Nowadays, gorilla trekking is arguably the most well-liked tourism activity in East Africa, whether it is in Rwanda or Uganda. One of the most common mistakes people make when go gorilla trekking is to dress incorrectly. Some visitors wear sandals and shorts, which are inappropriate for the exercise.

Although Mgahinga (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Parks (Rwanda) and Bwindi Impenetrable (Uganda) have slightly different landscapes, they are all at higher elevations, which makes them rainy, humid, and cold, especially at night. The truth is that you are not always hiking on comfortable trails; sometimes there are none at all, or you are hiking on very narrow ones.

In order to protect yourself from cold, thorn pricks, nettles, and bug bites like flies and army ants, you should dress appropriately while planning your gorilla safari in either Rwanda or Uganda.

“Pack appropriately and dress appropriately.” Our suggestions for “What to wear for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda” are listed below.

Khaki – Put on long sleeves and long trousers.

You should wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants (you can use jeans or Khaki zip-up pants); if you can acquire waterproof pants, wear them. You are protected against branches, thorns, nettles, and other objects that may prick or scratch you by wearing long sleeves and long pants.

Given how difficult the hike might be, it is advised that women wear comfortable bras and cotton underwear.

Make sure you heed this advise because some visitors disregard it and wear shorts and t-shirts. In reality, the exposed skin gets scratches at the end of the day.

Put on sturdy, waterproof hiking boots.

Particularly for gorilla safaris, a pair of waterproof hiking boots is necessary since the trekking tracks can get slick, especially after rain. You should be comfortable wearing the shoes; in fact, Rangers and Trekkers typically wear gumboots or rubber boots. As a result, nobody is seen wearing sandals, white Snickers, or any other unsuitable footwear.

When worn with quality, thick socks, hiking boots will provide you with adequate ankle support, stability, balance, and traction. Although it may seem out of style, it is crucial to tuck your pants into your socks since this will keep fire ants away.

Robust Garden Gloves

This may sound like a joke, but it’s true. Instead of being used for gardening, these sturdy gardening gloves will be utilized for gorilla trekking. In addition to providing you with protection from nettles to prevent scratches, the gloves will assist you in supporting yourself on branches or vines.

If you want to snap decent pictures of the gorillas, you can put them off until you meet them.

A Jacket for Rain

Since gorilla trekking takes place in the jungle and is often done in the morning, rain can fall at any moment, even during the dry season. For this reason, a rain jacket is a good idea.

The majority of trackers, rangers, and porters use ponchos, however they are not the only option. If you are carrying one, make sure it is lightweight so you can fold it up and store it in your luggage until you need it again.

Put on a hat.

You only need a high-quality Tilley hat with a broad brim to shield your head and neck from the sun and rain. Even if you decide to wear a baseball cap, it won’t shield your neck from the scorching heat once the mountain mist has cleared.

As an alternative, you might purchase a hat from any local craft shops in the nation where you will be trekking gorillas if you don’t have one from home.

You’ll be happy you donned your hat at the conclusion of the hike.

Use enough insect repellent.

Wearing a lot of bug repellent can protect you from the many insects you may encounter on the walk. You may also apply a sunblock cream to your exposed body areas.

It is recommended that trackers keep the repellant in their daypack for their full-day Gorilla Habituation Experience.

A Cozy Sweater

A sweater in Africa, one would ask? Yes, and it’s crucial to have a cardigan on hand for chilly evenings and early mornings. At night, it gets pretty chilly. The temperature at Mgahinga Gorilla Park or Volcanoes National Park is 10°C/50°F, whereas in Bwindi Impenetrable it is 11°C/52°F, and occasionally it is lower.

For this reason, some of the luxury lodges here provide guests with hot water bottles to keep them warm throughout the chilly night, while other lodges offer fires in their cottages or suites.

Clothes for African Safaris: What to Wear
Essential Safari Clothes to Bring.

Which color goes best with your safari attire?
While engaging in safari activities in the forest, bright colors should be avoided; nevertheless, they can be utilized over supper at the resort. In Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, and many other parts of Africa, neutral hues like light brown, green, and khaki are excellent for safari activities throughout the day. Therefore, gorilla trips in Rwanda and Uganda are not the only options. Because they draw tsetse flies and other insects, black and blue clothes are not ideal in the forest.

The list of clothes required for an African safari to Rwanda and Uganda is provided below;

The safari shirts or long-sleeved tops
Since they provide protection from direct wounds from tree branches, thorns, vines, and nettles, they will aid in preventing bug bites during walking walks and gorilla or chimpanzee treks.

