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Gorilla Trekking Packing List (also What to Wear) – Essentials
Gorilla trekking packing list
Our suggested gorilla trekking packing list or what to wear includes hiking boots, hiking pants and shirt, waterproof clothing, gardening gloves, leech socks, gaiters, insect repellant, hiking pole, facemask, passport, toilet paper, tips, water bottle, rehydration salts, lunch backpack, camera, binoculars, and sun protection, among others.
Spending time with a habituated gorilla family in the remote Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes national parks can be a life-changing experience. Gorilla trekking in the misty rainforest jungles of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo contributes directly to the conservation and protection of these critically endangered species and their habitat.
However, it is important to consider what to wear for a comfortable gorilla trekking experience. Many times, intending trekkers get confused about what to wear or carry for an ultimate gorilla trekking experience.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Volcanoes, or hiking to areas of higher altitudes covering long distances, means you have to be prepared for this activity with the right or recommended gear, whether in the dry or wet season. Below is a quick overview of a suggested gorilla trekking packing list.
Gorilla Trekking Packing List
1. Hiking boots
A pair of strong, rainproof hiking boots is an absolute must for gorilla trekking. Good ankle support and water protection make a hike much more comfortable and provide grip in challenging terrain. Trekkers are usually advised not to wear open shoes or sandals.
2. Hiking pants / Hiking shirt
A comfortable pair of hiking pants, preferably khaki zip-up trousers, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt will make for a much more pleasant trekking experience and will help protect your arms and legs from sharp grasses, sun heat, stinging nettles, and tree branches thronged with thorns. Consider clothing made of lightweight and breathable materials, which are good at wicking moisture away.
3. Waterproof Clothing or Rain Protection
A rain jacket or poncho is necessary, whether in the rainy or dry season. There is a possibility of a sudden downpour. You wouldn’t want to be washed by rain when hiking in the tropical rainforest, which experiences an equatorial climate. You’ll want to be prepared for the possibility of torrents on your hike. However, you might end up being really hot and sweaty, depending on the day’s temperature.
4. Sun Protection (Hat/Sunglasses/Sunscreen)
Regardless of when you go trekking, you’ll want to make sure you are fully protected from the sun. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers is a good idea. At the same time, we recommend carrying a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen. Others may also want to come along with their sunglasses.
5. Daypack with rain cover.
You are definitely going to need a daypack to carry your various items, such as your camera, water bottles, extra clothing, and snacks. In the case of rain, a daypack with a rain cover is a smart idea. One with a rain cover that is attached to the backpack in some way is recommended so that it won’t be torn off by jungle branches.
6. Camera
This is a must-have for anyone! We’d also recommend bringing along a lens cloth as well as extra batteries and memory cards.
7. Binoculars
Although binoculars may not be very necessary, they are highly recommended for your safari in general.
8. Dry bag
Like any other safari, travelers are fond of bringing a camera with them, and they will want to keep it dry should they experience a tropical downpour. If the camera is smaller, a Ziplock bag or similar container will do. Otherwise, individuals might consider a dry bag or backpack liner that they can put inside their daypack, which keeps all belongings dry.
9. Snacks or Lunch
While the gorilla trek will normally start around 8:30 a.m., you can never predict how long it will take before you bump into a gorilla group. Certainly, it may go on for more than half the day. In this situation, you’ll grow hungry and wish to have some food on hand. We suggest packing some high-energy items like nuts, dried fruit, jerky, or granola bars.
10. Rehydration Salts
Hiking in humid conditions will cause you to sweat a lot, hence losing both water and salt. When hiking in these situations, we recommend trekkers carry some rehydration salts with them. These can help replace lost nutrients when you add them to water.
11. Water bottle or water bladder
You are definitely going to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, so you will want to make sure you fill up your water bottles before leaving your hotel that morning. As a minimum, you’ll want to carry at least 1 liter per person, but if it’s hot and you are doing a long hike, you might want even more. You could add a water bladder, such as a Camelbak pack, to your daypack, or you could just bring a regular reusable water bottle.
12. Gardening Gloves
Although it might seem like a strange suggestion, the park service recommends it. A pair of strong gardening gloves will protect your hands from stinging nettles or thorns when pulling yourself using tree branches and vines as you push through the jungle, as well as insects such as the stinging caterpillar. They could also protect your hands from the wooden hiking poles (blisters).
13. Leech socks
These are definitely not necessary but are good for comfort. There may or may not be leeches present, depending on the season you visit. While leeches aren’t really dangerous, they are definitely unpleasant. Leech socks offer a barrier that leeches cannot cross up to your knee. Leech socks also protect against biting insects like safari ants, stinging caterpillars, and mud.
14. Gaiters
In addition to providing protection from mud and dirt, gaiters can prevent stones and dirt from entering your hiking boots. They can also offer some protection from moving insects that bite. These are not must-haves, but they are recommended. You should at least ensure that your hiking pants can be tucked into your socks and will stay there while you are hiking. If insects are your main worry, you might want to think about wearing the leech socks suggested below (which can be worn in addition to or instead of gaiters).
15. Insect repellent
It is important to note that insects can be found anywhere in the jungle. While trekking, you may come across leeches and insects like stinging caterpillars and safari ants. You will want to wear insect repellent to protect yourself from bites. It is recommended that you choose an insect repellent that includes at least 20% DEET as the active ingredient. Although it is unlikely that you will come across mosquitoes while gorilla trekking at higher elevations, they are still present in other parts of Uganda and can spread malaria. Always keep insect repellent in a Ziploc bag to avoid leakage.
16. Hiking pole
Most people use the free wooden hiking pole offered at the trailhead or visitors’ center. However, if you already own the one you like, you might consider bringing it along.
17.Passport
This is usually a must for every traveler. Everyone in your group, including children, will need their passports for checking and verifying your booking.
18. A face mask
Gorillas share so much DNA with humans, and that means diseases can easily cross the species barrier. It has always been a common requirement for visitors to wear face masks when visiting the gorillas, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. You are encouraged to pack a good face mask that fits you well and lets you breathe through it with ease.
19. Tips
Tipping has always been a fact of life in every tourist destination, and although gorilla trekking is expensive, tipping will still be expected. The trackers you meet in the jungle might not accompany you back, and so you might want to tip them before you depart, so carrying money on you is a good idea. Local Ugandan shillings are the easiest option, but U.S. dollars are also widely accepted.
20. Toilet paper
On a longer trip, the chances of needing to ease yourself increase, so packing some toilet paper just in case is a good idea.
