What to wear for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla trekking is one of the most important and thrilling activities you should not miss while on a safari in Uganda. In a gorilla trekking adventure, visitors journey through the tropical rainforest to find mountain gorillas, and once they are located, they spend an hour with them in their natural environment.
Gorilla trekking is conducted in two locations in Uganda: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is conducted at Volcanoes National Park. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gorilla trekking is also practiced in the national parks of Kahuzi Biega and Virunga.
What to pack for Rwandan and Ugandan gorilla trekking
Boots for hiking
Since gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda takes place in tropical rainforests along steep, muddy trails, hiking boots will help you walk through the forest for extended periods of time without getting stuck or slipping. Hiking books will also keep your feet dry and protect your ankles.
Shirt with long sleeves and pants
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants will keep you warm, particularly in the morning when it’s usually chilly. They also shield you from stinging nettles, prickly plants, and biting insects that may cause skin harm when hiking.
lightweight poncho or waterproof jacket
Since gorilla trekking in the tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park is possible at any time of year, a lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho will shield you from the rain while you’re trekking.
Gloves for gardening
During gorilla trekking, the gorilla pathways are often muddy, damp, and slippery, particularly during the rainy season; thus, you may need to hang onto plants for support. Wearing garden gloves will protect you from prickly plants, stinging nettles, and germs.
A cozy sweater
A thick sweater will keep you warm in gorilla sites like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, which often become chilly at night when at the lodge and in the early morning after trekking.
a hat to shield you from the heat and rain and to keep your hair out of tree branches, particularly for ladies.
When walking during the dry season, use sunglasses to shield your eyes from the sun.
Use bug repellent to protect yourself from mosquitoes and tsetse flies, which may bite you during gorilla trekking and at the lodge.
Among other things, a lightweight, waterproof backpack can help you carry and keep your gorilla trekking supplies dry, including energy bars, a camera, bug repellent, and binoculars.
You may bring a variety of stuff when you go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, such as
During the hour spent with the mountain gorillas, a camera and additional batteries are needed to snap pictures. To prevent upsetting the mountain gorillas, the flashlight should be switched off when shooting pictures.
Snacks for energy
Depending on where the mountain gorillas live, gorilla trekking may take anywhere from 30 to 6 hours, so energy foods like a packed lunch from the resort and drinking water will help you stay hydrated.
A pair of eyeglasses
During your gorilla trekking experience, you will likely come across a variety of animal species, including birds, mammals, butterflies, and mountain gorillas. Having binoculars can enable you see them well from a distance.
What to pack for Rwandan and Ugandan gorilla trekking
A training about the laws and regulations is given at the park headquarters early in the morning before gorilla trekking begins in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, each of which will be assigned a habituated gorilla family to travel with and a park guide who is familiar with the jungle’s routes.
Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on their location. You can see other primate species, plant and tree species, birds, and more while trekking.
After you find the gorillas, you can spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can observe their daily activities, learn more about their behaviors, take pictures, and document the amazing moments to share with people back home after the safari.
