Must have’s for travellers to Uganda for gorilla trekking during rainy season

Must have’s for travellers to Uganda for gorilla trekking during rainy season. When packing for a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda in the rainy season, here are some must haves to make you feel comfortable the rainproof gear which is either poncho, raincoat, rainproof boots and others. Other items to include on the packing list for the gorilla trekking safari include warmers, sunscreen, camera, safari hat, long sleeved shirt and others.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day Gorilla Trekking safari

8 day Uganda safari via Kigali

5 days gorillas and chimp safari

8 days gorilla tracking tour

19 day best of Uganda safari

15 days Uganda Rwanda safari

18 day Uganda Ultimate Safari

16 day primate game and culture

11 days gorilla tracking safari

5 days gorilla and Nile river source

17 day Uganda birding and wildlife

In Uganda, gorilla trekking safari happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in the southern part of Uganda. At the moment about 20 gorilla trekking families are open in Uganda. Bwindi forest has an alternative gorilla safari activity called Gorilla Habituation Experience where a maximum of 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

During gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda only one hour is allowed with a family of fully habituated mountain gorillas.

Where to do gorilla trekking in Uganda

In Uganda, gorilla trekking tours happen in two National Parks that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in the southwestern corner of the country.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi forest is the home of the largest number of gorilla trekking families approximately 19 families so of which include Mubare, Rushegura, Nkuringo, BItukura, Nshongi, kahugye, Busingye and others. Bwindi forest has a vast area of about 327 square kilometers with various landforms because of the effects of Volcanic actions.

For better administrative management of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it was subdivided into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. To book a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi, it is reserved according to the four areas under which the park is divided.

It is better to book accommodations for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park according to the four areas under which the park is subdivided to easy access to the briefing point on gorilla trekking day.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park hosts so far one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi. This park is the smallest Uganda National Park with an area of 33.7 square kilometers but home to some of the big primates in the country. Even the golden monkeys find  safe home in Mgahinga forest and other primates including blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and others.

More than 115 bird species have been confirmed as residents of Mgahinga National Park but the list keeps expanding as more discoveries are being made. The birds of Mgahinga forest includes Albertine rift endemics too.  

What travelers must have For Gorilla Trekking Experience in Uganda

The gorilla trekking permit

Having the gorilla permit is the key requirement to confirm a Uganda gorilla safari. The gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are sold on first come first served basis yet their supply is restricted to maximum of 8 per gorilla family per day. Even when the demand for these Uganda gorilla permits gets over the top, supply is constant as a conservation measure.

To book a Uganda gorillas trekking permit, one needs to select a date when they hope to this adventure and identify the people to travel with. The age limit for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda is 12 years and over which you must consider. Find availability of the gorilla permits, but book the permits as soon as their status changes any time without warning.

Note that even though the rainy season is regarded as the low tourism season in Uganda and gorilla permits may be available even to the last minute bookers, this is not a guarantee.

On the day of the gorilla trekking adventure, tourists have to present the gorilla permit and other necessary documents for clarification.

Safari Rainproof Boots

The jungle where mountain gorillas live has some rough surfaces and is usually logged from the regular rains that fall and rivers that may flood. It may be hard to explore Bwindi forest or Mgahinga forest on bare foot or simple flip-flops so pack safari rainproof boots to protect you feet.

There are also some sharp surfaces in the wilderness which may hurt you as you move along the trails in the forest.

Rain coat or poncho

Bwindi and Mgahinga forest receive untimely rains so in order not to get very wet and cold while in the forest, carry some rainproof gears including a raincoat or poncho

Long sleeved shirt and trousers

As you move on the forest trails searching for the mountain gorillas, there are stinging nettles that may itch you or stinging insects so you need to wear long sleeved shirt or a convertible trouser. It is best to pack attires in colors that are wilderness friendly including tan, khaki and others. Donot carry camouflage because it is regarding a military design in Uganda.

Safari Hat

Protect your hair from the water that falls off the huge trees or the rain that may drizzle almost the entire day.

Sunscreen

Uganda is a tropical country where even during the wet seasons, the sun shines and the ultra violet rays may penetrate through to your skin causing sunburn.

Insect repellant

Pack insect repellant that is comfortable on your skin as you pack for the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda because there are biting insects like mosquitoes that cause malaria, tsetse flies, wild bees and others.

Apply For The Relevant Uganda Visa

As a tourist hoping to travel to Uganda but must posses a visa before entering the country, apply for it in advance even though you can obtain one at immigration on arrival. There is usually a long que at immigration yet you may have jet lag from the long flight.

Valid Passport

As you hope to do gorilla trekking in Uganda, you need a valid passport because this is one of the documents used for identification at the ranger station. It is also used as a verification document for the details you presented before collecting the gorilla trekking permit card.

