We visited Uganda for a week and hence had to make sure we pack everything we needed right from multiple pair of clothes to travel accessories. We almost made our journeys by safari vehicles so didn’t had any weight limitations except for the international flight transfers. We went for the Gorilla Trekking in Uganda from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and stayed in a cottage overnight where we kept our luggage’s. During the Bwindi Gorilla Trekking we carried only one bag pack with all essentials in it, and avoided to carry any unwanted items. Visiting the critically endangered mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat is a profound travel experience, and for that one need to be really prepared with Gorilla Trekking Gears in every possible way because the jungle is tangled with bushes, thorns, muds, insects and with no walking trails or any Google Maps abilities. Follow our real life experience and know what to pack for Gorilla Trekking.
List Of Things : What to Pack For Gorilla Trekking
1. Rain jackets or rain ponchos: Bwindi has a tropical climate and is a dense forest where it might rain at any point of time without any prior notice irrespective of months or seasons. So squeeze in a lightweight rain jacket in your backpack for sure.
2. Waterproof trekking boots: One of the most important items that you must include for Gorilla trekking are a good pair of waterproof hiking boots and thick pair of socks. Trust us you would need that. The trekking through the dense slushy jungle might get difficult and you might end up stepping into a muddy pothole at times, so a good waterproof hiking shoes would be a savior. There’s nothing worse than trekking with wet socks and shoes.
3. Pair of garden gloves: We were told the need for garden gloves once we were already there. So we could not pack it right from the start. On reaching we searched for the same but couldn’t find one. During the trek actually we didn’t feel the need for that. The guides cleared the paths as much as they could, but still you can pack yours if you want to avoid the prickles and from direct contact with anything.
4. Insect/ mosquito repellent: Bwindi forest is a dense rainforest which means it’s a home for many insects and crawlers. So it’s really important to carry insect repellents to avoid their stings, unnecessary itching and scratches.
5. Long pants and full covered uppers: It’s really important to wear full covered clothes top to toe, and cover as much skin as possible. That prevented us from bug bites and also from direct contact with any poisonous plants.
6. Energy bar, snacks & water: We almost trekked for 2 & half hour to find the Gorillas, however it might take even longer than that in some cases. So it’s better to carry some light snacks and bars in case you feel hungry & need those. Also make sure to carry 2-3 liters of water to avoid dehydration. We also packed some sandwich for lunch which we later enjoyed in the middle of the forest. Make sure you don’t leave any trash behind for the wilds to ingest those.
7. Cameras and extra batteries: We carried our Canon EOS 1200D 18-55mm & 55-250mm lenses which has image stabilizer both for photos and videos. When we first saw the gorillas, they were so close that we though we won’t need the zoom lenses. However, we are glad, that we packed ours, because we really needed those at times. It’s a lifetime experience so capture everything in and around possible. We didn’t require tripods however if you are a solo traveler you can carry one. But to set the tripods would be really challenging in those terrains.
8. Hats and sunglasses: You would definitely need those if the sun is scorching.
9. Trekking poles: If you wish to carry the trekking poles, you can definitely carry them. But you can also collect from the trekking point itself as we did. Some of the co-travelers carried their own, but we felt the natural tree poles has strong grips and are much more convenient while hiking.
10. A good backpack: You may want to have decent backpack as there will be water(2ltrs), rain jackets, wind cheater, lunch box, camera gears.
11. Thick Pair of Socks: It would be good to have thick pair of trekking socks for your comfort.
Complete Guide to Gorilla Trekking
Planning your gorilla trekking in Uganda? Check our detailed guide here.
