The Bigodi community walk perfectly introduces you to the Bigodi village/community to explore more about the different local practices conducted by residents. Community walks in Bigodi are conducted with the lead by an experienced local guide. During the guided community walk in Bigodi, visitors get a perfect experience of what community-based tourism is all about.
Visitors who embark on the Bigodi community walk to get a chance to engage in hands-on experiences including basket weaving. The community walk in Bigodi also includes visiting some of the local projects or initiatives that have been introduced to create employment while beneficiaries appreciate the value of tourism and conservation.
The Bigodi community walk began in 2016 with 4 people who undertook training from the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED). They discovered a loop which they developed with intentions of enhancing household incomes and offering employment opportunities to the community guides.
The Bigodi wetland community walk is one of the interesting experiences you should expect to engage in while in the Bigodi wetland/swamp. Bigodi is 6 km off away from Kibale National Park.
Why go for the Bigodi Community Walk?
- Participating in the Bigodi community walk greatly plays a significant role in supporting community-based tourism initiatives run by the local communities.
- The revenue earned plays a great role, especially in ensuring that the locals meet some of their basic needs.
- Empowerment: Engaging in the Bigodi community walk helps empower local communities. Through the Bigodi community walk initiatives like humanitarian works, visits can be made to the nearby homesteads and schools as one way of empowering and inspiring them.
- Enjoy great encounters with primates. While on a guided walk in Bigodi, visitors stand a chance to explore different primates and other mammals. Bigodi wetland area boasts diverse primate species including blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys.
- Have a close interaction with locals as you explore their unique traditions and cultures. The Bigodi community walk introduces you to local communities where you get to interact with residents and learn more about their distinct traditions, cultures, and practices. Visitors also get a chance to enjoy great entertainment from the dances and music performances. Sharing such incredible moments leaves lasting memories.
How the Bigodi community walk is done?
The Bigodi community walk is done with the lead by an experienced guide. The local guide assigned to you is experienced and knowledgeable about the area. Visitors get enriched by first-hand experiences shared by the local guides.
A guided community walk in Bigodi takes between 3 and 4 hours. The length of the trek varies depending on the visitors’ walking speed and weather conditions in the course of the day.
What else do you expect besides the Bigodi community walk experience?
- Birding (bird-watching).
A total of about 138 bird species makes Bigodi a great birding site. Bird-watching in Bigodi gets enthusiastic birders incredible sights of birds such as the Great blue turacos, Papyrus gonoleks, grey-headed nigrita, blue-breasted kingfishers, black-crowned waxbill, African grey parrot, grosbeak weaver, blue-headed coucal, double-toothed barbet, snowy-crowned robin-chat, ross’s turacos, red-headed bluebill, red-capped robin chat, and swamp flycatchers.
Other birds to expect to come across on a birding tour in Bigodi include yellow-throated tinker bird, yellow-billed barbet, speckled tinker bird, white-spotted fluff tail, hairy-breasted barbet, brown-throated wattle-eye, masked apalis, Nahan’s francolins, red-faced woodland warblers, and others.
Bigodi shelters the majority of interesting birds any bird lover would like to spot. The best time to get there to enjoy birding tours is around March, April, and May, September, October to November. Migratory species and breeding season for most resident birds occur in November and April. It is possible to engage in the morning or afternoon birding session while in Bigodi wetland.
Visit Kibale Forest National Park.
Bigodi and Kibale National Park experiences can be combined depending on how long you intend to stay exploring the two destinations. Kibale (the Primate Capital of the World) is home to more than 13 primate species. The park covers 795 sq. km and shelters the highest concentration of primates including over 1500 chimpanzees, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, bush babies, pottos, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, etc.
Over 375 bird species also reside in Kibale and include the unique African green-breasted pitta, blue-breasted kingfishers, blue-throated rollers, yellow-rumped tinker bird, western nicator, black-capped apalis, red-bellied paradise flycatchers, and red-headed bluebill.
Other birds in Kibale Forest include African grey parrot, Cassin’s hawk-eagle, little greenbul, scaly-breasted illadopsis, red-chested owlet, Abyssinian ground thrush, Nahan’s francolins, African emerald cuckoos, black and white casqued hornbills, etc.
Tourists on a safari in Kibale National Park have incredible experiences to take part including chimpanzee tracking, forest/nature walks, birding/bird-watching, chimpanzee habituation experience, and more.
The best time to go for a community walk in Bigodi.
It is possible to embark on a road trip to Bigodi at any time of the year. But, the dry months are the best when it comes to guided walks. On a travel calendar, the dry months start from June to September then December to February.
What to take on the Bigodi community walk?
Pack the right items for your Bigodi Wetland community walk. The essentials to include on your packing list include a rain jacket, a camera, waterproof hiking or walking boots, a first aid kit, a daypack, insect repellents, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, and bottled drinking water.
Where to stay?
Visitors can have overnight in one of the nearby lodges in and around Bigodi. Top lodges around Bigodi include Kibale River Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Papaya Lake Lodge, Primate Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Bigodi Community Lodge, Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge, Crater Lake Safari Lodge, and others.
How to get to Bigodi wetland?
To engage in the guided Bigodi community walking excursion, you must travel up to Bigodi. Bigodi is accessible by road and from Kampala or Entebbe, expect to take about 6-7 hours driving. The Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal-Kamwenge route offers easier access to Bigodi wetland where you can engage in your community walk and other activities.