What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
How much to bring on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Gorilla trekking is an exciting activity that draws a lot of tourists to Uganda. Searching for mountain gorillas in the tropical jungle on foot and spending an hour with them in their natural environment is known as gorilla trekking. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is conducted in two locations: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both of which are in the southwest.
Things to bring on a Ugandan gorilla trekking expedition
sanitizer and a face mask
Because mountain gorillas are susceptible to human diseases, you must bring a face mask and hand sanitizer when you go on a gorilla trekking safari. This is to prevent the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus to the gorillas.
Boots for hiking
Given that gorilla trekking is conducted in tropical jungles, where rain may fall at any time of year, hiking boots will support your ankles while you go up steep slopes, shield you from sharp things, and keep your feet dry.
Gloves for gardening
Wearing garden gloves is the best way to protect your hands from itchy plants and germs because gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is done on steep and slippery slopes, where you may touch the ground or thorny, itchy plants for support.
Shirt with long sleeves and pants
Because gorilla trekking is done in dense undergrowth, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers will keep you warm in the morning and shield your body from scratches and incest bites.
Waterproof poncho or rain jacket
Since gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in tropical jungles, where it might rain at any time of day, a waterproof rain jacket will shield you from the elements while you’re hiking.
cozy sweater
Particularly in the morning and evening, as well as during the rainy season, which lasts from March to May and November, when the gorilla parks get a lot of precipitation, the woolen sweater will keep you warm.
Snacks for energy
Depending on where the mountain gorillas are, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can take anywhere from 30 to 7 hours. As a result, visitors must bring energy snacks, such as a packed lunch from the lodge, supplements, and enough water to stay hydrated.
Repellant for insects
Your body will be shielded against mosquitoes and tsetse flies by the insect repellent.
Use a sunscreen or sunblock to shield your eyes and face from intense sunlight.
Sunglasses with a cap
You can shield yourself from the sun’s rays with a hat and from direct sunlight with sunglasses.
Additional batteries and a camera
Since you will be shooting a lot of photos and documenting amazing moments throughout your hour-long encounter with the mountain gorillas, a camera is one of the most essential tools to bring on your gorilla trekking safari. However, while photographing the gorillas, you must turn off the flash.
A pair of eyeglasses
The mountain gorillas and other wildlife, including as several bird species, primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, and mammals like duikers, bushbucks, and forest elephants, may all be well seen with the use of binoculars.
A cane
To help you stay balanced and support yourself while hiking, you may get a walking stick at the lodge or at the headquarters.
Packing a backpack
All of your gorilla trekking necessities, including your permit, energy food, camera, binoculars, bug repellent, rain jacket, and poncho, should be carried in your backpack.
Ugandan gorilla hiking experience
At the park headquarters, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park begins early in the morning with a briefing on the park’s policies. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, and each group will be paired with an expert park guide who is familiar with the forest’s pathways and a habituated gorilla family to hike.
Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them might take anything from 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on their location. You may see several bird species, animals, and other primate species while hiking, including baboons, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and others.
After the mountain gorillas are found, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural environment, where you can observe how they feed, play, nurse, rest, and groom their young, take pictures, and document the amazing moments to share with people back home.
When is the best time to visit Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari?
Although it is possible to go gorilla trekking in Uganda at any time of year, the ideal time to do it is in the dry season, which runs from June to February. In contrast to the wet season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making trekking challenging, the gorilla destinations experience little to no rainfall during the dry season, resulting in thin vegetation that facilitates wildlife viewing and dry, passable gorilla trekking routes.