Long pants
Since they show less or no dirt and provide safety and protection during jungle hours, jeans are generally advised for the majority of walks and treks.

Africa’s Shorts on Safari
It is often advised to win these at the lodge and in the daytime when there is a lot of sunlight. Because they expose the body to hazardous tree branches, vines, and thorns, they are not suitable for hiking with gorillas and chimpanzees, hiking on volcanoes, or taking nature walks. When the body has been treated with insect repellent, the shorts should be worn.

Safari Socks
Since they protect the feet, they should be made of wool or cotton.

Undergarments
These need to be cleaned when on safari, therefore it’s best to purchase little amounts of detergent to maintain their cleanliness.

Safari Hat from Africa
This must-have item should be a brimmed hat, which is readily available at Ugandan craft stores and will shield the face and neck from the sun.

The Safari Jacket
Your body should be able to support this weight. This is advised mostly because rain is predicted in the evenings of the dry season in the majority of the national parks where hiking and trekking are conducted. These jackets can be useful, particularly during jungle time.

Swimwear
These are mostly suggested for guests staying in upscale hotels or lodges with swimming pools. Additionally, some clients may choose to swim in our lakes, such as Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Kivu in Rwanda, and Lake Mutanda.

Sleepwear
These are crucial, particularly if you want to visit during the rainy season, as temperatures in locations like Bwindi may drop significantly, particularly at night.

Safari’s light sweater
In the jungle, this will be most beneficial in the morning and evening.

Clothes for an outing
When you return to the city and go on a few city-related excursions, these garments come in handy. It might be a suit for men or a dinner dress for women.

List for Packing for Gorilla Trekking

The following goods are essential for use on your gorilla safaris in Rwanda and Uganda.

Citronella soap is very significant since it serves as both soap and an insect repellant. It is also antibacterial for the body.
Insect repellent: RID is the most common repellent that is effective against both mosquitoes and tsetse flies. This may be applied on clothing and purchased online as well.
Sunblock cream: this product will assist shield your eyes and face from the scorching Equatorial Ugandan sun.

Hand wipes are useful products that can be purchased in Africa and aid in germ prevention; they are especially useful in places without access to water.
Sunglasses: These aid in shielding the wearer from the sun’s rays.
The finest medicines for malaria are considered here, and doxycycline and malarone are always advised. These are thought to be successful in treating malaria.

A medicine pack with all of your medications to aid you on your safari can be included with this.
Depending on the travelers’ sex, a toiletry kit may include a variety of products.
In the event that a visitor sustains injuries in the bush, first aid supplies should be brought.

Essential safari tools and devices

The devices and gear listed below are essential for any safari in Rwanda and Uganda. Always make sure you have adequate protection if you are taking a laptop, smartphones, and tablets.

Camera and related equipment: Always bring a camera that is fully loaded with its accessories, along with a lens cleaning to maintain the lens’s cleanliness.
Having enough batteries is essential. Keep a full pair of rechargeable batteries and a high-quality charger in your car’s handy bag.

Binoculars: Depending on the activity you plan to engage in, such as game drive or bird watching, it is recommended that you bring a pair of binoculars.
Carrying extra memory cards for your cameras is advised if you want to shoot a lot of pictures in the wild.

Journals are useful for recording special experiences in the locations you visit.
Flashlight. capture this with you so you can capture pictures even when it’s dark, such on nighttime game drives.
Additionally, electric items are advised.
Take note:

Plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda, and dumping them off will result in fees. Even though plastic bags are still in use, Uganda opposes them as well. If there is still room in your luggage, don’t forget to bring some mementos to present to the locals on your safari, such as balls, children’s books, and t-shirts.

For an African safari, light luggage are ideal, and don’t forget to bring special day packs for nature hikes, chimpanzee treks, and mountain gorilla treks. It is uncomfortable and will make your safari more difficult to lug big, cumbersome baggage or suit cases to the safari cars and resorts.

An activity will always identify the devices that a traveler needs to bring, which will assist them avoid packing as much as most visitors do. Hiking, mountain climbing, chimpanzee and gorilla treks, and volcano hiking are just a few of the safari activities that need for varied safari equipment, so visitors should take their time and determine which activities they should partake in.

When packing the appropriate devices for use, the destination’s weather should be taken into account. There are wet and dry seasons, for instance, in Rwanda and Uganda, thus it’s crucial to conduct study to determine when these two nations experience their respective seasons.

Although the majority of lodging establishments in Rwanda and Uganda offer shampoo and bath soap, travelers are advised to always bring at least one bar of soap to aid in cleaning personal belongings. In order to prevent being lost in the jungle, travelers are also advised to always keep valuables like binoculars, cash, cameras, phones, and iPods in their carry-on luggage.

