Holding a gorilla permit allows you watch the mountain gorillas for a maximum of one hour in the jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Although mountain gorillas live in three countries of DRC in the Virunga National park, in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and Bwindi’s Impenetrable National Park of Uganda. And the next very important thing is to make sure that you have packed the right gorilla trekking gear for your gorilla safari. Gorilla trekking clothes are the same for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the next question to be answered is what to pack for a gorilla trek. What we have advised below is for gorilla trekking but if your gorilla tour combined with wildlife safaris you might need more. BOOK NOW
Hiking Shoes
Shoes with a good grip are a must. The terrain can be difficult to navigate, including thick vines, slippery rocks, patches of mud, and more. If your shoes are waterproof, due to the nature of the forest plus the altitude and terrain, you need light weight hiking boots for this activity the entire better.
Garden Gloves
You will be required gloves to protect you hands during your gorilla trek. As you move in this forest, getting slippery is expected as somehow you need to hold on something just in case such happens. If you happen to touch some itching plants, trees or even climbing trees, you may be harmed. These gloves will therefore protect you from germs and other items that may scratch your hands. Consider including Garden Gloves in your gorilla trekking packing list in Mgahinga national park.
Rain Jacket
Mgahinga national parks where the mountain gorillas live are largely rain forest, and it can rain unexpectedly, rain is received throughout the whole year. You will never tell when it is going to rain so you need a rain jacket in order to be protected from rain. Many visitors prefer traveling in drier months of June, July, August and beginning of September and try to avoid rainy seasons of March, April and May but being a tropical rain forest, it can rain any time. When deciding on what to pack for your gorilla trek in Mgahinga National Park a Rain jacket should be included.
Long-Sleeved Shirt or Jacket
Treks begin early in the morning, and you may be chilly at the start of your trek. Depending on the time of year, you may want long sleeves during the entirety of your trek. In addition to warmth, long sleeves are helpful for protecting your arms against stinging nettles or branches.
Long Pants
You will be encountering thick vines, fallen trees, and scratchy brush, and you will want to have protection on your legs. I found thick leggings to be ideal pants for the trek because they allowed me to move freely while still covering my legs.
Short-Sleeved Shirt
Dressing in layers is a good idea. The day involves strenuous activity in the humid jungle, and you may want to shed your outer layers.
Tall Socks
Keeping the biting “safari ants” out of your pants is important! Your guide will instruct you to tuck your pants into your socks, and tall socks are best for this task.
Cameras and extra batteries Snacks
Photography is an important component of your safari and thus makes sure that you have your camera ready, charge your batteries very well and if necessary, carry extra batteries as you will need to take as many photographs in the one hour you will have with the gorillas. Please make sure that you switch off your flash while taking gorilla photographs.
Hat and Sun Glasses
If it is hot, please carry a hat to protect you from the strong sun rays. You may also need to carry some sun glasses too. These are extra optional.
Pair of Binoculars
Don’t forget that you are on safari and you want to have clear views of everything. Mgahinga National park is home to over 350 birds, golden monkey, monkeys among other primates, forest elephants and buffaloes so during your trek in search for the rare mountain gorillas, you will have a chance to spot some of the above.
Porters for your gorilla trekking
This is an extra optional item and we advise all our clients to take a porter for their gorilla trekking. As earlier noted, gorilla trekking can be strenuous and thus you will need someone to give you a push or a pull on the way to the gorillas. These porters go for a fee but it is worth it. Remember that these porters are actually school going students either in their vacation or have been chased out of school due to school fees. By paying some money to have a porter with you, you will have contributed to community development indirectly.
Insect repellent
Malaria aside, being bitten by mosquitoes is no fun and this can ruin your experience.
Toilet Paper
It goes without saying that there are no toilets in the jungle. Remember that you must leave the forest with everything that you brought into it, so you may want to bring a plastic bag for this purpose.
Water
Bring as much water as you can carry. Staying hydrated is important.
Packed Lunch & Snacks
Tracking the mountain gorillas is unpredictable, and you might be hiking through the jungle for as one hour and beyond, snacks that will energize you on your trek more even if you are only hiking for a few hours, your group will likely stop for a bit to give everyone an opportunity to eat their packed lunches. You should bring some healthy snacks, too, such as nuts or dried fruit, to keep your energy up while you are hiking.
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