If you’re considering what to wear on Mount Elgon, there’s an appropriate clothing for both men and women that you should consider. But ensure that everything you buy is culturally sensitive to the surrounding communities.
The main issue is to be comfortable and safe throughout your Mount Elgon trekking safari, while being sensitive not to offend the surrounding cultures. Just remember, again, as you may have seen in some packing lists, Uganda is not a very conservative country when it comes to dressing styles, so peeps tend to mind their own business most of the time.
List of things Suitable for What to Wear on Mount Elgon
Top Wear
Wide brimmed hat comes in handy for blocking out the tropical sun especially if you take a hiking during sunny seasons. Make sure that your clothing is comfortable and not too tight.
On top, it doesn’t really matter how covered you are for the sake of modesty, you would mostly be considering protection from the sun, heavy winds or extreme coldness, depending on the season you choose to visit Mount Elgon National Park.
Tan shirts, other solid colors, long sleeved are actually good for protection, stay away from the blue color which usually attracts Tsetse flies.
Bottom Wear
When planning for hiking on mount Elgon, consider wearing long pants or trousers and tall socks that you can tuck your pants into, tightly. This works totally well, though some trackers consider fancy hiking gear that includes some sleeve-type thing that goes over the pants, from the knee to the shoe and prevents ants from getting in. Either way, works. Breathable long sleeve button down shirts are also ideal.
Generally, it is not culturally appropriate for women to show their thighs, so, skirts or dresses below the knee, capris or long pants are your best option to put on.
With long skirts, be careful that they are not too thick of material. Some skirts people bring are not nearly as ideal as you would imagine, because you can get really hot wearing them and are not flexible during the mountain climbing experience.
With long pants, consider that they don’t drag or touch the ground. The red dirt will get on anything that it touches, so just be forewarned on it.
Light trousers or zip-off trousers, are also great. Those with the zipper kind that turns them into shorts. They are also usually easy to wash and are not heavy, which makes hiking and movements very easy. We advise you not to put on shorts during a Mount Elgon safari.
Footwear – Part of What to Wear on Mount Elgon
Light hiking boots are also very important, although we advise you not to bring brand new boots before testing them.
Similar clothing may be considered if you are planning for a gorilla trekking experience in either Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, further southwest of Uganda.