Wondering what to wear gorilla trekking? This gorilla trekking packing list has you covered, with tips for choosing the right clothing and other essential gear to pack for this amazing experience.
One of the most incredible travel bucket list items in the world, seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is an experience you won’t ever forget.
For most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you don’t want to spend the brief time that you have with these magnificent creatures stressed out because you forgot an important item or because you were wearing inappropriate clothing. This gorilla trekking packing list will help take your mind off the planning and focus on the experience.
I’ve pulled together this packing list based on what I wore and took on my gorilla trek in Uganda.
You’ll find that I refer to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda throughout the article. This is because these are the most popular and safest countries for gorilla trekking, but this list applies equally to gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You can check out my full gorilla trekking guide, which includes how to get permits, what to expect on the day and how much gorilla trekking costs.
If you’re wondering what to wear in Rwanda or Uganda or anywhere else in East Africa, I have a full guide in my East Africa packing list.
This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
Gorilla trekking packing list
You don’t actually need to pack a lot for gorilla trekking – and you don’t want to weigh your porter down (or yourself if you decide to carry your own backpack).
But you do need to think through the right clothing to wear to protect yourself from the elements, bugs and plants.
Hiking boots
One of the first things you need to think about for your gorilla trekking packing list is the right hiking boots.
You need boots that are waterproof and that have good grip. It’s more than likely that you’re going to walk in mud at some point. The terrain can also vary, so boots with good grip will help you stay upright and not go sliding down a hill. Your trusty but worn sneakers aren’t going to cut it on this trip!
It goes without saying, but make sure they’re boots that you’ve already worn in. It might take 4-8 hours to reach your gorilla family and get back to your car. This is not the time to discover that your boots are just one size too small.
- ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: The Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boot features a seam-sealed construction, combined with our TECHLITE lightweight midsole, for long-lasting comfort with superior cushioning and high energy return.
- DURABLE HIKING BOOT: This women’s boot is inspired by classic mountaineering style. A durable mid cut waterproof hiker that provides great traction and comfort. This classic Columbia hiking boot, will deliver years of comfortable service.
- ALL TERRAIN TRACTION: Our signature Omni-GRIP non-marking traction rubber outsole provides high grip across a wide variety of terrain, and versatile three season use.
Long pants
I’ve seen pictures of people hiking to see the gorillas in shorts and I’d advise against this. At times, you might be walking through scratchy bushes, or have to deal with bugs, so cover your skin and wear long pants unless you want itchy legs covered in welts and bites!
If you’re worried about getting hot, then go for lightweight, wicking pants that will keep you cool and covered up.
For all your clothing, choose neutral colours to provide a natural camouflage (but don’t wear camouflage print – this is what soldiers wear). Avoid white because you’ll just end up a muddy mess!
- VERSATILE WEAR. The moisture-wicking Women’s Paramount Convertible Mid-Rise Pant features zip-off legs, integrated belt and UPF 40+ sun protection. It provides true versatility for days when the weather (or altitude) changes.
- PREMIUM FABRIC. These pants have an ultraviolet Protection Factor 40 (UPF) and our FlashDry technology to wick away moisture and dry quickly. It’s the perfect combination to stay protected from harmful rays and stay comfortable so you can keep exploring.
- STANDARD FIT. These pants feature straight-leg fit for natural comfort. An adjustable waist belt offers a custom fit. Inseam: S 29″, R 31″, L 33″.
Tops
It can be chilly in the mornings of your gorilla trek – but then no doubt you’ll heat up as you’re hiking through the humid rainforest. For this reason, I’d recommend layers.
You could wear a wicking t-shirt with a lightweight hiking shirt over it, or a tank top under a long-sleeve merino wool top (like the Icebreaker merino wool top below.)
Either way, similar to long pants, you do need to wear something long-sleeved to avoid those bushes and bugs.
I wore a t-shirt underneath a lightweight running top. I found that was enough to keep me warm in the chilly mornings, but I also didn’t need to strip off my layers because I got so hot.
