Swamp walking

---

Geo: 0.664314, 30.2796

Today we visited the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This is a small sanctuary which protects the Magombe Swamp. It is a great example of conservation and tourism and it also directly benefits the local community. All the money raised from the trail is used in community projects in Bigodi. It has already funded a library and a secondary school in the village. The extremely well-informed guides make the walk all the more enjoyable. Our guide, Alex, could spot birds we might have otherwise missed as well as small creatures like frogs, snails and centipedes and a good sized lizard with a yellow body and brilliant blue head and tail. We saw a lot of birds, for which this area is most famous. We saw Great Blue Turacos, Greenbuls, Weavers that look a bit like Grosbeaks and they literally weave nests that look like little upside down baskets hanging in the trees. Western Nicators, the males grow a fancy long tail during mating season, Sunbirds, which look like giant hummingbirds that hover and drink nectar and an African Harrier Hawk.

There are also saw Black and White Colobus, Red Colobus, Red-tailed monkeys and one D'Hoest Monkey which was pretty special because this monkey is very shy and often hangs out high in the canopy.

The trail is only 5 km but it took about 2 ½ hours because of stopping to gaze at whatever wildlife had presented itself. It was a very enjoyable morning.

We are really enjoying Uganda. Besides lots of interesting things to see and do, it is the people who really make the country a worthwhile and enjoyable visit. Everyone is very friendly and no one gives you the impression they have a hidden agenda when they engage you in conversation. They truly just want to greet you and welcome you to their country. This is very different from a lot of other places we have visited where someone might be friendly but is soon trying to sell you something or wants money from you. One thing is similar – the children love it when you wave at them.

We have seen a few homeless people but none begging which is another pleasant surprise. The roadsides are pretty clean. We have not seen a lot of litter. The only downside is the dust and the smoke in the air from burning dead grass. This leaves a haze in the sky that blocks out the view of the Rwenzori Mountains we should be seeing here in Fort Portal.

---

Comments

[Neat, Vatana, Thida and Poan]

Hello Richard and Carole, We love your profile picture too. Thank you for sharing and remember us and your time in Cambodia. Much love,