Gorilla trekking pack list – What should I wear for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
What do I need to carry on my Gorilla trekking safari, is a common question to all travelers coming to Uganda or Rwanda for Gorilla trekking as most of these travelers are new and not used to weather plus terrain of Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park, Gorilla trekking pack list information, is a very important checklist that every traveler needs to consider and below are some of the items you shouldn’t leave out on your Gorilla trekking safari to Uganda or Rwanda.
Hiking boots/Jungle boots
Hiking boots are a must pack on your Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda, as Gorilla trekking involves hiking up the hills and slopping down the slippery valleys when it rains, in a dense forest of Bwindi impenetrable or Mgahinga forest National Park and in fact you will be making fresh trails with the help of your ranger guide, in search of the mountain Gorillas. Due to the nature of the terrain, and elevation you need a hiking boot to have a real experience of Uganda.
Rain Jacket/Poncho
This is something that must not miss on your Gorilla trekking pack list as Bwindi impenetrable forest is a tropical rain forest and the rains are un predictable as it can rain at any time of the day but this does not stop the Gorilla trekking activity to go on, and when it rains it takes like 2-3 hours and stop, so for any quick weather changes, you need a rain Jacket or poncho on you as you enter the forest as you never know what happens next.
Long Sleeved shirts/blouse
We always advise long pair of trousers and must be tacked in well into your hiking boots, long sleeved shirts or blouses as a protection from insects and wild vegetation like some herbs itch, so to be safe you need to have your legs and hands well covered to avoid skin rashes after the Gorilla trekking activity.
A Pair of Garden Gloves
You are highly recommended to include the garden cloves in your Gorilla trekking pack list as while on a Gorilla trek, it is possible the terrain to be wet and slippery, so you need support from a tree or stick, to avoid skin scratches and what have you, kindly have the garden cloves fr protection.
Energy giving snack/food
Out of experience, I have had clients ignoring packed lunched when goring into the forest, but since Gorilla trekking is unpredictable on what time you will be from the forest as it can take from 30 minutes to 3 quarters of the day, you need food or snack plus drinking water at least 3 bottle as you will be hiking in the forest and a minimum level of energy is required.
Sun Glasses and a Hat
Most of the times we recommend our clients rainy jackets to take caution of rains and forget a hat and sun glasses for the drier days, Even if Bwindi impenetrable forest is a tropical rain forest but we cannot fight nature, there is also sunshine and you need to protect from direct sun rays with a hat and sun glasses
Cameras and spare batteries
What make a Gorilla trekking safari are the memories and experience and the better way to keep memories is through photography, carry a very nice camera for your mountain Gorilla trekking Safari and do not allow disturbances from down power butteries when taking your photos for your life time experience, so you need spare batteries to exercise well your photography skills and endeavor to have your flash lights off when taking the photos.
Porters
We would recommend every client to take a porter for his/her Gorilla trek, as they can help you carry the backpacker or give you a push or pull while hiking in the forest, porter fees range from $15-$20 and whenever you hire a porter, you are giving back to the community for development.
If you have a game safari before or after the Gorilla trekking safari, you can carry more clothes but the ones mentioned above are essential for Gorilla trekking activity and always carry inset repellents to avoid wild ants though you should be selective while choosing as some of the repellents attract ants.
