What to wear and carry for a trek in Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park, and what to leave at the lodge.
Gorilla trekking happens on steep, muddy, thorny hillsides between 1,500 and 3,000 metres, where rain can arrive in minutes and nettles grow at hand height. The right kit makes the difference between an uncomfortable slog and a morning you remember for the gorillas. Everything below fits in a 20–30 litre daypack, and your porter can carry it.
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support and deep lugs, broken in before you travel. Trainers slip on wet clay and let in water. If you only own trainers, rubber gumboots can sometimes be hired locally, but boots are far better.
Flash is forbidden. Forest light is dim, so bring a camera that handles high ISO well (3200–6400), and a lens in the 24–105 mm or 70–200 mm range. Very long lenses are rarely needed at seven metres. Spare batteries matter because there is nowhere to charge in the forest. Drones are not allowed in the parks.
Porters are local community members, often from families that once relied on the forest. They carry your bag, and more importantly, they give you a hand up muddy banks and down steep drops. The fee goes straight into the local economy and ties the community's income to the gorillas' survival. Most of our guests who hire one say it made the day. For how hard the walking gets, see how fit you need to be.
| Category | Item | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Long quick-dry trousers | Protection from nettles and thorns |
| Clothing | Long-sleeved shirt (muted colours) | Protection from nettles, sun and insects |
| Clothing | Fleece or light down layer | Cold starts at altitude |
| Clothing | Waterproof jacket | Sudden forest rain |
| Clothing | Gaiters | Keep out mud and safari ants |
| Clothing | Gardening gloves | Grip on vines and branches |
| Feet | Waterproof hiking boots, worn in | Grip and ankle support on wet slopes |
| Feet | Two pairs of hiking socks | A dry pair after the trek |
| Pack | 20–30 L daypack with rain cover | Carries everything, and a porter can take it |
| Pack | 1.5–2 L water | Treks can last many hours |
| Pack | Packed lunch and snacks | Supplied by your lodge |
| Pack | Insect repellent and sunscreen | Trailheads are sunny, and forest insects bite |
| Pack | Face mask | May be required near the gorillas |
| Pack | Small first-aid kit | Blisters, scratches, medication |
| Documents | Passport and permit copy | Checked at the briefing |
| Money | Small US$ notes or local currency | Porter fee and tips |
| Camera | Camera, spare batteries, dry bag | Low light, no charging in the forest |
Gorilla day is only part of the trip. For the savannah parks, bring lighter clothes in neutral colours, a sun hat, sunglasses and a warm layer for early game drives. Binoculars make a huge difference on game drives and for birding, ideally one pair per person. Soft-sided bags are easier to pack into safari vehicles and small planes. Domestic flights to Bwindi or Kidepo usually limit luggage to about 15 kg in soft bags. A headlamp is useful at lodges with limited night lighting, and a universal adaptor covers the UK-style plugs used in Uganda and the European-style plugs in Rwanda.
Rwanda bans single-use plastic bags, and they may be confiscated at the airport. Pack toiletries and snacks in reusable pouches. Mornings at Kinigi, the briefing point for Volcanoes National Park, are often cooler than in Bwindi, so a warm layer matters even more.
The best kit won't replace a bit of preparation. Walking hills or stairs with a loaded daypack for a few weeks before the trip makes trek day much more enjoyable. See our fitness guide for gorilla trekking. If you have limited mobility, carrier teams can be arranged. See gorilla trekking for disabled travellers.
Once your kit is sorted, the next steps are your permit and route. See gorilla permits, Uganda gorilla trekking and Rwanda gorilla trekking.
Bwindi and Volcanoes are cool, wet mountain forests all year, so the core list doesn't change. The rainy months (March–May and October–November) call for a more serious waterproof jacket, gaiters and a full dry set of clothes left in the vehicle. In the drier months (June–September and December–February), trails are firmer, but the forest is still damp and mornings cold. See best time to visit for month-by-month conditions.
Some lodges near the trailheads lend rain jackets or gumboots, and a few shops in Kampala and Kigali sell basic outdoor gear. Choice is limited and sizes are hit and miss, so bring your boots and rain jacket from home. Gardening gloves and gaiters are cheap and light to pack.
The forest is dark and gorillas are black, which is a hard combination for cameras. Set a higher ISO (1600–6400), a wide aperture and a shutter speed of at least 1/250 s for moving youngsters. Expose for the gorilla's face rather than the bright background. Turn off the flash and the focus-assist light, and switch your phone camera to silent. Take a few photos, then put the camera down and simply watch. One hour passes very quickly.
A porter carries your daypack, which usually weighs 3–7 kg, and helps you over slippery sections, up banks and across streams. Tell them if your bag holds a camera or fragile items. They will hand you the pack before you reach the gorillas so you can take out your camera, and they wait nearby during the hour. Porters are usually paid US$15–20 for the day, directly at the trailhead, and a tip at the end is appreciated.
Pack a clean, dry set of clothes and shoes to change into at the lodge or in the vehicle. Many lodges offer boot-cleaning and laundry services, which is useful if you have a second trek or a long drive the next day.
Muted greens, browns and khaki. Bright colours and white are discouraged, and white also shows the mud immediately.
Strongly recommended. Waterproof boots with ankle support and good grip are the single most important item.
Walking sticks are free and porters can be hired at every trailhead. Some lodges lend rain jackets or gumboots, but don't rely on it for boots.
Early mornings and evenings are cool, around 10–15 °C at altitude, and the forest can be damp. Bring layers.
Not necessary. Free wooden walking sticks are handed out at every gorilla trailhead.
No. Long trousers protect against nettles, thorns and safari ants.
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