community.
They gladly share information with the visitors ensuring that they leave the community informed and happy with their experiences.
Under the company of the guide, visitors follow the paths in the villages, and conduct visits to the local primary school, and churches on the traditional homesteads.
Through these visits, guests get to learn about the way of life of the locals and enjoy the folklore as told by the elders in society. The elders are entrusted with the activity of storytelling due to the experience they have gathered over the years and the fact that they are eyewitnesses of some past historic events they talk about makes it even more rewarding.
Other activities to do around Bigodi community
There are different bird species which can be seen around the Bigodi community and they include the following;
- Bird watching.
Visitors can visit the Bigodi wetland sanctuary which is a home to a variety of endemic bird species making it a perfect spot for bird watching during tours around Kibale forest national park.
Tourists therefore have the opportunity to see various bird species such as Black and white casqued hornbills, Black Bee Eaters, cinnamons, Cuckoo shrike, egrets, and African jacanas, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Black-crowned Waxbill, 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, the Masked Apalis among others.
Over 200 bird species can be seen during tours around the Bigodi wetlands. Bird watching can also be done around the Kibale forest national park which is home to a variety of bird species.
- Local food experiences
Visitors to the Bigodi community get the golden opportunity to taste the local cuisine during their community tour.
They can learn how to prepare local food with the locals such as yams, matooke, millet, and also learn to prepare local brew made from sorghum.
- Crater lake viewing
The Bigodi community is close to the breathtaking crater lakes of Ndali and Kasenda. They are endowed with beautiful scenery which makes the place a nice one to be at, admire nature in its purity, and escape the noise of the cities.
- 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 in Kibale forest national park can be done in the morning and afternoon and involves spending time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The forest is home to over 13 primate species including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’hoest monkeys among others. Tourists get to spend 1 hour in the presence of the chimpanzees during tours in the forest.
Another activity which can be done when visiting the Kibale forest is chimpanzee habituation tours which involve spending a whole day in the natural habitat of the chimpanzees and getting them used to the presence of humans.
Guided nature walks can also be done during tours around the Kibale forest and involve exploring different parts of the destination on foot in the company of ranger guides.
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 – Fortportal highway. The drive to the community takes about 4 to 5 hours covering the distance of approximately 276 kilometers.
Bigodi Community is approximately 30 kilometers from Fort Portal City and about 6 kilometers from Kibale Forest National Park.
Best time to visit Bigodi
Guests willing to participate in the Bigodi community walks need to note that the community can be accessed at any time of the year.
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 dry seasons usually occur from June to September making up the long dry season. Conversely, the short dry season is always on from December, and January up to February.
