What to pack for gorilla trekking.
A Detailed Guide on What to Pack for gorilla trekking to Uganda and Rwanda
What to pack for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is one of the most opted-for tourist activities in the East African countries of Uganda and Rwanda. However, it becomes more exciting when planned for early enough with the right things packed for the safari. Planning to encounter the East African mountain gorillas can at times be overwhelming because of the many questions that come with planning and the most popular question being, what to pack for gorilla trekking to East Africa.
Our practical guide to packing for your gorilla trekking safari will help you pack for the right things to make your gorilla trekking tour a memorable one. With this write-up, we take a detailed look at what should be included in your travel bag before you jump onto that plane for your gorilla encounter in Uganda or Rwanda.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
This is the most important thing and the very first one that should go into your safari bag before embarking on the journey to encounter the mountain gorillas. A gorilla permit is the government official document that grants you access to spend time with mountain gorillas. Permit in Uganda costs 750 dollars for East African non-residents, 600 dollars for East African residents, and 250,000 shs for Ugandans. It includes entrance to the gorilla destination, ranger, and guide fees to the forest, and spending one hour with the gorillas for normal trekking and not more than 4 hours with the gorillas for the habituation experience. Only eight guests are allowed to trek a particular gorilla family in a single day. Gorilla permits at all times get finished very quickly and that’s why we advise our clients to book them early enough six months or even a year before the trekking dates.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
- Comfortable Hiking shoes.
A pair of comfortable hiking boots is very essential. Both Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks are dense and thick rain forests with challenging steep slopes and therefore navigating through them with open or uncomfortable shoes is almost impossible. Therefore, hiking shoes are the most preferred choice for a trek to encounter mountain gorillas.
- Rain jackets
Bwindi impenetrable is a rain forest and it can at any time receive heavy rain without notice even at times in months considered dry. A light rain jacket is important to have if the skies open up unexpectedly.
- 4. Long sleeve shirts, Tuckable socks, and tour trousers
Long-tour trousers and long-sleeved shirts protect you from scratches from sharp plants and at times thorns. They also protect you from funny insects like red aunts that might climb and irritate you as you trek for the gorillas.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
- 5. Warm sweater
Gorilla trekking starts very early in the morning and at that hour it’s extremely chilly. Besides that, gorillas live in high-altitude areas where morning and night temperatures sometimes come close to freezing. Therefore, a warm sweater is recommended to protect you from the cold.
- 6. Garden / Outdoor Gloves
Pack a decent pair of hand gloves to protect you from injuries and abrasions. While trekking for the gorillas, you will find yourself holding to all kinds of roots and plants and these at times might cause injuries and that’s why we advise packing gloves.
- 7. Camera
Gorillas are such amazing creatures to see but we can’t take them with us. The only things we can take from the jungle to share with our loved ones are great images and beautiful videos. That’s why we advise packing a good camera when going for a gorilla trekking safari. However, when taking pictures, you are not allowed to use a flash as this might irritate the gorilla and cause it to charge at you.
- 8. Drinking-Water
Before leaving your hotel to go gorilla trekking, make sure you ask for drinking water of not less than two liters. The trekking at times takes quite long hours of walking through challenging dense forests and this makes you get thirsty almost all the time.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
- 9. Packed lunch or snacks.
Hiking can take anything between thirty minutes to five hours of trekking. we advise you to carry packed lunch from your hotel or dry foods for your gorilla trek. With past experiences, it is better to pack the lunch and not need it than to leave it behind and need it. You can’t afford to be hungry for the gorillas.
- 10. Insect repellent
These help keep insect bites away. With so many insects in the forest ecosystem, it is better to avoid all the irritation and likely illness that can come from insect bites. You are advised to spray your trekking clothes and bag before starting the hike. If your skin is sensitive, then make sure you get a skin brand that works for you well.
- 11. Toiletries
On your day of gorilla trekking, it’s advisable to go into the forest with some toiletries just in case you need to use them.
- 10. A Light Backpack
you will need some way of carrying the items listed above to the jungle. That’s why advise carrying a very light backpack that will be comfortable for you to carry on your back.
Feel free to contact us with any inquiries on what to pack for gorilla trekking to Uganda or Rwanda.
