Best Uganda Packing List: What to Wear in Uganda on Safari
This Uganda packing list includes ideas for what to wear on safari for game drives, hikes, and around the lodge. I also share essentials that you cannot forget to pack.
I have been on safari in Africa four times. Most recently, I took a two week Safari in Uganda that included trekking with Chimpanzees, hiking to wild gorillas, many game drives, and stays in luxury safari lodges.
After four safaris, I think I have finally mastered the art of packing for Africa.
Packing for safari is more challenging than other trips due to a few factors – a limited color pallet, restricted packing space, and a variety of activities to pack for.
It is highly suggested to wear neutral colors to avoid bugs and appeal to animals. Dark colors such as navy and black attract mosquitos and tsetse flies, which both carry harmful diseases.
Bright colors can scare away wild life. For the ideal safari packing list, focus on colors such as green, brown, grey, and light blue.
Keep reading for outfit ideas for what to wear in Uganda for every occasion.
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Game Drive Outfit Ideas
What You Will Be Doing:
On a game drive, you will spend 2-5 hours in a safari vehicle driving around in search of animals.
You will spend most of the time sitting, but may have to walk through mud or dirt to get to/from the vehicle.
What’s Important:
- Colors – The colors you wear on a game drive are super important. As explained above, you want to stick to a neutral color pallet of greens, browns, and greys to avoid bugs and not scare the wildlife
- Sun Protection – Most safari vehicles have open tops, be sure to protect yourself from the sun with a good hat.
- Comfort – Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes since you will be sitting for hours at a time
Shop these clothes to wear in Uganda
What to Wear Hiking in Uganda
What You Will Be Doing: One of the most popular activities in Uganda is trekking to Chimpanzees and Gorillas. These hikes can be 3+ miles, and include passing through the jungle, off the trail.
What’s Important:
- Cover your Skin – At times, you will be trekking through dense vegetation that is at waist height or higher.
To protect yourself from branches and thorns, wear long sleeves and pants. Covering your skin will also help protect from mosquitos and other bugs.
This convertible hat is also a great way to protect your face from bugs. - Avoid Safari Ants – Safari ants look like typical ants, but bite and love to get into your pants. To avoid ants in your pants, wear a pair of leg gaiters that cover the gap between your leg and shoes.
- Good Shoes – Hiking shoes are mandatory for trekking in Uganda.
With rough terrain, it is important to protect your feet and ankles with proper footwear; normal sneakers will not cut it.
These are my favorite hiking boots by Columbia, but I actually recommend these for Uganda because they are much easier to pack and still provide great support.
Shop these Uganda hiking outfits
What to Wear in Uganda at a Safari Lodge
What You Will Be Doing: After a long day exploring or hiking, you will likely return to your lodge for leisure time and dinner. There may even be a swimming pool, so don’t forget a swimsuit.
What’s Important:
- Comfort – Around the lodge, the most important thing is comfort. You can wear any colors you want and dress up as much or as little as you prefer.
However, since there are many items on this Uganda packing list, I recommend sticking to items that you can mix and match for other activities.
Dinner attire is typically very casual, so don’t feel the need to dress up. Around the lodge, I love matching sets, jumpsuits, casual dresses, or even my outfit from the day if it isn’t dirty.
Shop these safari outfit ideas
Safari Outerwear & Jackets
For safari, I recommend bringing two jackets. I know they take up a lot of space, but it’s worth it . The first jacket you need is a simple rain coat.
Uganda is very lush and green, and it rains a lot. If you don’t already have a neutral rain coat, this one is very reasonably priced.
The second coat you need is a warm poof. Mornings and nights can get into the 40’s, so a jacket is needed to be comfortable.
I love this one because it is a neutral color, affordable, and comes with a compact bag for easy storage.
Uganda Packing List – Essentials & Extras
Headlamp – At night, it will get very dark at camp. A flashlight is highly recommended to illuminate the path and check for wildlife. I prefer a headlamp since it keeps my hands free for holding other items.
Baby Wipes – Baby wipes are a great item to have on hand for days when you are away from a sink for 5+ hours. Its great for wiping off dirt, cleaning up after the restroom, or cleaning off surfaces.
Medicine – In addition to the medicine to typically travel with, I highly recommend Imodium for any stomach issues and Dramamine for the long, bumpy rides if you are prone to motion sickness.
Bug Wipes – Insect repellant is essential in Uganda. There are many mosquitos and tsetse flies which carry Malaria and Africa sleeping sickness respectively.
To protect yourself, bring a good bug repellant with DEET. I prefer these wipes to the spray because they are easier to pack, don’t count towards your liquid restriction at the airport, and are easy to throw in a bag for an excursion.
Universal Adaptor – To make the outlets compatible with your devices
Portable Charger – Some lodges may not have power, so it is great to have a portable battery as a backup
Water Bottle with Filter – The water quality is not safe in Uganda. Most lodges will provide filtered or bottled water, but I recommend this water bottle that filters water from any source to be safe to drink.
Camera – If you have been considering purchasing a good camera, your trip to Africa is the perfect time to take the plunge.
A phone camera cannot compare to the quality of a real camera for capturing wildlife.
If you aren’t willing to make the investment, this phone attachment will help take your photos to the next level with added zoom.
Buy these Uganda vacation essentials
Summary of this Uganda Packing List
Now that you have read through this entire Uganda packing list, here are three key takeaways:
1. Use Packing Cubes to Stay Organized – As mentioned in the beginning of this guide, space is limited when packing for safari. Packing cubes are a great way to compress your clothe to fit more items into a small space.
In addition, there are a great way to stay organized. Dedicate a cube to pants, shirts, socks, etc, and it will act as a “drawer” to easily find items without having to unpack at every lodge.
2. Layers, Layers, Layers – If you bring some key clothing pieces in the appropriate color scheme, you will be able to easily mix and match outfits.
At the minimum, bring three pairs of pants, five shirts, two light jackets/ flannels, a rain coat and a warm coat. You can layer these items to create many different outfits that are adaptable to the temperature.
3. Pack the Items You Cannot Buy – If you are stressed about forgetting items, focus on the items that you cannot buy during your trip.
Most importantly, medicine. Imodium was unfortunately a hot commodity during our trip, so be sure to not forget yours (just in case). Items like clothes can easily be purchased during your trip if needed.
Related Posts:
- Ultimate African Safari Packing List And Outfit Ideas
- Planning A Trip To Uganda | Complete Uganda Travel Blog
- Three Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Itinerary And Adventure Guide
- Guide To Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda – How To Prepare And What To Expect
- The Best Luxury Lodges In Uganda – Where To Stay In Uganda On Safari
