What To Pack For The Gorilla Trekking Safari – Ultimate Packing List
What To Pack For The Gorilla Trekking Safari – Ultimate Packing List
I would like to believe that if you are looking at what to pack for the gorilla trekking safari, you have already planned your adventure journey in Uganda or Rwanda. So you are looking for a packing list to make sure your luggage includes the right things you’ll need to pull off a memorable African journey.
Pack light! Save yourself travel luggage stress and only carry the essentials. Your packing list for gorilla trekking should have things you absolutely need. Especially if you’re going to take internal local flights to the gorilla park, regional airlines have a limit of up to 32 kg per bag and charge for extra weight.
Mountain gorillas live in the remotest regions with minimal access to modern services and at mountainous altitudes. You’ll be trekking uneven, steep terrain at 7000 ft 13,000 above sea level, under a thick humid tropical mountain forest.
It gets chilly in the nights, with mornings reaching temperatures ranging at a minimum of 7 to 15 °C (45 to 59 °F). Carry some comfortable and warm clothing plus waterproof shoes. Avoid clothing that makes you stand out like a sore thumb and draw unnecessary attention.
The mountain gorilla jungle is an impenetrable thicket of tangled green with marked walking trails. You must get up early to join the gorilla trekking excursion group that sets out at 08:00 am. The trek goes irrespective of whether it rains or not. Therefore, you should pack for any eventualities.
The recent deadly pandemic has changed the way people travel; we now have to protect ourselves and the animals from dangerous transmittable diseases. Your packing list for gorilla trekking will include standard hygiene items for protecting you, the gorillas and everyone else. You could also strengthen your immunity with a vaccine jab before you come, although it’s not mandatory yet.
Look out for the ever-changing entry restrictions like visa, vaccines, and Covid-19 tests. You want to have all documents packed in your handbag.
Remember to check with your local tour operator about your gorilla permit; it’s a vital pass to see the mountain gorillas. They must have sent you a copy; make sure you pack your verified copy with the correct names, date, gorilla trekking park, and maybe, the trailhead or sector.
Also, your lodge will allow you to leave your luggage and check out after the trek to have a safe place to leave your luggage and freshen up after the hike. In retrospect, bring a carry-on bag to carry your lunchbox, camera, and other items you’ll need during gorilla trekking in the jungle.
The gorilla trekking adventure experience is quite similar irrespective of where you track or which country. That means the packing list is the same in Uganda and Rwanda.
The Ultimate Packing List for Gorilla Trekking
Below is your packing list for the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda.
Anti COVID-19 hygiene items
- Facemasks – at the moment, by law, everyone in Uganda and Rwanda wears a facemask in public and close to protected animals.
- Hand sanitiser
- Disinfecting wipes
- Hard-surface cleaning spray; only if you want to be extra precautious. Use items that the CDC approves
For Your Health
- Pack a pair of your prescription glasses and bring a floating strap if you’ll be using them while you trek the gorillas.
- Bring your contact lenses and cleaning solutions. Will you need eye drops?
- Carry sunscreen to protect you from the tropical heat. Please, choose one that is water-resistant and reef-friendly. But always remember that nothing can protect you against the sun better than clothing.
- Essential prescriptions, meds, and vitamins
- Insect repellent will help you keep the bugs away during your jungle hikes
- A tiny traveller’s first aid kit
Clothes to pack
- Long-sleeved shirts for jungle trekking and sunburn protection. A couple of regular T-shirts, blouses or dress shirts
- Two pairs of long pants—something dressy and something for the jungle hiking
- Underwear and comfortable socks, of course
- A lightweight waterproof jacket or raincoat that will keep you dry or warm when the temperatures drop
- Sunglasses and hat or baseball cap
- A pair getters and outside cloves
Footwear
- Lightweight hiking or walking shoes; preferably waterproof
- Closed sandals or crocs and a pair of long, warm socks
- Retractable trekking poles or hiking staff—usually, you can get a free wooden walking stick at the park office; it could turn out to be heavier than your foot.
