What To Wear For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda and Rwanda

What To Wear For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Rwanda, Packing List

What To Wear For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda: Gorilla trekking today, either in Uganda or Rwanda is perhaps East Africa’s most popular tourist activity. And one of the mistakes most people make is to go for gorilla trekking dressed inappropriately. Some wear sandals, and shorts which are not the right clothes for such an activity.

The landscape of Bwindi Impenetrable (Uganda) is slightly different from that of Mgahinga (Uganda). It is also different from Volcanoes National Parks(Rwanda). However, you find all of them at higher elevations hence making them rainy, humid, and cold, especially at night. The Truth is that while trekking you are not hiking on comfortable tracks. But sometimes, there are no trails at all or you hike following very small trails.

Therefore, as you plan, your Gorilla safaris in either Uganda or Rwanda, this draws you to wear the right clothing. This protects you from coldness, thorn pricks, nettles, or insect bites such as flies and soldier ants.

Recommendations on What to Wear for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Wear Long Sleeved Shirts – Long Trousers

You need to wear a shirt with long sleeves and Long trousers (can be either Khaki zip-up trousers or jeans). You can get waterproof trousers and wear them. Both long trousers and shirts with long sleeves protect you from branches, nettles, thorns, or anything else that can prick/scratch you.

We recommend you to get Cotton undergarments. 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. By the end of the day,  their 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, you need a pair of waterproof hiking boots 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 anyone wearing white sneakers, 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.

Sturdy Gardening Gloves

This seems like a joke, but it is right. You’re going to use these strong gardening gloves are going to in gorilla trekking not in gardening. They will help you support your selves on branches or vines. The gloves also give you protection against nettles such that you don’t get scratched.

You can put them off when you meet the Gorillas to take good photos.

A Rain Jacket

You trek Gorillas in the rainforest usually in the morning hours. Therefore, rain might fall at any time whether it’s a dry season or not. Therefore a rain jacket should come in handy.

You can also wear a poncho, most trackers, rangers, and porters wear it. If you are carrying one, carry a light one which you can easily fold and keep in your bag pack until you need it the next time.

Wear Enough Insect Repellent

During the trek, you come across different insects. Therefore, wearing a lot of insect repellent will protect you. Also, you can apply a sunblock cream on your exposed body parts.

Trackers who are on a Gorilla Habituation Experience, are advised to bring the repellent in their daypack. This is because it’s based on full-day.

A Warm Sweater

Someone might wonder, a sweater in Africa? Yes, and you must carry one or a cardigan. You wear it in the early mornings and cool nights. It really gets so cold at night. In Mgahinga Gorilla Park or Volcanoes National Park, the temperature is at 10°C/50°F. Meanwhile, in Bwindi Impenetrable, it’s at 11°C/52°F, and sometimes it’s lower than this.

Therefore, this is why the luxury lodges here have fireplaces in cottages or rooms. Also, other lodges give visitors hot water bottles for comfort throughout the cold night.

African Safari Clothes, What To Wear On What To Wear For Gorilla Trekking or Another Safari

What Is The Right Color For Your Safari Clothes?

You should avoid Bright colors while carrying out safari activities in the jungle. However, you can wear these while enjoying a dinner back at the lodge. Neutral colors like light brown, green, and Khaki are good for safari activities during the day. Therefore, they are highly recommended all over Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana and so much more. Black and blue shirts are not good in the jungle since they attract tsetse flies and other insects.

Below is a list of the necessary clothing to pack for an African safari to Uganda and Rwanda;

The Long Sleeved Tops Or Safari Shirts

These will help with protection from insect attacks while carrying gorilla or chimpanzee treks. You also need them on walking hikes. This is because they offer safety from direct cuts from tree branches, thorns, vines as well as nettles.

Long Trousers

Jeans are mostly recommended for most of the hikes and treks. The reason is that they show less or no dirt and offer safety and protection during Jungle hours.

Shorts On Safari In Africa

These are mostly recommended to be won at the lodge and when the sun is much. They are not good for gorilla and chimpanzee hikes, volcanic hikes, or nature walks. This is because they expose the body to dangerous tree branches, vines, and thorns. You should wear shorts when an insect repellent is used on the body.

Under Wear

These must be washed clean while on safari so it’s advisable to buy some detergent in small quantities to be able to keep them clean.

African Safari Hat

This is a must and it should be a brimmed hat, you can easily buy one in Ugandan craft shops to be able to protect the face as well as the neck from direct sunlight.

Safari Jacket

This should be light enough for your body to carry. This is recommended mainly because in most of the national parks where hiking and trekking take place, rain is expected in the evening hours of the dry season, so these jackets can be of help, especially during jungle time.

Swimming Suits

These are mainly recommended for those who are to stay in upmarket hotels or lodges with swimming pools, Again there are those clients who might be interested in swimming in our lakes like Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Kivu of Rwanda as well as Lake Mutanda.

Pajamas

These are so important especially if you are preparing to travel during a wet season since in places like Bwindi, the weather can be so cold, especially at Night.

Light Sweater On Safari

This will help mostly during morning hours and evening hours in the Jungle

Outing Clothes

These clothes help when back in the city and you have a few outings within the city. It can be a dinner dress for ladies or a suit for men.

Gorilla Trekking Packing List: extras of What To Wear For Gorilla Trekking

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. you can also buy this online and can be applied to 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. You can buy them here in Africa and they can help in situations where there is no water.
• Sunglasses: These help with protection from the direct sunshine.
• A pack of toiletries: These can contain many items depending on the sex of the tourists.
• First Aid kit: You should carry this in case you get an injury in the jungle.

Important Safari Gadgets And Equipment’s

The items below are the necessary gadgets and equipment’s on any safari to Uganda and Rwanda. In case you are bringing a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, you must endeavor to protect them.

• Camera and accompanying equipment: Endeavor to carry a camera. You should equip it well with 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 should carry a pair of binoculars. Also, these will depend on which activity you are going to carry out like birding or game driving.
• Camera Memory card: You should carry memory cards for the cameras. That is if you are to take many photos in the jungle
• Journals: You can bring along to write down some unique experiences within the places you’ll visit.
• Flash Light. Bring this along to help you take photos even in the dark like during night game drives.
• Electric Items are also recommended

Note:

In Rwanda, authorities do not allow plastic bags. They’ll charge you for dropping them around. Uganda is also against plastic bags though they are still in Use. In case you have space left in your luggage, end up carrying some souvenirs. These include balls, children’s books, and t-shirts to give away to the nationals while on your safari.

Light bags are right for an African safari. Also, always remember to carry specific day packs to engage in nature walks, chimpanzee treks, and mountain gorilla treks. The heavy bulky bags or suitcases are discomfort and will make your safari difficult. this is evident when carrying the bags to the safari cars and the lodges.