The Ultimate Packing List for Gorilla Trekking
A mountain gorilla carries her young baby on her back. Virunga National Park, DR Congo. Matt Reichel.
Thinking about going on a mountain gorilla or eastern lowland gorilla trek in the Congo, Rwanda or Uganda? Here’s our suggested packing list to maximize your experience.
Clothing
Fleece-lined waterproof jacket— if travelling into the mountains, especially to Nyiragongo Volcano in the DR Congo, it can get very cold at the summit. Having a solid waterproof warm layer will go a long way.
Breathable rain jacket— Virunga has two distinct wet seasons and they don’t call it a rainforest for nothing. Rain is common and being prepared will help a lot in making your experience more enjoyable.
Rain-resistant pants— especially useful if travelling in the rainy season, it’s a good idea to get some water-resistant hiking pants. You’ll be out in the jungle for a while tracking gorillas and or hiking, so rainstorms can come and go at any time.
Long underwear and warm socks— useful for hiking and camping trips that go up into the mountains. Remember temperatures can drop to below freezing in the Rwenzori and Virunga Mountains in the evenings and early morning. Bring lots of socks.
Warm hat— a solid toque/beanie for hiking and sleeping Virunga/Volcanoes National Park.
Bandana— you’ll get sweaty out there, definitely have something to help soak up the sweat and something that you can dip into the rivers easily to rinse and cool down. A lightweight cap is also very useful.
Quick-dry t-shirts (see these for men, and these for women)— again, it’s very humid, so quick-dry clothing will prove to be the least “sticky” option in the jungle.
Long trekking pants (see these for men’s, and these for women’s)— you definitely do not want to trek in shorts. While it may seem like a good idea at first, fire ants, bugs and sharp plants scraping against your legs is not a pleasant experience. Rather, definitely have some strong, lightweight trekking pants.
Lightweight, waterproof trekking shoes (check out KEEN)— there’s no need to have large, clunky hiking boots that will become weighed down with mud. Rather, expect muddy conditions, with lots of ups and downs between slopes and ravines. You’ll need good traction, and also something lighter weight and waterproof to help get you through the jungle.
Durable hiking gators— this is an important one. In the jungle, you have two major things to worry about, mud and safari ants. A solid pair of durable gators will help keep your lower legs dry as well as keep the hard-biting safari ants at bay. Make sure they fit tightly and you still want to tuck your pants into your socks.
Electronics
Headlamp— an extremely useful aid for bathroom trips in the middle of the night and walking around camp. Also, if you choose to bring an ultra bright headlamp, it can be used to go on night safari walks to spot amazing nocturnal animals in the jungle.
USB power bank— for charging phones/tablets. If you are looking to use one to charge camera batteries, you can look for something more powerful like an external battery pack for camera/laptop charging.
Activity Gear
Lightweight daypack— great for going on day trips while based in a camp, or if trekking with porters, it’s very useful for carrying what you need for the day (camera, water, sunscreen etc)
Dry bag— staying in the jungle can be a very wet experience. Rain may come down without warning and are usually very powerful and very short-lived. Additionally, stream crossings are also quite common if going deep into the rainforest. Having a dry bag for your essentials and electronics is a good idea to keep them safe.
Lightweight sleeping bag— a sleeping bag good to -10 Celcius is good if you are planning on hiking and camping in the Rwenzori Mountains and or Mount Nyiragongo.
Inflatable sleep pad or air mattress— essential for campers, as it makes your sleep a lot more comfortable and adds a necessary layer of protection between your body and the ground. However, if you’re staying at a lodge the entire time, you won’t need this.
Photography
Lightweight carbon fiber travel tripod— a light carbon fibre travel tripod capable of supporting your camera and lens is an excellent thing to have on you, especially given the low light conditions in the rainforest. For a top-of-the-line travel tripod, check out Peak Design Travel Tripod (5 Section Carbon Fiber Camera Tripod). For a much cheaper alternative, check out the K&F Concept 61" Carbon Fiber Camera Tripod. Even a monopod would be beneficial to help reduce shake.
Two lenses- wide and tight— since you get pretty close to the gorillas, you’re going to want a close and a wide option. 24mm is a great wide-angle choice, while I suggest a 70-200mm for a tight option. Make sure you bring fast lenses, as low light conditions are very much present in the dense rainforests, keeping in mind you want to shoot at least 1/500th of a second.
UV light polarizer— if your lens speed will allow for it, a UV or ND polarizer is definitely useful. For videographers, you may want a variable ND filter as light conditions may change.
Extra batteries— wildlife photographer drains batteries. Definitely bring at least one full spare batter per camera body per day for gorilla trekking.
Camera rain cover— conditions can change rapidly in the jungles where gorillas live and rain is a very common occurrence. Having protection for your camera will allow you to continue shooting through the rain.
Misc
Quick-dry microfibre towel— the jungle is humid and a quick-dry towel will help a lot.
Biodegradable cleansing wipes— very useful for when you don’t have a river or pool to swim in, a good wipe-down with these will help make you feel a little better about yourself before you go to sleep.
Insect repellant— after years of travelling frequently into the dense jungles of central Africa, our suggested brand is actually a cream that is long-lasting and actually works, with DEET. Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion and Great Outdoors Insect Repellent Lotion have worked the best.
