Bird Watching Within Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Bigodi wetland Sanctuary is found at about 6 kilometers south of Kanyanchu Visitor Center of Kibale Forest National Park and was established by Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development to protect the 4 square kilometers (1.5 square mile/400 hectares) Magombe Swamp.
This magnificent area is recognized for its biological diversity including a number of primates such as Grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, Olive baboons, and Red Colobus monkeys in addition to other mammals like bushbucks, Sitatunga and mongoose that sometimes visit the site from the nearby Kibale Forest National Park, the best destination for primates safaris in Uganda.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a Paradise for birders with over 138 species out of the 200 species of birds found within the Swamp. These birds are always spotted during guided nature walks along the boardwalk trail and the different viewing platforms across the area and some of the common species of birds to see include the Great Blue Turaco, Cuckoos, Green-breasted Pitta, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, purple breasted sunbird, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, White-spotted Flufftail, Black-crowned waxbills, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-collared Oliveback, Papyrus Gonolek, papyrus canary, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Dusky crimson wing, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black bee-eater, Superb Sunbird, Western Nicator, Little greenbul, White-breasted Negrofinches, Yellow rumpled tinker bird, Grey-winged Robin-chat, Abyssinian ground thrush, white-spotted fluff tail, Kingfishers, Black Bishop, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Hornbills, Brown-chested Alethe, Collared Apalis, the Papyrus yellow warbler, double-toothed barbet, Black and white Shrike-flycatcher, Hairy-breasted Barbet, yellow-billed barbet, and Black-and-white Shrike-flycatchers among others. Birding within Bigodi wetland Sanctuary is done in guided forest walks led by knowledgeable guides who will help to identify the bird species but also provide detailed information about each identified bird species.
Besides the avifauna, Bigodi wetland Sanctuary is also a perfect place for spotting numerous species of butterflies and primates with over eight species that are able to be spotted within a single trip as well as other mammals such as bushbucks, the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelopes, bush pigs, Otters and Mongoose among others. Therefore, other activities to enjoy besides birding are primate viewing, guided nature walks through the swamp jungle, community/village walks where you will be taken through the process of basket weaving, fun interpretive meals, and also enjoy exhilarating dance and drama performances.
Before you visit this site for bird watching, make sure to wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a hut, cotton socks, and strong waterproof hiking boots and also carry a backpack, guidebook because some of the guides don’t know all the bird species, camera, pair of binoculars and enough drinking water to stay hydrated during the walk.
Therefore, Bigodi wetland Sanctuary is one of the few places where nature and community meet in Uganda but most importantly is a birding paradise offering over 138 out of the total 200 species of birds spotted in a single birding trip with the common ones being the great blue turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus yellow warbler, brown-throated wattle-eye, Kingfishers, Cuckoos, the Papyrus canary, Superb sunbirds and flycatchers among others.