What to wear for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda & Uganda
Both Rwanda and Uganda are still fairly conservative countries. We thus recommend that you try to dress modestly and reveal less . Avoid very short clothing especially for ladies. Men tend to be able to get away with pretty much any type of clothing, as long as it is decent. The emphasis should be on you wearing what you think is comfortable for you to wear while on Safari. Ultimately, nobody will bother you. Ugandans and Rwandans tend to mind their own business. Uganda has altitudes and temperatures that vary from one part of the country to another. However if you are going gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, altitudes are fairly high on both Volcanoes National Park and in Bwindi where the gorillas live. It does rain sporadically too any time of the day or night without warning. It could be sunny one minutes, but quickly followed by short showers the next. A rain jacket is thus essential , fleece and good sturdy walking shoes or boots.
The evenings and nights tend to get quite cold. Warm clothing is thus recommended. A light jumper , sweater or cardigan would usually be sufficient to keep you warm overnight. When tracking the gorillas and chimps, we recommend wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers to protect against stings and scratches from the stinging nettles in the mountain rain forest. A pair of gloves may also come in handy as well as a pair of gaiters. Walking sticks are available from the park headquarters to assist you with steep climbs and descents in the forest when searching for the gorillas. A waterproof backpack would be useful and would protect your cameras against the rain, as well as holding your packed lunch.
Try and wear relaxed clothing. Most mid-range and luxury hotels and lodges however provide a hand washing laundry service. There is no need to pack excessive clothing as the sun with dry most of your washing in no time!. Pack of plenty of khaki / natural coloured clothing for safaris and gorilla trekking.
Pairs of lightweight slacks/trousers that can dry quickly
Pair of shorts
Long-sleeved shirts
Short-sleeved t-shirts for the day
A waterproof and windproof jacket
Sweater, sweatshirt or fleece
Sturdy, waterproof walking boots for gorilla trekking
Pair of sandals
Hat: Wide-brim or with a visor for sun protection
Underwear (moisture wicking for gorilla tracking)
Lightweight wool socks
Gloves: gardening or similar for gorilla trekking.
Sunscreen
Sunglasses with neck strap
Insect repellent
Extra Batteries – Some safari Lodges have facilities for recharging batteries
Film, particularly fast film for the gorillas
Personal toiletries
Prescription medicines and possibly the prescription itself
Kleenex tissues
First Aid Kit including anti-diarrhea medicine, aspirin, cold medication, antiseptic cream, band-aids, lip balm etc.
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For camping safari clients, we recommend bringing your own sleeping bags and bedsheets for hygiene purposes as sharing beddings can be risky. You can also pack some small items including batteries, sunscreen, lighters, and anything else you may not be able to buy from local supermarkets in your safari holiday destination.
General safari packing list:
There are many lists out there telling travellers what to pack, and yet many travellers still get it wrong. Over packing is also a big problem. International flights have a high luggage allowance, but on many of the smaller planes and safari vehicles the amount of luggage you can bring is limited, and you can end up paying a lot of money for being overweight.
What to wear on safari?
Light, cotton clothing in light tones
Many first time visitors arrive in East Africa and stick out because they look like a safari cliché. Choose neutral tones and light fabrics, preferably cotton. These fabrics work best in a hot climate. Pack about 3 t-shirts and 3 pairs of shorts. Do not pack white shirts, they show the dirt up easily and make you highly visible to the animals. Other colours to avoid are red which attracts animals, and if you are going into an area where Tsetse flies are present then you should also avoid the colours blue and black.
For the Ladies
You can pack one smarter set of clothing for if you are staying at a private lodge, but for the most part informal. Much more important however is to pack a good support bra, as game drives can sometimes be a little rough.
Long Sleeved Shirt and Trousers:
Pack a couple of long sleeved shirts and a pair of long trousers. The evenings can be chilly and they are also good for keeping mosquitoes and other insects at bay.
A Lightweight Waterproof Jacket
The temperatures in East Africa can vary greatly. In winter you can be very cold on a morning game drive, but perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt at midday. The secret is to wear several layers that you can take off or add to as needed.
A Good Pair of Trainers or Hiking Shoes
Unless you are doing a walking safari, there is no need to pack heavy duty hiking boots. A good durable pair of trainers is all that is needed. You might also like to pack a pair of sandals for around the lodge or pool.
A Wide Brimmed Hat
Many first time visitors to East Africa underestimate the strength of the Sun even in the late afternoons. Choose a hat that has a wide brim to shade your eyes and the back of your neck (this is an area most people forget, and where they get sunburnt.
Sunscreen
Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF or sun protection factor of between 30 and 50. Do not underestimate the power of the African sunshine – the last thing you want on holiday is a bad sunburn or sunstroke.
Sunglasses
It is a good idea to pack a pair of sunglasses as the glare from the sun during the middle of the day can hurt your eyes and give you a headache, especially if you are not used to it.
A camera, charger and spare memory cards
You will want to take lots of photographs so make sure you take plenty of memory cards for your camera. Don’t forget to pack the charger.
A light weight flashlight
Packing a small flashlight is always a good idea. Sometimes you have to walk in the dark and being able to see where you are going in the bush is always a good thing!
Medical kit
Pack a small bag or medical kit with some pain killers, any chronic medications (enough for the trip), some insect repellent, any vitamins etc. Most of the lodges and Rest Camps will have a basic medical aid kit; just pack the things that you might not be able to get in East Africa. Take Lip balm and a small bottle of moisturizer.
Anti-malarial
The East Africa National Parks are in a malarial area. Please consult your doctor about prophylaxis before your trip and do not forget to pack it.
A good book
Consider packing a book that you will enjoy reading. There will be some leisure time during the middle of the day, or while waiting for a flight when you will be grateful to have a book to read.
