What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking

Meeting the endangered mountain gorillas in their nature habitat is a life-changing experience, involving a trek through the emerald forests to find the gorilla’s nests with a help a guide and armed rangers.

Gorilla trekking experience is unpredictable as every excursion group creates its own path, you could hike up and down the uneven terrain, cross river, walk through muddy trails, and even climb over fallen giant tree stamps, and it can go for hours (approximately 2-4 hours or more).

To enjoy your gorilla trekking you have to pack the right items.

Essential things you must pack for gorilla trekking in Africa

1. Masks and hand sanitizer

A breathable facemask is a must-have item for every trek, mountain gorillas most of our genetic make-up, meaning they could catch any contagious diseases carried by humans, especially respiratory diseases. The reverse is true, we also can catch infectious diseases from these great apes, and to minimize this, the specialists advise all trekkers to wear a facemask ad stay at least 10 meters away from the gorillas.

However, you won’t have to wear the facemask while hiking through the jungle, only during our time with the gorillas. So pack a pair (or more) of facemasks, preferably eco-friendly ones.

2. A decent light waterproof jacket

In gorilla habitats, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda receive rain at any time of the day. So pack a lightweight rain jacket into your backpack and avoid the discomfort of dampness. There is nothing uncomfortable than hiking in the jungle in wet underwear.

3. A pair of trousers, a long sleeved shirt (t-shirt), and longer socks

You want to stay protected and cover as much skin as possible during your gorilla trek. The jungle can be so unkind to your body.

While in the rainforest of East Africa, prepare to look like a Mongol soldier because your guide will insist you tuck your trousers into your socks to avoid red and climbing up your things. Also, the long sleeve shirt will keep the bugs and thorny branches away from your skin. Please make sure they are light and won’t collect heat inside.

Avoid the camouflage army like coloring or decoration as they are reserved for the rangers or military, and it is illegal to wear camouflage in Uganda and Rwanda. Pack some kaki, green or light colors that won’t excite the animals and blend you in with the natural world.

4. A pair of hiking gloves

The guides will do as much as they can to clear a path, but you are inevitably going to get your hands dirty and, in doing so, will want to avoid the prickles on your hands. Hiking or outdoor gloves will come in handy when you have to clear your path and grip a branch to avoid sleeping on steep slopes. Also, they keep you from leaving dangerous organisms on the things you touch during your trek.

5. A lightweight pair of waterproof hiking boots

You will not be able to trek mountain gorillas in just your long tucked trousers, socks and canvas shoes. The jungle floor is a dump, and there are no designated hiking trails, so you will have to put your best foot forward.

Also, your best foot will be hiking – soled, waterproof, and with a decent ankle support pair of jungle boots. Find a travel store near you and find what comfortably fits you before you pack for your gorilla trekking adventure.

6. Insect Repellent

Now that you have all your clothing in order, you need something to keep the nasty bugs away. Remember that you will be staying and hiking in tropical rainforest, a metropolis of all kinds of bug species.

Not just like any tropical jungle, the Africa jungle with the highest species of animals, bugs, and all kinds of creepy crawlies on the continent. The bug spray will help you avoid unnecessary itching from most bugs.

In what to pack for gorilla trekking, include a bug spray on your packing list for gorilla trekking in Africa. One-two punch of Deet on exposed skin and permethrin on clothing is the outdoors enthusiast’s best bet to knock out the annoyance and risk of blood-feeding pestilence.

Even in the evenings at the campfire or lounge, douse yourself in insect repellent when you have less covering and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience scratch fee.

7. Energy – giving snacks

Pack energy giving snacks to keep you energized on your hike in the untamed woods of Uganda and Rwanda. No one is sure how long you will spend in the wilderness before the trackers spot the gorillas. You might want to carry something to snack on when you feel your energy is getting depleted.

Gorilla trekking lodges are excellent bases for gorilla trekking experience, usually they pack you something for lunch or snacking, which put in your backpack, and the guides typically allow short snacking breaks.

Still, you can carry something familiar like an energy bar and at least a liter of drinking water. Remember that it is illegal to litter the packs, so through your gabage back in your bag.

8. Biodegradable tissue or toilet

There are no bathrooms in the forest, and nature may call anytime, so pack biodegradable tissue to save you from the embarrassment of using leaves and keeping the forest natural.

9. Waterproof backpack and extra batteries

You will be carrying your camera equipment to record these once-in-a-lifetime memories for your people back home. Then you will not want them getting wet.

Pack a ziplock waterproof bag or a waterproof backpack to protect your equipment from rainwater or forest mist. You backpack will keep your phone, snacks, travel documents, and several other things you can throw in to keep your hands free.

Also, pack extra batteries for your camera and a spare flash drive or memory card. This place is full of too many beautiful memories to store.

10. Trekking Poles or hiking staff

Trekking poles for gorilla trekking are sold as a pair and used in tandem to enhance your stability and reduce your knees’ force while hiking and backpacking. Most are adjustable in length and some include internal springs that absorb shock to reduce impact further.

On the other hand, hiking staff, sometimes called a walking pole is provide by the lodge and most effective when used on relatively flat terrain and with little or no load on your back. Hiking staffs are adjustable, and some include a shock – absorbing feature.

On a steep downhill, the trekking poles can provide good anchor points to balance against as you hike down. Likewise, if you get to a steep upslope, you can use sticks to dig in and pull yourself up.

If you want to make your hike more of a full-body workout, there is no denying that moving your arms back and forth will help you expand a little more energy. Also, it is nice to get in a rhythm with hiking sticks.

In conclusion: When packing for gorilla trekking, remember to pack light and right to avoid luggage safety stress during international and domestic flights.