- Ready for Adventure: Always enjoy cold weather adventures with the Icebreaker Merino Women’s 175 Standard Merino Wool Shirt! These women’s thermals are long sleeve and feature a comfortable crew neck for year-round layering performance and style.
- Amazingly Soft Women’s T-Shirts: These long sleeve tee shirts for women are made with 100% Merino Wool, an annually renewable resource that naturally resists odors, regulates body temperature in all weather conditions, and helps manage moisture.
Rain jacket
It’s likely to rain or at least lightly drizzle during your hike (even in the dry season), so pack a lightweight rain jacket or poncho with a hood that you can easily roll up. This could serve as one of your layers as well.
Make sure your jacket breathes well, or you’ll be creating your own sauna inside your clothes while you hike!
- ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: Columbia Women’s Arcadia II Jacket features our signature, air-permeable protection that’s waterproof and breathable to shield you from drizzle to downpour.
- ADJUSTABLE FEATURES: This shell top jacket features an adjustable storm hood, drawcord adjustable hem, and zippered hand pockets for ultimate comfort.
- LIGHT & PACKABLE: The waterproof, lightweight design packs into your hand pocket for convenience on days when the weather is unpredictable.
- DURABLE FABRIC: 100% nylon 2L fabric with a 100% polyester mesh lining keeps you warm, yet remains breathable. Universal, easy fit for comfortable range of motion
- OMNI-TECH: Our Omni-Tech technology features air-permeable protection that’s waterproof and breathable. It provides excellent waterproof protection, keeping mother nature’s elements out, at the same time allowing the inside to breathe.
Face mask
Primates are highly susceptible to human diseases, so pack – and wear! – a surgical mask for your trip. An N95 mask is best.
As far as I can tell, wearing a mask isn’t a requirement of either Uganda or Rwanda, but it’s just the responsible thing to do. If you’re not feeling well, be honest and don’t go on the trek. Please don’t expose these beautiful animals to any chance of getting coronavirus.
Don’t forget to also pack hand sanitiser in your backpack.
- 【5-Layer Protection】 Boncare KN95 Face Masks follow the GB2626-2019 respiratory protection standards and feature a filtration efficency of over 95%. Well-designed 5 layers cloth filters large particles, then small harmful particles and pm2.5, offering you a safeguard protection. Authorized Manufacturer: GUANGDONG ZHIZHEN BIOLOGICAL MEDICINE CO, LTD
- 【Breathable Technique】Our KN95 Masks adopt advanced electrostatic technique to make the mask material more breathable. You could easily respire the air through the mask filtration while being protected.
Socks
Pack some good quality, thick hiking socks. You can even find ones that are treated with permethrin to repel bugs.
One trick I have learned over the years is to first put on a thinner pair of socks and then add a thicker pair over the top. This can help prevent rubbing when hiking.
- Merino Wool for comfortable & dry feet: Our lightweight socks with thermoregulating merino wool and sweat-wicking ventilation lanes ensure that your feet stay fresh, dry and comfortable in any weather
- Support for your comfort: Our light hiking socks feature targeted cushioning to reduce the risk of blisters and sore feet. Great for hiking, trekking, outdoor adventures, walking, travelling or everyday
- Designed in Denmark: Our womens and mens hiking socks are designed with Everest mountaineer Rasmus Kragh who tests our products to ensure high quality standards. The warm socks are fairly produced in Portugal
Gaiters
You’re going to see bugs on this trip, and there’s also going to be mud and dirt. One way to keep all of that out of your shoes and socks is with a pair of gaiters.
At one point during our hike, we all stopped to watch the gorillas playing and then realised we were standing on an ant’s nest. These ants were HUGE and quickly crawled up our legs.
I didn’t pack gaiters but they would have been handy. If you don’t take them, simply tuck your pants into your boots to provide a bit of protection.
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Hat and buff/bandana
Keep your hair off your face with a buff or bandana. I like to dip mine in water and then wear it around my neck to help keep me cool.
There are some sunny spots on some hikes – and some have a lot of exposed areas – so a hat is also a good idea.
