Updated
For gorilla trekking in Uganda, use a repellent containing 20 to 50 per cent DEET or about 20 per cent picaridin (icaridin) on exposed skin, and consider treating your trekking clothes with permethrin. Bwindi’s altitude keeps mosquitoes fewer than in the lowlands, but you will still meet them at lodges in the evening, along with biting flies and, on the trail, safari ants. Here is what works and how to use it.
What actually works
DEET at 20 to 50 per cent is the most proven option and lasts several hours; higher concentrations last longer but do not work better. Picaridin (also sold as icaridin) at around 20 per cent is similarly effective, has little smell and does not damage plastics or camera gear, which makes it popular with photographers. Repellents based on oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) give shorter protection. Plant-oil sprays, wristbands and ultrasonic devices are not reliable.
Treat your clothes
Permethrin is not applied to skin but to clothing, socks and gaiters, where it repels and kills insects for several washes. Spraying your trekking trousers, long-sleeved shirt and socks a day or two before travel, and letting them dry, adds strong protection. Many outdoor shops sell pre-treated clothing.
Safari ants and other biters
The insect most trekkers remember from Bwindi is the safari ant, which swarms across trails and climbs boots. Tuck your trousers into your socks, wear gaiters, and keep moving when the guide points out a column. Tsetse flies are found in some savannah parks such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison, where dark blue and black clothing attracts them; see what to wear for gorilla trekking.
How to apply
Put sunscreen on first, wait about 15 minutes, then apply repellent. Cover all exposed skin, avoid eyes and cuts, and reapply after heavy sweating or rain. Use repellent especially from dusk onwards, when malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite, and sleep under a net if your room has one.
Malaria still matters
Repellent reduces bites but does not replace antimalarial tablets, which are recommended for Uganda, including the Bwindi area. Talk to a travel clinic before you go, check the vaccinations for Uganda, and read malaria prevention for Uganda and our full gorilla trekking packing list.
Frequently asked questions
A repellent with 20 to 50 per cent DEET or about 20 per cent picaridin, plus permethrin-treated clothing.
Fewer than in the lowlands because of the altitude, but they are present, especially in the evening around lodges.
Tuck trousers into socks, wear gaiters, and keep moving when you cross an ant column.
Yes. Repellent reduces bites, but antimalarials are recommended for Uganda.
