Spending time with a family of chimpanzees can be a life-changing experience. Tourism in the remote rain forest areas of Gishwati and Mukura contribute directly to protecting these critically endangered species and the conservation of their habitat.
The experience requires a fair fitness level as you will be hiking in humid conditions through thick vegetation and along steep, at times rather muddy, mountain tracks. Clothes and shoes should be appropriate for these conditions. Here are the right things to pack for a safari in Rwanda;
Long trousers
We suggest that you wear long trousers. If you can find a pair that is water-resistant, all the better.
These should ideally be tucked into your socks or boots to help prevent insects such as fire ants crawling up your legs and biting you.
A long-sleeved shirt
Long sleeves are a good idea to help protect you from the cold during the early colder hours of your trek. They also offer protection from insects, nettles and branches and vines that would scratch you.
Choose a shirt that’s a neutral color such as khaki, green or light brown. Bright colors aren’t advisable. Blue and black are also inadvisable, as these can attract insects like tsetse flies, believe it or not.
Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots
One of the most important pieces of gorilla trekking clothing is a good pair of hiking boots.
This trek is not something you want to try and attempt in sneakers or sandals. The paths are muddy, slippery and you need to have good traction while hiking. Hiking boots provide proper support for your ankles, offer balance and stability, and protect you against thorns and insects.
You should buy your boots in advance and wear them so you don’t run the risk of sore or blistered feet on the trek.
A lightweight rain jacket or poncho
Rain occurs throughout the year in southwest Uganda, with showers most likely to occur in the morning. A lightweight rain jacket or poncho helps to keep you dry and comfortable while trekking.
A pair of hiking gloves
The guides will do as much as they can to clear a path, but you’re inevitably going to get your hands dirty and, in doing so, will want to avoid the prickles on your hands.
Hiking or outdoor gloves will come in handy when you have to clear your path and grip a branch to avoid sleeping on steep slopes. They’ll also keep you from leaving dangerous organisms on the things you touch during your trek.
Two facemasks
A facemask is a must-have item for every trekker. Gorillas share most of our genome, which means they could catch any contagious diseases carried by humans, especially respiratory ones. The same is true for us; we could catch infectious diseases from these great apes.
To minimize this, the specialists advise that we wear a facemask and stay at least 10 meters away from the gorillas.
However, you won’t have to wear the facemask while hiking through the jungle, only during your time with the gorillas. So, pack a pair (or more) of facemasks, preferably eco-friendly ones.
Thick socks
A good pair of thick socks provide warmth during the cold early morning start of the trek. You should also tuck your trouser ends into your socks. This helps prevent insects from crawling up your legs while trekking and is additional protection against the stinging nettles.
Energy-giving snacks
Food is your energy source to keep hiking through Uganda’s untamed woods. No one is sure how long you’ll spend in the wilderness before the trackers spot the gorillas. You might want to carry something to snack on when you feel your energy is getting depleted.
Gorilla trekking lodges do an excellent job as bases for this experience. They usually pack you something for lunch or snacking, which you throw in your backpack, and the guides typically allow short snack breaks.
Still, you can carry something familiar like an energy bar and at least a liter of drinking water. Remember that it’s illegal to litter the pack, so throw your garbage back in your bag.
A wide-brim hat
You aren’t always walking under trees on a gorilla trek, and when the morning mist clears, you need a hat. Remember that you’re at a high altitude and the sun is more intense here.
Moreover, a hat not only protects you from the sun – it also offers some degree of protection from rain and wayward or flicking branches. And you arrive back at base with fewer leaves and twigs in your hair.
Camera
A phone often has a good enough camera these days, but if you have a really good camera, we suggest you take it with you to capture these moments of a lifetime.
Ensure your phone or camera battery is charged the night before. If your camera is battery-operated, we suggest you bring along a spare battery.
And please be sure to pack all necessary charging cables (and an international adapter, if relevant) before heading to Uganda or Rwanda. You don’t want to be standing and fuming in your hotel room mid-trip over a dead camera.
In conclusion
Pack as lightly as you can. You may have to take a light aircraft to get your lodge or camp, which will have strict baggage size and weight limits. If you are going elsewhere after your gorilla trek, ask your Tour operator or travel agent to make arrangements to have your extra luggage stored safely.