A list of all the essential devices to bring on any African safari to Rwanda or Uganda may be found below.

Safari Luggage Bag
Mobility is crucial when it comes to baggage safari bags since light safari bags make it easier for customers to move about. Given how simple it is to misplace keys in the jungle, it is often advised to utilize suit cases with key combinations rather than ones with keys. The majority of tour operators advise customers to use duffel safari bags since they are convenient to keep and provide more mobility on an African safari.

A practical daypack
Given that the weather in the jungle might change at any time, this should be waterproof. The primary reason it is useful is to assist the clients in carrying personal stuff that they require while in the bush. During chimpanzee and gorilla treks, hikes, nature walks, and game drives, these can be utilized to transport essential papers, water, and food.

The bag or money belt
The money bags are mostly advised for customers because they aid in the security of funds; it is best if they are composed of cotton so that they may be carried close to the body to prevent perspiration. Additionally, it must be worn quickly and covered with a safari cloth to further safeguard the cash. If you wear it over clothing, you expose yourself to thrifty people. A passport or a copy of one, emergency phone numbers, and the international vaccination card are all crucial documents to carry in this money bag.

Safari shoes, boots, and saddles
You should find them comfortable, and since black and blue hide dirt better, they should be any of their hues. While white sneakers are nice, they are not appropriate for a safari in the Ugandan or Rwandan jungles.

To make walking easier, footwear for hikes and trips should be comfortable. Additionally, they ought to be lightweight enough to offer protection and traction when required. Learn more about shoes for safaris. One pair of shoes is required for town usage for any suitable occasion. Even more useful are the cozy saddles next to the resort. Around the pool, flip flops are frequently used, and having extra shoes is advantageous.

While it’s not always difficult, choosing the appropriate clothing for your gorilla safari in Rwanda and Uganda is just as crucial. Keep in mind that this is Africa, where the mountain gorillas reside in the erratic Bwindi Forest or the Rwandan volcanoes! Every now and again, it nearly pours. You see what I mean when I say that the hills are steep and sometimes treacherous.

The Gorilla Tour t-shirt
Long-sleeved shirt for gorilla viewing Yes, a t-shirt is quite useful for gorilla trekking since it can dry rapidly in case of rain. A denim shirt or anything long enough to protect your arms from the expected bush thorns and wild plants should work well. Keep in mind that you must keep your arms covered since you wake up early to the mist or morning chill and mosquitoes.

On a gorilla safari, a rain jacket
Your first priority should be a fleece or rain jacket! Here in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park, it rains practically constantly. I’ve witnessed some travelers develop a really practical, inexpensive poncho. Here, please think about bringing a lightweight jacket.

Trousers or Long Pants for a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda or Uganda
Completely gorilla trek attire—long pants, you read correctly! Here, short pants are strictly forbidden! Since everything gets wet here, jeans are not advised! As you watch out for the gorillas, I’m sure you wouldn’t enjoy those heavy, exhausting, damp jeans. The best are the quick-dry trousers! You will undoubtedly be safe from thorns, nettles, and branches.

Shoes You Should Wear While Tracking
Gorilla safari shoes Since you need to protect above the ankle, we advise wearing boots. As you hike through the thick woodlands, there is some deep muck. You can request gum boots, which are knee-high rubber wellies, in Rwanda or Uganda. Depending on the gorilla family you are seeing, hiking boots are appropriate for the steep terrain that may occasionally be covered with vines.

Don’t worry about sandals, stylish white sneakers, or trendy shoes—they won’t last in the bush, my friend. Even the gorilla rangers in Rwanda and Uganda will be wearing rubber boots, known locally as gum boots. It should be noted that light boots are necessary for both support and traction, as well as stability on the steep hills. Please be aware that you run the risk of hurting yourself by slipping all over if you don’t wear the suggested shoes.

Put-on socks

Anything made of wool is awesome.

Hand Covering
Building gloves are usually the best, but you may also try gardening gloves, especially those made of cotton. Because you occasionally have to cling to those wet vines, please take notice that they need to be cushioned on the fingers and palms!

An overview of the packing list

A lightweight raincoat

Boots for hiking

Hat/cap

Sweater (for cold nights)

camera without a flash

You may cover your camera and film in a waterproof plastic bag.

If you want to enjoy your time with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda to the fullest, you must always dress appropriately. Most visitors don’t give a damn about what they wear, but if you’re fortunate enough to read this, you should be well-prepared for your African gorilla trekking trip.