What to Pack for Rwanda or Uganda Holiday

What to pack for a Rwanda or Uganda holiday requires a bit more thoughts. It is also important to note that what to pack for your holiday can also determine the quality of experience of the whole tour. This also depends on the demands or nature of your tour activities you’re planning like safari, trekking, hiking, bird watching, cycling, mention it you intend to enjoy. Here are the top things you need to consider while packing for a Rwanda or Uganda tour.

CLOTHES

1. Shirts

Long sleeved on a gorilla trekking

Activities like gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking require you to pack long sleeved Shirts, Tops and trousers. This is to protect your skin from wild insect bites like bees, wild Ants, tsetse flies among others.

Since it’s a road trip, drives require to pack open light clothing (short sleeved shirts) since its hot during the day time, light clothing saves you from the inconveniences of too much heat.

Take natural and light-colored clothing – avoid the glaring primary and neon colors that get you spotted first. Black garments will get you baking in the sun, while white clothes will create glare and become brownish soon anyway. Camo wear isn’t necessary, just go with neutral tones.

2. Jumper or Sweater

Warm jacket on a gorilla trek

Much of Rwanda and Uganda tours have trekking in rain forests of Bwindi and Volcanoes and Kibale national park. Its usual business to rain  in these areas regardless of the wet or dry season. Be prepared for cold weather. Some parts of the country and the parks are located in highlands where nights are cold. Dawn and sunset drives in vehicle can turn quite chilly. We advice to carry a sweater and wind proof parka  shell for such conditions.

Alternatively, activities conducted in parks demand you to mind about the color of your safari clothing. We recommend Khaki, Brown colors, grey, army green among other dull colors that blend with the natural environment. And if you are planning to dive and have a great time in the Mulago hot spring waters, swim in the hotel pool or lake Bunyonyi, don’t forget to carry your swimming costumes.

A warm hat (aka a beanie) – early mornings and evenings can get chilly especially on game drives so take a warm hat.

3. Water proof rain Jackets

Rain jacket on Mt Bisoke

In tourists’ destinations like Bwindi forest, Volcanoes national park, Kibale forest national park, you will need a strong water proof rain jacket that can be of help in case it rains while trekking.

A small waterproof pack can also help you protect your important documents while trekking from rain waters.

4. Shoes

Activities like gorilla trekking, chimp trekking require you to carry light strong outdoor boots to ease movement in the forest jungle while trekking. Closed water proof shoes are comfortable for walking in the bush or in wet conditions. You don’t need Doc Martens or army boots, north face, jack wolfskin and similar outdoor wear brands are better choices. Leave the platforms and high-heels at home.

Hiking shoes after a gorilla trek

Open shoes – lightweight, slip-on shoes for around the hotel, at the pool or on the boat.

While of safari, you don’t need closed shoes and boots since we spend most of the time in the vehicle just enjoying the game drive;  slip on shoes or open shoes will be comfortable for the day.

5. Gloves

The gloves will protect your hands from germs as you try to support yourself on plant trees along the walking trails. They will also protect you from thorns as you try to grab branches for support while on your trek.

Slipping and falling is common on wet conditions while trekking, gloves will protect your palms when they hit the ground.

6. Sun protection

Sun block; an eco-friendly 30 SPF (or higher) sunscreen.

A safari hat. Avoid the floppy straw hat, as experience has shown that you’ll spend more time clutching onto it than the shade is worth!

Sunglasses are excellent for keeping dust and small flying insects out of your eyes, as well as the blazing African sun.

7. Back packer

A back Packer bag is significant in carrying your small items like water, lunch boxes, snacks, repellents, few basic toiletries, first Aid kit sanitizers among others. For activities like gorilla trekking, you may choose to hire a porter at $15 to assist you carry your back packer.

8. A face mask

A face mask is still required with gorilla tracking. Since gorillas are our closest cousins, we share almost 97% of the DNA. This means we can easily infect them with our disease and they we can as well contract diseases to them. In order protect them; a mask will be a must when you draw close to spend an hour with them. Please carry one for their survival.

9. Medication

Medication: malaria prophylactics are advised and any personal medication (also take your prescription in case of an emergency – your medication gets lost, wet or eaten by a baboon!

10. Insect repellant

Insect repellent does NOT replace the need for anti-malaria medication! Packing insect repellents is recommended in conjunction with malaria prophylaxis. Not getting bitten and bugged by mosquitoes also makes traveling far more pleasant, but taking anti-malaria medication is the most essential part so check if you need to take precautions well in advance

11. A pair of binoculars

Binoculars yield better views of big game animals, and allow you to see small creatures that would otherwise remain invisible. In the bush, you will be using them constantly, so please carry one if possible

12. Camera

Bush Africans may consider cameras regular pieces of the tourist’s everyday dress, just like their own beaded jewelry. They could be right; you may even be tempted to carry a camera to the bathroom! Everything is mesmerizing and every tourist spots a camera. Please don’t forget to ensure you have a good phone camera or a professional one (any brand of your choice) for a photographic record of your safari.

13.  power bank

Due to consistent use of your phone camera, sometimes the battery is drained in the field making it impossible to capture those great moments. Please carry one if possible

14. Charger and adjustable plugs

It’s advisable to carry your own phone charger since it might be hard to find one of its make here in Uganda. An adjustable plug will be perfect since some sockets don’t match the plugs.

To mention but a few, the packing list for a Rwanda or Uganda is endless. However, we spotted out some and you can think of a lot I haven’t mentioned above and pack them for that spectacular holiday. Please feel free to contact us for recommendation of what best to put on for a specific activity to avoid over or unnecessary packing.