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Gloves
Even the most sure-footed person is going to slip and slide at least once on their gorilla trek. As we all know, our first reaction is to reach out and grab something – and it’s most likely going to be a rough or spiny bush or plant.
A pair of decent quality garden gloves will be sufficient to keep your hands out of the mud and avoid scratches and cuts.
- 【Breathable, Lightweight, Cooling】Compared with other brands’ full finger workout gloves, the SAVIOR HEAT updated stretchable and breathable lycra material on hand top ensures a skintight feel around the fingers and knuckles for sung fit, perfectly match your hands for comfortable wearing. The fabric is thin and soft, you will not feel sweaty as they are cooling&quick-drying, the men’s cycling gloves have excellent flexibility and elastic recovery performance
- 【Touch Screen】The mountain bike gloves feature small touch-sensitive pads on the thumb and index finger, allowing you to use your GPS or Apps on All Smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, etc), tablets or other Touchscreen devices without taking off your beloved biking gloves
Backpack with rainproof cover
You’ll need to take a good backpack with you, preferably with a rainproof cover if the backpack itself isn’t waterproof.
Don’t overfill your backpack. You have the option to hire a porter for the gorilla trek, but that shouldn’t mean that you load your pack up with tonnes of unnecessary stuff.
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Water bladder
Water is essential while trekking to see gorillas, and it’s recommended that you have around 2-3L per person.
Most people on my hike had small plastic bottles, but I find that it’s much easier to drink from a water bladder. You don’t need to stop and open your backpack every time you need a sip of H2O – you can simply draw from the hose, which I find so much more convenient.
- LARGE OPENING FOR EASY CLEANING – CHERAINTI 2l hydration bladder has one of large opening, and the big opening makes for easy pouring of water. It is also fairly wide for a hand or bottle brush easily access to the interior water bladder for hiking backpack. The screw on cap goes on and off easily. For cold water, simply add ice cubes directly from a scoop or refrigerator ice dispenser. The smooth inner of water reservoir promotes health and is easy to clean.
- PREMIUM QUALITY – The whole hydration bladder is made of premium material. CHERAINTI water reservoir is taste free, SGS certified and food grade. This tested to comply with international safety standards. It won’t leave a bad taste in your drink. The water bladder 2l passed pneumatic pressure test, it is pressure-tolerant. Double sealing side technique has greatly improved durability hydration pack bladder.
Walking poles
Walking poles can be handy for keeping your balance on slippery, uneven areas, and for taking the pressure off your knees when going downhill.
I didn’t take poles because I don’t actually like hiking with them, but a lot of people in my group had them. Your guide might also be able to rustle up a sturdy stick to use as a walking pole.
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Sunscreen
While most of your hike will likely be in shaded areas, there will be areas that are exposed, so take SPF50+ sunscreen with you and re-apply regularly throughout the hike. This is an essential item for your Uganda packing list.
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Wet wipes
Baby or wet wipes are handy for wiping down your face or for toilet breaks.
Just remember to pack everything out with you, so have a small bag or extra pocket that you can pack used items in before popping it in to your backpack.
I’ve seen people recommend packing eco-friendly toilet paper because it breaks down. That’s fine to bring – but you should be taking it out with you. Take everything out with you – rubbish, food scraps, everything. You shouldn’t even spit on the ground, because gorillas can catch diseases that way.
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Insect repellant wipes or spray
The bugs are real! Pack some insect spray or insect repellant wipes – an essential item for your gorilla trekking packing list.
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Basic first aid kit
While your tour guide will have a first aid kit, it may be a while before you see him or her, so it’s worthwhile packing a few key items in your backpack like insect bite ointment for immediate relief, Band-Aids or blister packs, and painkillers.
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Waterproof case for your phone
One thing you won’t read about on any other gorilla trekking packing list? Take a waterproof case for your phone.
I packed one for my iPhone and it was really handy because it’s on a lanyard, meaning it was easily accessible for photos and it was also safe from rain and mist. This is one of my must-take items on most trips I do.
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Camera
Do NOT forget your camera! You are going to want physical (or digital) memories of this experience.
