What you pack for your gorilla trek can significantly affect how comfortable, safe, and rewarding your experience is. Pack the wrong boots and you will be managing blisters during your one-hour encounter with the gorillas. Forget your rain jacket and you will spend the trek soaking wet and cold. Bring the wrong camera setup and you will return with technically poor images of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. This packing guide, compiled from the combined experience of hundreds of gorilla trekking clients and our own guide team, tells you exactly what to bring, what to wear, and — just as importantly — what to leave at home.
Footwear: The Single Most Important Item
Your choice of footwear for the gorilla trek is more important than any other item in your pack. Gorilla trekking involves steep, uneven terrain that ranges from established forest paths to near-vertical muddy scrambles through dense undergrowth. The wrong footwear is not merely uncomfortable — it is a safety risk, as poor ankle support and inadequate grip are the two most common causes of falls and injuries on gorilla treks.
The Ideal Gorilla Trekking Boot
The ideal gorilla trekking boot has five key characteristics. First, ankle support: a mid or high-cut boot (not a trail running shoe or sneaker) that wraps above the ankle provides essential lateral stability on uneven ground. Second, waterproofing: a waterproof membrane such as Gore-Tex keeps your feet dry in wet conditions — essential in Bwindi’s rainforest environment and important even in dry season, when morning dew and stream crossings make wet feet likely. Third, aggressive grip: the outsole should have deep lugs designed for soft, muddy ground — Vibram or similar high-quality rubber compounds provide the best grip in the conditions you will encounter. Fourth, durability and structure: a boot with a stiff midsole supports the foot over long distances on uneven terrain and prevents foot fatigue. Fifth, a proper fit that has been broken in through at least twenty to thirty hours of walking before your trip.
Brands commonly recommended by guides and experienced trekkers for gorilla trekking include Salomon Quest 4D, Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof, La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX, and Scarpa Terra GTX. These boots are available in mid-range pricing (USD 150 to USD 250) and provide the combination of waterproofing, ankle support, and grip that gorilla trekking demands.
Rubber wellington boots (gumboots) are sometimes available for loan at trekking headquarters and can be useful in very wet conditions when mud is particularly deep. However, wellingtons lack ankle support and are uncomfortable for longer treks — if your trek is likely to last more than two hours, a proper hiking boot is preferable even in wet season.
Clothing: Layer for the Forest
Gorilla trekking clothing needs to meet several specific requirements simultaneously: it needs to protect you from vegetation (long trousers and sleeves prevent scratches and reduce insect exposure), manage moisture effectively (you will sweat during the physical effort of the trek), keep you warm in the cool mountain mornings, and provide waterproofing if it rains.
Base Layer
Wear a long-sleeved moisture-wicking base layer against the skin — merino wool or synthetic polyester fabrics that draw sweat away from the skin and dry quickly are both excellent choices. Avoid cotton for your base layer: cotton absorbs and retains moisture, becoming cold and clammy when wet. Neutral earth tones (khaki, olive green, dark brown) are preferred both because they are less visible to the gorillas and because they show mud stains less conspicuously.
Mid Layer
A lightweight fleece or insulated mid layer is useful for early morning departures, which can be cold in the highland areas of Bwindi and Rwanda’s Volcanoes at 6am. The mid layer can be removed and packed in your daypack once you have been trekking for thirty to sixty minutes and your body temperature has risen. Down jackets are warm but lose their insulation when wet — a synthetic insulated layer is more practical in a forest environment.
Outer Layer: The Rain Jacket
A high-quality waterproof rain jacket with a sealed hood is non-negotiable for gorilla trekking, regardless of season. Even in the dry season, forest conditions include morning mist, occasional light rain, and the ever-present moisture of a rainforest environment. In the wet season, a heavy-duty rain jacket can be the difference between a miserable, hypothermic trek and a manageable and enjoyable one. The jacket should be long enough to cover your hips, have sealed seams (not merely taped or water-resistant), and have a hood that adjusts to cover your head without obstructing your peripheral vision.
