Updated 15 October 2026

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking: Complete Kit List Trek-day checklist Waterproof hiking boots with deep grip, already broken in Long, lightweight trousers (not jeans) and long-sleeved top Waterproof jacket with a hood Warm layer, such as a light fleece Gardening or work gloves Gaiters, or long socks to tuck your trousers into Hat and sunglasses Small daypack with a rain cover or dry bag 2 litres of water and snacks; your lodge provides a packed lunch Insect repellent and sun cream Camera with spare batteries and memory card Passport and gorilla permit, plus cash for porter and tips Boots: the most important item The ground in Bwindi is steep, uneven and often deep in mud, and you may climb or descend for hours. For a gorilla trek in Uganda, the essentials are broken-in waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and a long-sleeved top, a waterproof jacket, gardening gloves, gaiters or long socks, a small daypack with two litres of water, and your passport and permit. Everything else is about comfort. Bwindi is a steep, wet rainforest, and the right clothes and boots matter far more on trek day than fitness or expensive gear.

Below is the trek-day checklist, followed by why each item matters, what to pack for the rest of your safari and what to leave at home.

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking: Complete Kit List

Trek-day checklist

• Waterproof hiking boots with deep grip, already broken in
• Long, lightweight trousers (not jeans) and long-sleeved top
• Waterproof jacket with a hood
• Warm layer, such as a light fleece
• Gardening or work gloves
• Gaiters, or long socks to tuck your trousers into
• Hat and sunglasses
• Small daypack with a rain cover or dry bag
• 2 litres of water and snacks; your lodge provides a packed lunch
• Insect repellent and sun cream
• Camera with spare batteries and memory card
• Passport and gorilla permit, plus cash for porter and tips

Boots: the most important item

The ground in Bwindi is steep, uneven and often deep in mud, and you may climb or descend for hours. Waterproof hiking boots with deep lugs and ankle support make the biggest difference to both comfort and safety. Trainers and fashion boots slip on wet clay and fill with water; they are the most common kit mistake.

Break your boots in with a few long walks before you travel, as blisters on trek day are miserable and avoidable. If your boots are new, wear them on the plane so they are not lost with checked luggage. Read more about choosing gorilla trekking boots.

Clothing that protects you

Cover your arms and legs. The forest is full of stinging nettles, thorny vines and biting safari ants, so long trousers and long sleeves are essential, even when it is warm. Choose lightweight, quick-drying fabrics rather than cotton or denim, which stay wet and heavy for hours. Tuck your trousers into your socks or wear gaiters to stop ants climbing up your legs and mud filling your boots. Neutral colours — greens, browns, greys and khaki — are best near the gorillas; avoid bright colours and white, which also shows mud instantly.

Bwindi mornings are cool, around 10–15°C, and colder in Ruhija at about 2,300 m, so start the day with a light fleece and a waterproof jacket that you can take off as you warm up on the climb. A hooded jacket is far better than a poncho, which snags on branches; see rain gear for gorilla trekking. For more on clothing, read what to wear for gorilla trekking.

Gloves, gaiters and other small things that matter

Some of the cheapest items make the biggest difference. Gardening gloves let you grab vines and branches to pull yourself up slopes without worrying about thorns or nettles; many experienced trekkers say they were the single most useful thing they packed. Gaiters keep your lower legs dry and ant-free. A walking stick is handed out free at the park headquarters, so there is no need to bring one, though trekking poles help on descents if you already own them.

Pack insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, sun cream and a hat, as you may walk through open farmland before entering the forest. A small first-aid kit with blister plasters and any personal medication is sensible, and so is a few sheets of toilet paper in a zip bag.

Your daypack

Carry a small backpack of 20–30 litres with a rain cover, or line it with a dry bag. Inside, you need water — at least two litres, as treks can last most of the day — snacks, the packed lunch from your lodge, your jacket and warm layer when you are not wearing them, and your camera.

If you hire a porter for around US$15–20, they will carry the pack for you, leaving both hands free for balance; keep your camera, spare batteries and passport on you, as porters sometimes walk ahead or behind. See how to hire a porter.

Camera gear

You are often only 7 m from the gorillas, so a zoom of around 24–70 mm or 70–200 mm is more useful than a huge telephoto. The forest is dark, so a camera that handles high ISO well helps, and flash is not allowed. Bring at least two spare batteries and plenty of memory card space, because the hour goes quickly and there is nowhere to charge on the trail. Keep the camera in a dry bag or under a rain cover until you reach the family. More detail in camera batteries for gorilla trekking.

For the rest of the safari

Outside trek day, Uganda’s climate is mild, so pack light layers: T-shirts and shirts, a pair of comfortable trousers or a knee-length skirt for towns and villages, shorts for the lodge, a fleece for chilly evenings in the highlands and comfortable shoes or sandals. If you are visiting savannah parks such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, add binoculars, a sun hat and a 100–400 mm lens if you photograph wildlife. A swimsuit is useful at Lake Bunyonyi and at lodges with pools. Bring a UK-style three-pin plug adapter (type G) and a power bank.

For documents and health, you need your passport with your visa or e-visa approval, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, malaria tablets, travel insurance details, and US dollars in clean notes printed in 2009 or later for tips. If you are flying to Bwindi on a domestic flight, the baggage limit is usually 15 kg per person in soft bags, so pack trekking kit in a duffel and leave a suitcase at your Entebbe hotel.

Packing for the season

The basic kit is the same all year, because it can rain in Bwindi in any month, but the weather changes what you rely on most. In the wetter months of March–May and September–November, waterproof over-trousers, a second pair of socks for the drive back and a dry bag inside your daypack become essential, and gaiters move from useful to indispensable. Trekking in April, May or November also gets you the US$600 low-season permit, which many travellers think is worth the extra mud.

In the drier months of June–August and December–February, trails are firmer, but mornings can be cold at altitude and the sun is strong in open areas. A warm layer, sun hat and sun cream matter more, and you may carry your rain jacket in your pack for most of the day. See what happens if it rains on your trekking day.

Laundry and luggage tips

Your trekking clothes will come back muddy, often soaked. Most lodges near Bwindi offer laundry, sometimes included in the rate, but clothes can take a day or more to dry in the humid highlands, so do not count on wearing the same trousers two days running if you are trekking twice. Bring two sets of trekking clothes if you plan two treks, and a plastic bag to keep muddy boots and clothes away from the rest of your luggage on the drive out.

What to leave at home

Leave military-style camouflage clothing at home: civilians are not allowed to wear it in Uganda, and it can cause problems at checkpoints. Skip bright or white trek clothing, jeans and anything that rustles loudly. Flash units, selfie sticks and drones are not useful on the trek, and drones need special permission in national parks. Expensive jewellery is best left behind too. If you forget something, some lodges and shops near Buhoma and Rushaga rent or sell gumboots, gaiters and basic rain jackets, but sizes and quality vary.

Frequently asked questions