Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is the most popular tourist activity which most travelers to Uganda prioritize to engage in. For a good gorilla trekking experience, one must include the best items in their “What to pack for Gorilla trekking list”. The Clothing chosen should be about comfort and practicality to achieve the best experience. Choosing to travel to Bwindi or Mgahinga, the safari wear should be loose fitting and relaxed in style with warm clothing for the colder evenings at Bwindi or early morning game drives on the Savannah. If hiking or tracking gorillas or chimpanzees, some good waterproofs and hiking trousers are essential, with a well-fitting pair of walking boots. Let’s explore What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda;
1. Pack Long Sleeved Shirts & Trousers
It is recommended that you pack a long sleeved shirt and trousers preferably Khaki type or jeans and if your budget allows, then get get waterproof trousers. The long trousers and shirts protect you from branches, nettles, thorns or anything else that can prick/scratch you. Please don’t let this advice slip your eyes otherwise an the exposed skin will be vulnerable to scratches from thorny plants and trees.
2. Don’t Forget Hand Gloves
We recommend building gloves as the best but you can as well try the gardening gloves particularly made of cotton. Please note that these must be padded on the fingers and palms, sometimes you have to cling unto those wet vines and thorny plants too!
3. We Recommend Hiking Boots
As the hiking trails can be slippery especially when it rains, a pair of hiking boots is required. These should also be waterproof. Choose the best hiking boots that should be comfortable for you, and if possible, you can even put on gumboots.
4. Pack a Rain Jacket
Of course gorillas are trekked in the rainforest of Bwindi and Mgahinga highlands. Usually in the morning hours, rain has higher chances of falling and therefore rain jacket should come handy. You can choose to pack a poncho that can also be worn, but if you are carrying one, carry a light one which you can easily fold and kip in your bag pack until you need it the next time.
5. A Safari Hat is Important too
A Hat will protects your head and neck from rain or the sun. It can be baseball cap but we recommend an all round head hat since a simple cap may not protect your neck form the scotching sun during day light trek. Alternatively, if you carry one or forget to include it in your packlist, you can buy one form any local craft markets in the country where you will be trekking gorillas from.
6. Endeavor to Carry a Warm Sweater
Though it may be surprising to carry a sweater to Africa, It is important that you carry one or a cardigan to be worn in the early mornings and cool nights. It really gets so cold at night. In Mgahinga Gorilla Park for example, the temperature is at 10°C/50°F and in Bwindi Impenetrable it’s at 11°C/52°F and sometimes it’s lower than this depending on the season. Good enough, some luxury lodges here like silverback gorilla lodge have fireplaces in cottages or rooms and other lodges give visitors hot water bottles for comfort throughout the cold night.
7. Choosing the right color for you clothing wear
Bright colors like Red, Pink, Yellow, White should be avoided while on a gorilla trekking activity though they can be used while enjoying a dinner back at your lodge of stay. Neutral colors like light brown, green, Khaki are good for safari activities during the day and they are highly recommended all over Africa, in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana and so much more. Black and blue shirts are not good in the jungle since they attract tsetse flies and other insects. Good enough, some luxury lodges here like silverback gorilla lodge have fireplaces in cottages or rooms and other lodges give visitors hot water bottles for comfort throughout the cold night.