Gorilla Trekking Gear Tips
gorilla trekking gear tips: Gorilla trekking today—either in Uganda or Rwanda—is arguably East Africa’s most popular wildlife experience, yet one of the most common mistakes travelers make is setting out dressed inappropriately, with some wearing sandals or shorts that are not suitable for this demanding activity.
The landscapes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are slightly different, but they share important similarities. All are located at higher elevations, making them cool, humid, and prone to rain, especially at night and in the early mornings. While trekking, you are not walking on comfortable or well-defined trails; in many cases there are no paths at all, or only narrow tracks through dense forest.
Therefore, as you plan your gorilla safaris in either Uganda or Rwanda, it is essential to wear the right clothing. Proper gear protects you from cold conditions, thorn pricks, stinging nettles, and insect bites such as flies or soldier ants, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable gorilla trekking experience.
Wear Long Sleeved Shirts – Long Trousers
You need to wear a long sleeved shirt and Long trousers (can be either Khaki zip-up trousers or jeans) in fact if you can get waterproof trousers wear those. Both long trousers and long sleeved shirts protect you from branches, nettles, thorns or anything else that can prick/scratch you.
Cotton undergarments are recommended, also the ladies should ensure that they wear comfortable bras since the hike can be tough.
Some visitors ignore this advice and wear shorts and t-shirts, truth is by the end of the day the exposed skin has scratches, therefore ensure you follow this advice.
Wear Waterproof Hiking Sturdy Boots
The hiking trails can be slippery especially when it rains therefore a pair of waterproof hiking boots is required especially for gorilla safaris. The shoes should be comfortable for you, in fact Rangers and Trekkers usually wear rubber boots or gumboots. Therefore you can’t see any one wearing white snickers, sandals or any inappropriate footwear.
Hiking boots will give you good stability, balance, traction and support to your ankles, with these also wear good and thick socks. It is important to tuck your trousers into your socks, this sounds and may look unfashionable but it will protect you against fire ants.
A Rain Jacket
Gorillas are trekked in the rainforest and usually in the morning hours, therefore rain might fall at any time whether it’s a dry season or not, and therefore rain jacket should come handy.
A poncho can also be worn, most trackers, rangers and porters wear it. 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.
Wear enough Insect Repellant
During the trek you come across different insects therefore wears a lot of insect repellent will protect you, also you can apply a sunblock cream on your exposed body parts.
For trackers who are on a Gorilla Habituation Experience, which takes a full days are advised to bring the repellent in their daypack.
What is the right color for your safari clothes?
Bright colors should be avoided while carrying out safari activities in the jungle, but these can be used while enjoying a dinner back at the lodge. 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. So its not just about gorilla tours in Uganda and Rwanda only. Black and blue shirts are not good in the jungle since they attract tsetse flies and other insects.Gorilla trekking gear tips.
Gorilla Trekking Gear Tips( Packing List)
These items below are so important for usage during your gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda.
- Citronella soap: this is so important since it both acts as soap and an insect repellent; this type of soap is also anti-bacterial to the body.
- Insect repellent: The most frequent repellent that works on both mosquitoes and tsetse flies is RID. This can also be bought online and can be applied on with clothes.
- Sun Blocker cream: this cream will help you protect your face and eyes from the hot sun of Equatorial Uganda.
- Hand Wipes: these are handy items that help with preventing germs and can be bought here in Africa; they can help in situations where there is no water.
- Sun glasses: These help with protection from the direct sun shine.
- Malaria medicine: here consider the best tablets and malarone is always recommended as well as Doxycycline. These are considered effective on malaria treatments. This can be accompanied by a medicine bag containing all your medication to help you on your safari.
- A pack of toiletries: these can contain many items depending on the sex of the tourists.
- First Aid: this should be carried in case a tourist gets injured from the jungle.
Important safari gadgets and equipment’s(Gorilla Trekking Gear Tips)
These items below are the necessary gadgets and equipment’s on any safari to Uganda and Rwanda. In case you are bringing a laptop, smart phones, and tablets, you must end ever to protect enough protection.
- Camera and accompanying equipment’s: End ever to carry a camera that is well equipped with its items as well as a lens cleaner to keep the camera lens clean.
- Enough Batteries: Carry a complete set of chargeable batteries along with a good charger, these should be in your handy bag within the vehicle or car.
- Binoculars: You are advisable to carry a pair of binoculars and these will depend on which activity you are to carry out like birding or game driving.
- Camera Memory card : you are advisable to carry extra memory cards for the cameras if you are to take many photos in the jungle
- Journals: these can be brought along to write down some unique experiences within the places visited.
- Flash Light. Bring this along to help you take photos even in the dark like during night game drives.
- Electric Items are also recommended
What Shoes to Put On While on A Trek
We recommend boots for foot wear, since you need to cover above the ankle. There are some deep mud as you trek in the impenetrable forests. In Uganda or Rwanda, you can ask for knee-high rubber wellies, called gum boots. Hiking boots are good for the steep terrain sometimes full of vines depending on the gorilla family which you are visiting. Even the gorilla rangers in Uganda and Rwanda will be covered in rubber boots, locally called the gum boots..so do not think about the sandals, cool white sneakers or trendy shoes, they just wont survive the forest my friend! Take note that the boots should be light weight for the sake of stability on the steep hills as well as support and traction. Please note that when you do not put on the recommended shoes, its easy to hurt yourself by sliding all over.