Trousers
Wear long, lightweight trousers made from quick-drying nylon or polyester. Cargo trousers with multiple pockets are practical for carrying small items you want to access during the trek without opening your daypack. Avoid denim — it is heavy, restrictive, and takes a very long time to dry when wet. Avoid shorts entirely: the vegetation in Bwindi will cut exposed skin, insects will access exposed legs, and some gorilla families have rangers who actually enforce the long-trouser rule for disease control purposes.
Gaiters
Waterproof gaiters that attach from the boot to below the knee are one of the most genuinely useful pieces of equipment for gorilla trekking and one of the most commonly forgotten by first-timers. Gaiters prevent mud, water, and debris from entering the top of your boots — keeping your socks and feet dry even when you sink unexpectedly into deep mud. In wet season conditions, gaiters are essential. In dry season, they are still a practical precaution. Lightweight nylon gaiters (not heavy mountaineering gaiters) are the appropriate type for gorilla trekking.
Gloves: One Item You Would Not Expect to Need
Gardening gloves — the simple, rubberised cloth gloves available for a few dollars at any hardware store — are one of the most important items on the gorilla trekking kit list, and they are provided at some trek headquarters but not all. Gloves allow you to grip bamboo stems, tree roots, and vegetation to pull yourself up steep sections without cutting your hands. They provide grip and protection during scrambles on all fours, which occur in all Bwindi sectors and in the denser sections of Volcanoes National Park treks. Pack gardening gloves or purchase them in Kampala, Kigali, or Musanze before your trek.
The Daypack
A daypack of between 20 and 30 litres capacity is the ideal size for gorilla trekking. It needs to be large enough to carry your water, snacks, camera gear, rain jacket, and any additional layers, but compact enough not to become cumbersome in dense vegetation. A waterproof rain cover for your daypack is essential — either a built-in cover (many trekking packs have one stored in a pocket on the base of the pack) or a separate dry bag system that keeps your camera and electronics protected if your pack gets thoroughly wet.
Camera Equipment
The specific camera equipment to bring for gorilla trekking is covered in detail in our dedicated photography guide, but the key packing principles are: bring more batteries than you think you need (cold mornings drain batteries faster); bring more memory cards than you think you need; protect all electronics in waterproof bags or cases; and do not bring a lens you cannot comfortably hand-hold for sixty minutes in challenging conditions. A lightweight camera harness or quick-draw holster that keeps your camera accessible without putting strain on your neck is worth the small investment for trekkers carrying heavier DSLR or mirrorless systems.
Health and Safety Essentials
Your daypack should contain a basic first aid kit including: adhesive bandages in various sizes, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen and paracetamol for headaches and muscle pain, oral rehydration salts for hydration management, moleskin or blister plasters for foot care, and a whistle for emergencies. Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin is essential — apply it to exposed skin and clothing before the trek, not during (strong-smelling repellents applied during the gorilla encounter can disturb the gorillas). Sunscreen for high-altitude sun exposure during any sections outside the forest canopy.
What to Leave at Home
Several items that experienced travellers habitually bring to African safaris are not appropriate for gorilla trekking. Bright-coloured clothing (blue, red, yellow) is discouraged as it may attract the attention of bees and other insects in the forest and can be more alarming to wildlife than neutral tones. Perfume, cologne, and strongly scented products should not be worn on trek day — gorillas have sensitive olfactory systems and strong human scents can be disturbing. Large camera tripods and monopods are impractical in dense vegetation and may not be used during the actual encounter — leave them at the lodge. And please leave single-use plastic water bottles at home — bring a reusable water bottle or hydration bladder and refill it at your lodge before departure.
Contact our team when planning your gorilla safari for a personalised packing checklist based on the specific sector, season, and lodge you will be visiting. Getting your kit right before you leave home is one of the most practical investments you can make in your gorilla trekking experience.