The night before the trek, charge up your camera and extra batteries, and check all your memory cards to make sure you have plenty of space.
Remember, you can’t use flash around the gorillas, so if you’re not familiar with how to turn off that function on your camera, spend some time figuring it out.
If you’re taking just your phone camera, do the same thing – make sure it’s charged up the night before. You might also want to consider taking a portable charger.
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Lunch and snacks
You might be out hiking for 7-9 hours so take plenty of snacks. Your hotel will usually arrange lunch and some fruit for you, but triple check this the night before so you’re not hungry.
I also took some extra protein bars and Hydralyte (oral rehydration sachets that I mixed with water – take a spare bottle for this).
- VALUE PACK: Includes 16 CLIF BAR energy bars in a variety of delicious flavors including classic favorites like Chocolate Chip and Crunchy Peanut Butter (packaging and assortment may vary)
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: CLIF BAR Energy Bars are non-GMO and are made with whole food, plant-based ingredients like organic rolled oats – keeping your energy up never felt (or tasted) so good
- SUSTAINED ENERGY: CLIF BAR is The Ultimate Energy Bar, purposefully crafted with a mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to sustain active bodies before and during long, moderate-intensity activity
Passport
You will need your passport as identification when you arrive at the park. This is an important item on your gorilla trekking packing list as you won’t be allowed to go on the trek without it!
Gorilla permit
Unless you’ve arranged your gorilla trek independently, then your tour company will have this for you.
Money
Take some cash so that you can tip your porter and guides. This may be their main or only source of income, and they do such a fantastic job, so thank them. You can take U.S. dollars (make sure you have the right notes – they can’t give you change) or Rwandan francs or Ugandan shillings.
At the end of the trek, you’ll also likely come across women selling handmade jewellery and toys. So, if you feel like a bit of shopping, you’ll need some cash.
Travel insurance
Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers.
Read the policy carefully to make sure you’re covered for adventure activities like trekking to see mountain gorillas. Check that a Medevac is included.
In the briefing for my gorilla trek, there were jokes about helicopters being able to rescue you if, halfway through, you found the hike just too hard and wanted to turn back. In reality, these “helicopters” are people who’d carry you out on a stretcher because there’s no helipad in this thick jungle!
Flip flops
One of the best things at the end of my trip was pulling off my hiking boots and slipping on a pair of flip flops for the drive back to my hotel! Make sure you put flip flops or other light shoes in your backpack (or leave them in your tour company’s car).
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Gorilla trekking packing list: Final thoughts
This guide covers my tips for the must-bring items and clothing for a safe and fun gorilla trekking experience. Seeing gorillas in the wild is such an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Rather than focusing on something you might have forgotten, with this packing list you can tick everything off – and focus on the epic experience instead.
Enjoy!
Did you find this article helpful? Consider buying me a coffee as a way to say thanks!
What’s the most important item on your own gorilla trekking packing list?
Related posts
Before you go… you might like these travel articles:
- Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda: Everything You Need to Know
- A Wildlife-Packed Uganda Itinerary: One Week in the Pearl of Africa
- A Unique 2-Week Tanzania Itinerary: Adventure, Safaris and Beaches
- An Epic 2 Week Kenya Itinerary
- 9 Reasons to Hire a Private Guide for a Safari in East Africa
BOOKING A TRIP SOON? HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL LINKS
- Book your flight online with Skyscanner – it’s where I always start my flight research.
- Find a great hotel on Booking.com.
- Need a rental car? Compare prices and vehicles on DiscoverCars.
- Omio is a great site for booking buses, trains and ferries across Europe.
- Check out the huge range of day tours throughout major cities and countries on GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator. There’s something for everyone.
- One thing I always purchase is travel insurance. Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
- Stuff I always pack? A reusable water bottle, packing cubes and a handy electronics organiser.
WHAT TO PACK FOR GORILLA TREKKING: PIN IT FOR LATER
Save this gorilla trekking packing list for later by pinning this post to Pinterest.
I’m headed out there next month. This is the best packing list I’ve seen so far, thank you!
Have the best time Annie!! Glad the packing list helped.