Safari Haus Editorial
Travel Writer
Gorilla trekking is unlike any other safari activity. The gear matters — the wrong footwear on a steep, muddy Bwindi slope can turn a difficult hike into a miserable one. Here is exactly what to pack, what to leave at home, and why.
The gorilla trekking packing list looks simple at first glance and contains several items that people consistently underestimate or forget. Here is what we recommend — based on our guides' experience with thousands of gorilla treks across Bwindi's four sectors and Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park — with specific reasons for each item.
Footwear: The Most Important Item
Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support. This is non-negotiable for Bwindi. The forest floor in Bwindi is almost always wet, even in dry season — the ancient canopy overhead creates a perpetual microclimate of moisture. The terrain includes steep, clay-heavy slopes where the mud is deep and slippery, root-covered ridges, and stream crossings. Ankle support matters on descents; waterproofing matters throughout. Trail running shoes, walking sandals, and urban trainers are genuinely dangerous on steep Bwindi terrain and will make your day considerably more difficult.
For Rwanda's Volcanoes NP, the terrain is similar but slightly more open in the bamboo zone. Waterproof hiking boots remain the correct choice, though the consequences of inadequate footwear are slightly less severe in the sections below the bamboo line.
Gaiters. These strap over your boots and trouser cuffs and prevent mud, leaf litter, and forest floor detritus from entering your boots. They are strongly recommended for Bwindi and useful at Volcanoes. Many guests who trek without gaiters spend the first forty minutes of the trek with mud inside their boots; those who wear them do not.
Clothing
Long-sleeved shirt and long trousers. Both forests contain stinging nettles — Laportea alatipes grows extensively in the disturbed vegetation around gorilla family trails in Bwindi and can cause significant discomfort if it contacts bare skin. Long sleeves and trousers are also appropriate gorilla etiquette (minimising skin exposure) and provide protection against insects. Avoid bright colours; neutral greens, khakis, and browns are recommended.
Thin work gloves or gardening gloves. The single most-forgotten item on the gorilla packing list. When pushing through dense vegetation on a steep ascent, bare hands on nettles, thorns, and rough branches are unpleasant. Thin gardening gloves — the kind you buy in a hardware store for a few dollars — protect your hands and improve grip on slopes. Carry them in your daypack and put them on when the ranger signals you're entering dense vegetation.
Lightweight waterproof jacket. Rain in Bwindi can arrive and clear quickly. A packable rain jacket weighing under 300g that fits in your daypack is all you need — not a heavy mountain jacket. Breathability matters; you will be moving uphill and sweating, and a non-breathable jacket will be uncomfortable regardless of the weather.
Warm base layer or fleece. Bwindi sits at 1,800m and Volcanoes NP at 2,400m and above. Early mornings are cold — the pre-trek briefing at 07:00 can feel remarkably chilly. A lightweight fleece or merino wool base layer can be shed once you start climbing and will be welcome when you stop moving at the gorilla family site.
Daypack Contents
A 20–30 litre daypack is ideal. Larger is uncomfortable on steep terrain; smaller doesn't leave enough room. Contents should include:
Water: 1.5–2 litres minimum. A hydration pack (Camelbak or similar) keeps hands free. The trek to the gorillas can take 1–5 hours and you will sweat on steep ascents.
Energy snacks: Nuts, chocolate, dried fruit. Not for the trek itself (no eating near gorillas) but for before and after.
Insect repellent with DEET. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are active in the lower forest elevations (under 1,500m). At Bwindi's higher elevations, risk is lower but not zero. Apply before entering the forest.
Sunscreen: Relevant at Volcanoes NP where the bamboo zone is partially open. Less critical in dense Bwindi canopy.
A dry bag or small zip-lock bag for your phone, wallet, and permit — the forest is wet and rain can arrive suddenly.
Camera Gear
No flash photography is permitted near gorillas — flash photography distresses the animals and is strictly enforced. Ensure your camera's flash is disabled before entering the forest. A camera with good low-light performance is worth packing: the forest canopy is dense and the ambient light at ground level where gorillas typically feed and rest is lower than you might expect. A lens in the 24–200mm range covers most encounters — the gorillas will be at close range (5–15m), so extreme telephoto is unnecessary. Phone cameras with large sensors and good computational photography (iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra) perform surprisingly well.
What to Leave Behind
Do not bring food into the forest (gorillas are attracted by the smell and it interferes with the trekking experience). Do not bring a large bag — it will be difficult to manage on steep terrain and you may be asked to leave it at the trailhead. Perfume, strong deodorant, and scented sunscreen are not recommended near gorillas. And do not bring anything you are not prepared to drop immediately.
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