Camera

To protect the memories of your encounter with the mountain gorillas, carry a soundproof camera. Ensure to carry extra fully charged batteries and memory cards in case you need them.

Garden gloves

As you explore the forest searching for the mountain gorillas, you hay touch some rough surfaces that may hurt you so carry garden gloves

Sunglasses

The forest has flying insects and water dripping from the trees that may land in your eyes so wear sunglasses to prevent this from happening

First Aid kit

Pack the first aid kit with prescribed emergency medication that can be used in case need a rises.

Waterproof Backpack

Have a waterproof backpack into which you can carry some of the items you need during the gorilla trek or even when you hand them to the porter to carry it is much easier and safer.

Drinking water bottle

To quench thirst during the gorilla search, you need drinking water from a foldable water bottle. Do not forget to fill it before leaving the lodge. Donot drink fluids that may compromise your sense of judgement while in the wilderness.  

Hard Cash

Pack some hard cash to use on ground because credit cards are not commonly used in Africa. the long process of obtaining money from them makes it quite challenging to use them.

Extra clothes

After gorilla trekking, you are quite dirty and muddy so you need to change into cleaner attires and feel fresh so carry some extra clothes.

Charger

If your electronics need to be recharged, carry your own charger because the ones at the lodge may not be enough to be shared with the rest of the tourists

A pair of binoculars

There are some features in the jungle that may be at a far range but worth seeing so you can use the help of a pair of binoculars to see a clearer view.

Duffle Bag

As you plan to travel for gorilla trekking in Africa, you may have no one to assist with your baggage so conveniently carry them in a bag that you can easily lift in case you have to help yourself.

A pair of stockings

Carry a pair of stocking to tack in your trousers or wear during extremely cold conditions while at the lodge because temperature in the Virunga area sometimes drops to negatives.

Book accommodation to use on gorilla safari in Uganda

Reserve accommodation to use during the Uganda gorilla trekking safari in advance. It is best to book accommodations for Bwindi within or closer to the area under which the gorilla permit is booked. This is to prevent having to drive in the dark to get to another gorilla trekking area for briefing as there are chances to find obstacles.

A Working torch

Most of the lodges around Bwindi and Mgahinga forest use solar energy for lighting, heating bathing water, charging but at times the batteries donot store enough energy. When lights go out, one can use a torch for lighting.

Toiletries

If you have a very sensitive skin carry your own Toiletries even though some lodges provide them.

When is the best time to book a Gorilla Trekking Permit for the rainy Season in Uganda

Booking the gorilla trekking permit in advance is very important no matter the season and for the wet season, booking the gorilla permit 3 months in advance is safe. The rainy season is usually considered the low season in the country. Less tourists are expected on safari in this season but it is better and more secure to book the necessary permit in advance.

When booking the gorilla permits in Uganda, you can permanently or partially identify the date of the gorilla trek then find permit availability. It is better to book the gorilla permit as soon as you can because their status may change anytime without warning.

Avail other necessary personal information including your full name as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth and others to use for identification and these are added to the gorilla permit card. No gorilla permit in Uganda is issued or reserved in Uganda without payment

Uganda gorilla trekking permits are only valid until the date to which it is booked. In case you do not show up for gorilla trekking without notifying the Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance as per the refund policy, do not expect a refund.

Chances of finding the gorilla permits at the last minute may be available in the low season but since they are booked according to areas especially the Bwindi permits, you may also get disorganized when searching for accommodations.

What are the dos and donts of Gorilla trekking in Uganda

• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them to prevent exchanging infection.
• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden as you may pass germs to these highly endangered primates. Gorillas feed on foliage for their survival despite their huge size.
• Littering the forest changes the nature of the environment where mountain gorillas thrive.  The forest has the food that the mountain gorillas feed on and with time, when garbage accumulates in the wilderness the forest reduces the source of food for these primates.
• Mimicking or provoking the mountain gorillas may cause them to feel agitated and push them into hiding. The communication you may pass to the gorilla family may show if you are suitable to be in the presence of these primates.
• One hour is allowed with the mountain gorilla during the trek as a conservation measure to protect these primates from effects of mass tourism.
• Keep your voices low or quiet during the search to find the mountain gorillas.
• Only children aged 12 and beyond are allowed to do gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The way to find the gorillas is quite challenging for children below 12 years.
• Wear a mask and hand sanitize before getting into the forest to search for the mountain gorillas.
• When taking photographs, no using flash photography as you may push these gentle giants into hiding.
• In case you wish to eat or smoke, do it away from the mountain gorillas at least 200 meters

Contact our team for more information about must haves for gorilla trekking in Uganda.