What do you need for gorilla trekking in Uganda? – Gorilla Safari Packing list

To have a great gorilla trekking experience in Africa, you need to have all the gorilla trekking essentials (must-have items for gorilla trekking). If you are planning a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda or Rwanda, there is a number of things that you should include in your packing list. This complete guide is made to give you more understanding of what to wear for a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda and Rwanda, must have documents and what to include in your gorilla trekking packing list. If you are wondering ‘‘What do you need for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?’’ then lets not waste time, lets take a quick look at what you need to have a successful gorilla trekking tour.

What do you need for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda? To have a gorilla trekking experience, one must be well prepared, and here are the key tips on what you need for gorilla trekking in Uganda.

A complete gorilla safari Packing List – What to pack for gorilla safaris

if you are planning to go gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, here is what to wear for gorilla safaris (What to pack for gorilla trekking safaris);

Clothing;

Safari Shirts

Your choice of clothing will ensure your comfort and safety during your gorilla trekking tour. The best attire for gorilla trekking safaris includes cotton shirts or shirts with a merino wool layer. They should be generally light for you since you will have to walk through the forest for some considerable distance. The light breathable shirts are the best since they won’t suffocate you during the warm weather.

When planning a gorilla trekking safari, it is important to know that gorillas live in dense forests so your choice of shirts should be those that can cover your arms and body. This will protect you from nasty bites from insects and scratches from branches.

Wear shirts, long enough to cover your hands to the wrist and trousers long enough to be tucked into your stocking. Shorts and vests are not anything to think of when planning to go gorilla trekking. The long clothing should also be comfortable and thick with colors that can’t get stained easily.

Long Safari Trousers

The choice of your trousers for safaris will make your safari more safe and comfortable. When choosing a trouser to wear for gorilla safaris, choose long safari trousers with neutral colors. This is because gorilla trekking happens in thick impenetrable forests that have different types of insects and also sharp small braches that may scratch you. To protect your self from all these, you need to purchase long safari trousers for your gorilla trekking safari.

Rain jacket. Whether it’s in the rainy season or in the dry season, you need to pack and wear a rain jacket during gorilla trekking. The southwestern part of the country where the gorilla safari parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park experience colder and rain can be expected at any time of the year. A rain jacket will protect you from rain and drizzles. Purchase a water jacket that is light and breathable

Hiking shoes. Since you are going to take challenging hiking to an altitude that is raised over 2,000 meters above sea level, you will require sturdy hiking shoes. Ensure to have comfortable shoe such that hiking is made easy and you don’t get bruises on your legs.

Hand gloves/gardening gloves. Since you will have your body covered, your hands will too need protection. You will need to wear hand gloves to protect your hands from thorns as you hike. In case you slide and would like to have a firm grip on a tree or any kind of plant, you need to make sure your hands are safe. Wear hand gloves for protection.

Hat. For those with long hair, you should consider caring a hat or hair bandana that will help your keep them safe from crawling insects. The hat can also be so helpful in case of rains during the trek. Consider carrying one when packing your essential items for gorilla trekking tours. Incase you have a rain jacket with a hoodie, then you will not need to carry a hat.

Stockings

If you are planning what to carry or pack for a gorilla safari, include a pair of extra thick stockings. Just like mentioned earlier, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is done in Dense forests with a lot of crawling insects so to protect your self from nasty bites, you will need to wear a pair of extra thick stockings. These stockings will ensure that your feet are covered well. We also recommend tucking in your trousers into the stocking so as to cover all the openings that can allow these insects to get to your skin.

For the best gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda, you need to ensure that your packing list includes the right items for safaris. if the question of ”What do you need for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?” still lingers in your mind, here is more to know about what you need to do gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Other Important items to carry along with for gorilla trekking

Citronella soap: This acts as both soap and an insect repellent; this type of soap is also anti-bacterial to the body when packing your items for safari, consider including one. This will protect you from the insect nasty bites and also bacteria.

Insect repellent: A must include in your packing list for gorilla Safaris. It is important to keep in mind that gorilla trekking happens in dense tropical rainforests that inhabit a lot of flying and crawling insects. To keep yourself safe from nasty bites, you need to carry an insect repellant. The most frequent repellent that works on both mosquitoes and tsetse flies is RID.

Sun Blocker cream: if you are planning to go gorilla trekking or any form of safari during the dry season, you are likely to experience hot weather. You will need protection form the hot sun, we recommend carrying a sun blocker cream. This cream will help you protect your face and eyes from the hot sun of Equatorial Region of Africa.

Sun glasses: For any kind of safari, sun glasses are a recommended item to carry along with. These help with protection from the direct sun shine.

Malaria medicine: The chances of catching malaria in Uganda and Rwanda are high so we recommend packing Malaria medicine. You can inquire from you health practitioner the best medicine however, the best tablets and malarone is always recommended as well as Doxycycline since they are so effective on malaria treatments.

A pack of toiletries: Consider carrying some pack of toiletries when planning a safari to Africa. These usually contain many items depending on the sex of the tourists.

Other essentials for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda – What do you need for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking permit

The only assurance for you to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is by purchasing a gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla permit is a document or card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda to permit a tourist to have a gorilla trek. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, while Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is the only place where gorilla trekking is done in Rwanda. The permit should be booked before you plan to come to your gorilla trek. The permit prices vary among the two destinations and Uganda offers a more cheaper option.

A gorilla trekking permit cost varies for the different categories of travelers that are foreign nonresidents (FNR), Foreign Residents (FR), and East African Residents.

Foreign nonresidents refer to tourists who are not Ugandans or Rwandeese and visiting from other countries. Foreign non-residents require US$ 700 to purchase a Uganda gorilla permit and about $ 1500 in Rwanda.

The Foreign residents refer to foreigners who live in Uganda or Rwanda and have a working permit or any other identification as residents. Foreign residents will require US$ 600 to buy a Uganda gorilla permit and about $1000 for a Rwanda Gorilla Permit.

Minimum age For gorilla Trekking

If you are planning your gorilla trekking safari, it is important to know that not anyone is eligible to purchase a gorilla trekking permit. Only persons above the age of 15 are given the opportunity to trek gorillas. The age is one of the essentials for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

This is so because it is believed that persons below the age of 15 may not be able to adhere to rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.

They may react in ways that may not be comfortable for the gorillas. Individuals above the age of 15 years are thought to be able to follow all the rules and regulations set by the park for trekking.

Best time for gorilla trekking – When to go gorilla trekking in Uganda

The best time of the year for Uganda gorilla trekking is supposed during the dry season. There are two dry seasons which are the short and long dry seasons. The long dry season is between the months of June –August and the short dry season is between December –February. These two seasons have less rain and are generally good for almost all Uganda safari activities.

When planning to have an African safari, gorilla trekking should top your bucket list as it is such a wonderful experience. These tips also apply to other primate tracking safaris as the experience is similar.

Gorilla trekking/tracking in Uganda – What do you need for gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Uganda gorilla trekking safaris are done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South western Uganda.

Gorilla safaris in Uganda started way back in 1993 when gorilla trekking was opened to tourists after a gorilla habituation process. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 600 for each permit sold to only individuals above the age of 15.

3 Days Uganda Gorilla Budget Safari is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is located in southwestern Uganda a magnificent verdant swathe across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley. View Details Here