Books and documents
- A good travel book about Uganda or Rwanda—perfect for learning about the basics of the destination you’re visiting
- Pack some reading materials like ebooks, magazines, novels or a travel blog with great content about Uganda experiences.
- A passport that has at least more than three months before expiry and three empty pages. Have photocopies (paper and digital)
- Identification cards (drivers license) and insurance cards with emergency contacts. Make paper and digital copies.
- Most international debit cards and credit cards are accepted in Uganda, and there are Banks/ATMs at major towns en route to the gorillas. Only carry small amounts of cash for souvenirs, street food, bus/taxi fare, and tipping. Most people and lodges in Uganda and Rwanda accept US Dollar bills not older than 2006.
Toiletries
- Razors
- Toothbrush and toothpaste, you may not find any at your gorilla lodge
- Pack small bottles of shampoo and body soap if you don’t want to use your lodge’s complimentary toiletries
- Brush or comb
- Deodorant and antiperspirant
- Cosmetics and other beauty items such as body lotion, antibacterial wipes, etc.
- Sanitary pads, which you can also buy in Kampala or Kigali when you land.
Miscellaneous to pack for the gorilla trekking safari
- Resusable drinking water can/bottle – you’ll need a lot of drinking water
- Ziplock bags
- Your favourite long-lasting energy snack for hiking; A mix of dried fruit and nuts is a great, energising snack. You can also request the chef at the lodge to pack your favourite in your ziplock.
- A small flashlight for late-night walks to your cottage
- A pair of binoculars for birdwatching
- A tablet or light laptop
- Camera or Cell phone for photography. You may find wifi at the lodge to connect with your social buddies.
- A waterproof daypack or backpack for daily activities is handy.
- Your electronics chargers with a socket adopter.
- Headphones for those quiet me-time
- Emergency, friends and family contacts
Essentials For The Gorilla Trekking Day
- 2 facemasks & hand sanitizer
- Long sleeve shirt or T-shirt
- Long pants
- Walking/hiking boots
- Long socks
- Raincoat or poncho
- Drinking Water
- Snacks
- Lunch pack & snack
Luggage packing tips and tricks
Fit more into your luggage: The best way to gain space in your bag is by rolling your clothes, and you will end up making less luggage and possibly not have to pay extra baggage fees.
Buy stuff at your destination: Entebbe, Kampala, and Kigali have travel stores where you can buy things you will need on your gorilla trekking safari. Please pack only the essentials and then ask your tour manager to help you make a list of the things you can get when you come.
We have two seasons: June to August and December to February are dry seasons in Uganda and Rwanda. The heat makes for an excellent gorilla trekking experience under the humid jungle canopy. But you should pack light clothing for the trek and something to protect yourself against the sun outside the rainforest (bring sunglasses and tropical-friendly sunscreen). March to May and September to November is the rainy season. There may be unexpected rain outbursts for a couple of hours a day, and a cloak can come in handy.
Recommended for you: Best time to go trekking the mountain gorillas—month by month.
Layer up: Avoid the bulky heavy clothing that takes up space. Bring lighter clothes that can layer up to stay warm. For example, instead of that bulky sweater, why not take a merino wool tank or tee layered with a lighter long-sleeved top.
Carry the heavy clothing on you: You can wear heavy clothing during transit, to free up some parking space to carry snacks or something to give away like “Pack For A Purpose” items. You’ll have that space available when flying back home. It’s common to see someone in transit wearing a jacket (or holding it), a thick pair of jeans and sturdy boots.
Overpack vs Underpack: What’s worst, to overpack or underpack? People that prefer overpacking say that even though you don’t end up using some things, the security of having it is reassuring — people who are against overpacking say large bags are too much of a burden. Why bother when you can just buy stuff at your destination if you ever need it.
