Gorilla Trekking Uganda -What to Wear
Gorilla Trekking Uganda -What to Wear : Gorilla trekking experience is the most popular tourist activity done in East Africa, to many who have never enjoy it before, have a mistake of proper dressing code for gorilla trekking some seem to wear light clothing, sandals, shorts not knowing that the activity they will be doing, it’s done in thick forested areas /montane rainforest inhabits a lot of insect bites, sharp tree branches and tails tends to be muddy and slippery and for that reason it requires you to put on right clothes.
In Uganda –gorilla trekking can be conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with a landscape that is slightly different from that of Uganda Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Volcanoes National Parks-Rwanda but all these national park sits at higher elevations thus making them rainy, humid and cold especially in the nights. The truth is that where gorilla trekking is conducted, requires one to be physically fit because hiking is not only done on comfortable tracks as you following very small trails.
Therefore, as you start planning for your Gorilla safaris in Uganda or any other gorilla trekking destination could be Rwanda or Congo. This draws you to wear the right clothing to protect you from nettles, insect bites like flies and soldier ants, coldness, thorn pricks. Always pack right and wear right clothing!
Below are the gears recommended on ‘’What to wear for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Wear Long Sleeved Shirts-Long Trousers
Travelers on your visit, right to pack right wear like a long sleeved shirt and Long trousers ‘’Khaki jeans’’.in fact if you have waterproof trousers we suggest to wear those. Both long trousers and long sleeved shirts helps visitors to protect them from branches, thorns, nettles or from anything else that can scratch you.
Please ensure to wear comfortable bras, cotton undergarments since the hike can be tough. Though some travelers, do ignore this advice and wear shorts and t-shirts, the truth is that at the end of the activity their skins can be exposed with scratches. Therefore, always pay attentive and follow the advice given.
Wear Waterproof Hiking Sturdy Boots
The hiking trails can be slippery and muddy when you visit rain seasons. Therefore, it’s advisable to pack a pair of waterproof hiking boots that comfortable for you. in fact, rangers and trekkers usually wear comfortable rubber boots or gumboots. Therefore, its inappropriate footwear for you to put on white snickers, sandals among others.
Wearing comfortable hiking boots will give you good balance, traction and support to your ankles, with these also wear thick cotton socks. It is very important to tuck your trousers into your socks tightly to protect you from insect bites like fire ants.
A Rain Jacket
Gorilla trekking is done in rainforest where rain is unpredictable which might rain any time of day whether in a dry season or not and therefore rain jacket should come handy.
For this matter, a poncho can be worn and it’s good for trackers, rangers and porters wear it. On your visit try to carry one, a light one which you can easily fold and keep in your bag pack until you need it the next time.
Sturdy Gardening Gloves
To many, may seem as a joke but also a right wear to carry. Carry strong gardening gloves which are more supportive not one used in gardening. These hand gloves will help you to protect yourselves on sharp branches or vines and also against nettles to avoid being scratched.
When you reach Gorillas you can put them off in order to take good photograph.
Wear enough Insect Repellent
We advise visitors during the trek to wear a lot of insect repellent because you can come across different insect, this helps you to protect from insect bites. You can as well apply a sunblock cream on your exposed body parts.
Those to participate in Gorilla Habituation Experience a full day activity, you’re advised to pack the insect repellent in your daypack.
Wear a Hat
On your visit to gorilla trekking safari not forgetting to carry a wide brimmed hat on an expensive Tilley Hat. The hat you pack will help you protect your head and neck from rain or direct sunshine.
If you forgot carrying one of them from home, you can buy one from any local craft markets in the country or trekking areas in the area.
By the end of the trek, you will discover why you had to wore it.
A warm Sweater
Yes, it is important that you carry one warm sweater which can be worn in the early mornings and cool nights, because at night here tends to be cold since it’s a rain forest.
Swimming Suits
These items are recommended for travelers who book or stay in up market hotels of lodge with swimming pools. On your visit to one of gorilla trekking destination either in Uganda or Rwanda. You can get interested in swimming in our free bilharzia lakes like Lake Bunyonyi or Uganda, Lake Kivu of Rwanda.
Outing Clothes
These clothes help you to enjoy the city night within the city. It can be a dinner dress for ladies or a suit for the men.
In Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Volcanoes National Park have temperature which raises 10 degrees Celsius and in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park raises 11 degrees Celsius and sometime lower than this.
For this case, that’s why the luxury accommodation facilities offer fireplaces in cottages or rooms and other lodges visitors are given hot water bottles for comfort throughout the cold night.
Note, the right color to pack for your gorilla trekking safari clothes are Neutral colors like green, light brown, Khaki which are highly recommended all over African safaris that is, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana among others. Black and blue shirt are not right wear in the forest since they attract tsetse flies and other insects.
Other important items to pack on Gorilla Trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda
They include; Citronella soap to protect you from anti-bacterial to your body.
Insect repellent; Resist from insect bites both mosquitoes and tsetse flies.
Sun Blocker cream; helps to protect your face and eyes from the hot sun of Equatorial Uganda.
Hand Wipes; These items help from preventing your germs and they can be found in Africa’s supermarkets.
Sun glasses; Will help to protect you from the direct sun shine.
Malaria medicine; On your visit always be accompanied by medicine bag with best tablets and malarone, make sure you carry all your medication to help you on your safari.
A pair of toiletries; Carry many items that will suite your nice stay depending on the sex of the visitors.
First Aid; This should be packed in case a traveler gets any hurt or injury from the jungle.
A Hand day pack; These item is important to carry personnel documents like drinking water, iPods, money, binoculars, cameras, phones, snacks during both game drives and trekking.
Important safari items and equipment’s
Below are the gadgets and equipment’s to carry safari to Uganda or Rwanda, it might be a laptop, smart phones, tablets and many.
Camera; Always carry a camera with big storage as well as a lens cleaner to keep the camera lens clean.
Enough Batteries; Carry a full set of chargeable batteries along with a good charger should be put in your handy bag within the vehicles.
Binoculars; You’re advisable to pack a pair of binocular, depending on which activity you are met to carry out like bird watching or game driving.
Camera Memory card; Along you visit do not forget to pack extra memory cards for the cameras if you are to take many photos has you can.
Journals; This helps to short list experiences you have done within the places visited.
Flash light; You can carry flash light camera to help you take photos in the dark, during night game drives and on gorilla trekking are not permitted.
Electric Items are permitted.
Conclusion, on your Gorilla Trekking Uganda always Pack right –Wear Right Clothes as listed above in order to end up comfortable and unforgettable experience in Life changing on African continent/Pearl of Uganda-Hospitable Country.
