Lagoons are shallow stretches of water separated from the open sea by strips of land. The Cufada lagoons were formed where rivers flooded wide, flat areas over many thousands of years. Because the water is calm and full of fish and water plants, they attract huge flocks of birds - herons, egrets, pelicans, and many more.
Every year, birds from Europe and Asia fly south for the winter. The Cufada lagoons are a vital stopping point on this long journey, offering food and rest to exhausted travellers. Some birds stay all winter; others just refuel and continue south. The sight of thousands of birds arriving at dusk is spectacular.
Around the lagoons, local fishermen launch their canoes early each morning to catch the plentiful fish. Fish are an important part of the diet in Guinea-Bissau, and the lagoons have provided food for communities here for as long as anyone can remember. The challenge is to keep the fishing sustainable so the fish and the birds both thrive.
The park is also home to waterbuck, warthogs, and green monkeys on the dry land around the water. At night, you can sometimes hear hippos calling from the deeper parts of the lagoons.