What to pack for gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda.

Two gaiters for gorilla hiking

Two Gaits

Even the most waterproof boots can have bugs, water, dirt, and pebbles get in. Change your walk to help avoid this. Gaiters cover the exposed tops of your shoes to fully shield your feet from the elements of the forest floor.

There are many crawling insects on the floor of a tropical rainforest. The most well-known are the red safari ants that slink up your legs and bite the most unpleasant locations calling for the most creative dance at the wrong moment. Beside ants are sticky plants that could irritate your legs in an uncomfortable way.

Purchase appropriate gaiters ranging in height between 8 and 15 inches to keep these creepers out. Your guide will ask you to tuck your pants into your socks to guard against the bugs otherwise. On the path, you want to look not that stupid.

Trekking mountain gorillas wearing hiking gloves

Hiking gloves

Just to remind you once again, your leading guide will be macheting your path throughout the thick jungle. You could reach out and touch some branches to clear your way if they are covering it. Given you will also be hiking over uneven, slippery ground, you most likely will be clutching onto plants to provide stability. Should you come into certain itchy plants, trees, or even climbing trees, you could get injured.

One of the most important items you should bring on a gorilla trekking safari are a pair of small-fitting hiking gloves. Hiking gloves help guard your hands against unplanned injury or irritation.

Usually at the beginning, every trekker receives a walking staff to prevent slipping and sliding over the uneven ground of the forest. Including gloves on your gorilla trekking packing list is a terrific idea since tightly gripping the walking stick could damage your palms

What should one take for gorilla trekking? A waterproof jacket?

 Jacket for Waterproof Protection

Given the nature of gorilla trekking, think about adding a waterproof jacket or poncher to your packing list. Mountain gorillas inhabit tropical rain forests, hence the rain falls all year round. You need a waterproof jacket to keep dry since you cannot precisely predict when it will rain.

To avoid the wet seasons of March, April, and May, many clients would rather fly in the dry months of June, July, August, and the beginning of September. Still, rain falls any time in a tropical rainforest.

One of the most important things to pack for your gorilla trip in Volcanoes National Park or Volcanoes national park is a rain jacket or Poncha.

Shirt or Blouse with Long sleeves

Long- sleeved blouse or shirt

You will be walking across brush and vegetation, so the gorilla rainforest is very different from the plains of a savannah. If your skin is touch and scratch sensitive, then your gorilla trekking packing list should include a long-sleeve hiking shirt.

Apart from shielding your skin, the extra cloth will help to insulate you in the tropical rainforest’s damp-coldness.

For your gorilla trekking clothing, you want a Merino Wool long sleeved shirt or blouse.  Though merino wool excels in being breathable and wicking water away from your skin, this is the most costly choice in hiking shirt fabric.

Another advantage is the fabric’s natural antibacterial qualities, which assist stop smells from developing while one climbs the steep gorilla jungle hills. Therefore, this could be a wise investment for your gorilla trekking trip since you could get away with sweating and not offend other hikers with your choice.

What should one take for a gorilla hike?

Hiking  pants

Hiking Trousers/ Pants

Trekking pants composed of polyamide or polyesters are the next best option for your gorilla trekking packing list. Unlike the common belief, they let your sweat drain fast and are breathable. They will thus help you to stay cool during the trip.

The gorilla forest should not be climbed in shorts or skirts due to the creeping bug that might crawl up your legs and spiky vegetation that might irritate your skin. Trousers will efficiently guard your legs during the hike.

Energy Snacks for the Gorilla Trekking

Energy Stations

From 30 minutes to eight or so hours, gorilla trekking can be done, hence some degree of fitness is needed. Furthermore, we encourage you to include some energy-giving snacks as supplements.

You never know when you will be back, hence you must bring loads of drinking water and food before leaving your lodge.

Before you enter the gorilla area, you can get your energy bar or snacks from any supermarket in Entebbe, Kigali, or Kampala. Just after they pick you up from the airport, ask your guide to stop by a decent grocery with international foods.

Cameras and more batteries

Your gorilla safari calls for photography, thus make sure you have your camera ready and charge your batteries very effectively. Carry additional batteries as you will need to snap as many pictures in the one hour you will have with the gorillas. While photographing gorillas, kindly make sure your flash is off.

Light waterproof rucksack

Backpack Made of Light Waterproof Material

You will need something to lug about all this stuff. Your gorilla trekking packing list should have a light backpack to hold your packed lunch box, snacks, insect repellent, extra facemask, photography equipment and a few other minor items.

Effective in keeping your items dry, a waterproof backpack will free your hands for trekking and maintain your body in balance.

Insect Repellents.

Many insects that could seriously irritate your skin find nesting habitat in the rainforests. Bug repellent spray can help you avoid any exposed area of your body from becoming bug target. Put a little bottle in your bag.

Binocular pair

Remember you are on a safari and you wish for unhindered views of everything. Over 350 birds, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, among other primates, forest elephants and buffaloes, so during your journey in search of the rare mountain gorillas you will have opportunity to see some of the above.

For your gorilla walk, porters

We urge all of our customers to bring a porter for their gorilla trekking; this is an extra optional item. As was already mentioned, gorilla trekking can be physically demanding; hence, you will want someone to provide you a push or a pull on route to the gorillas.

Although they charge, these porters are really worth it. Recall that these porters are school going students either on holiday or have been expelled from their institutions because of school costs. Paying some money to have a porter with you will help directly to promote community development.

Making a gorilla trekking safari booking

Comprising local experts familiar with their way around planning gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda, Active Africa Vacations, we have been working on this and have the knowledge to assist in your perfect gorilla safari planning. We will handle all ground management, including the gorilla permits, lodging, food, transportation, and assistance with your gorilla trip packing list.

Any of your requests regarding gorilla trekking should  Contact us any of our local experts will be happy to assist you all through. Alternatively utilize any of our contact materials to personally ask questions to our office.