Why You Must Visit Bigodi Wetland, Kibale and Fort Portal (Uganda)

Magombe Swamp, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

We visited the Bidogi Wetlands for a swamp walk, which is a home for 8 species of primates and many birds close to Kibale forest (where you can see the Chimpanzees).  The project main goal is to protect the Magombe Swamp, a haven for 200 bird species. The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary features 8 primate species, numerous other interesting mammals, many reptiles, and uncounted varieties of trees, shrubs and vines.
Guided walks $30 depart from the visitors centre on demand and take three hours. The sanctuary is just off the road between 
Fort Portal and Kamwenge, about 6km southeast of Kanyanchu, Kibale National Park’s HQ Office.

Over 200 bird species in Bigodi Wetland
A Weaverbird in Bigodi Wetland
Birds are everywhere in the Sanctuary. Perhaps the favorite of visitors is the great blue turaco, shown above. Also frequently seen are varieties of papyrus gonoleks, hornbills, waxbills, weavers, cuckoos, kingfishers, flycatchers, and many, many others.
Great blue Turacco

Bigodi Wetland  project was initiated by a man who understood that to sustain the wetlands you need to involve the local people in the tourism. The benefits of the guided tours go directly to the local people so this village was already able to build a school and a health center. 

What I liked about the tour:
The enthousiastic guide with a lot of knowledge since he lives in the village
The beautifull swamp with primates and birds incl. the great Turacos
We asked for a combination with a village walk, this was quickly arranged so we visited the local medicine man, really interesting

Since your feet might get wet, they offer you rain boots


We were told not to buy souvenirs from the children in the village. The project has a little shop and they can bring their stuff there, so they can go to school instead of waiting for tourist.

On your tour, you will likely see several kinds of monkeys including black and white colobus, red colobus, mangabey, red tail, vervet, and L’Hoest. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee.
Black and White Colobus Monkey you may encounter






We did the tour on the same day as our Chimpanzee tracking in the morning. Since this tour is very easy it’s a good combination. The tour takes about 3 hours.

Over all: a win-win situation and a must visit!

Bring water and a hat as protection for the sun because it’s hot!

Visit Bigodi and  Track Wild Chimps in Kibale >> 5 Days Chimpanzee, Bigodi Wetland and wildlife safari


Other Activities in Kibale National Park and Fort Portal Area

Related posts

What is fast-killing and fishing-off the Endagered Eastern Chimpanzee

 Why You Must Visit Bigodi Wetland, Kibale and Fort… 

What to expect from a safari to Kibale National Pa… 

Kalinzu Forest Reserve–A Natural Forest beaming with Chimps, Primates, butterflies, rear birds, etc

Special Tours to See chimpanzees, Gorillas and other Primates

3 days Uganda Gorilla tour

4 days Chimps and Gorilla Tour –

3 day Gorilla tracking Rwanda with tour price

5 days Uganda Gorillas and Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari

6 days gorilla tracking, wildlife safari

14 days Uganda Rwanda 

7 days Uganda Gorilla Safaris 

9 days Gorillas, primates wildlife 

8 days Uganda Gorilla Game safari

Uganda 4 days Gorilla tracking tour with Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

5 days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps Tour

5 days Gorillas trek Rwanda and Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda

All Inclusive 12 days Uganda Safari

2 Comments

  1. Vijay kumar on 2nd January 2013 at 4:31 pm

    Thanks for your grateful informations, am working in Tourism Portal ,
    so it will be a better information’s for me. Try to post best informations like this always



  2. Vijay kumar on 2nd January 2013 at 4:31 pm

    Thanks for your grateful informations, am working in Tourism Portal ,
    so it will be a better information’s for me. Try to post best informations like this always