What to wear on safari?

[Stompythedinosaur]

I'd be grateful for any advice!

We are doing a ten day safari with dds age 13 and 15 in July/Aug in Botswana. I know it will be winter there, so we will need to be ready for cooler evenings and mornings, but also that packing light will be preferable.

Has anyone done a similar trip and has any advice about what they took?

I lived there. Anything to avoid mosquito bites. Not the worst risk in the region but not worth catching malaria/dengue. Long trousers and long sleeved shirts in light colours. Take enough as sweat attracts mosquitos.

Avon skin-so-soft for mosquito prevention and lots of lightweight layers.

Light but not bright colours. There is a reason why khaki, practical trousers are worn by just about everyone!
A fleece and a beany hat will be fine for the early mornings.
Sunglasses.
Stout shoes, as you will probably get out and walk in the bush.
It will be warm during the day, between game drives, so take swimming stuff and hats.
Take as little as possible, as you won't have much luggage allowance and most safari trips include laundry as part of the package.
Also, most companies will supply a suggested packing list.

Ive been on safari in Zambia at a similar time of year - their 'winter' is still our summer temps! It might be cool first/last thing but at most fleece-wearing temps; I only needed a long sleeve shirt. Our jeeps had fleece blankets if you were chilly.

Avoid black blue or white clothes if youre going to areas with tse flies. Take proper mosquito repellent with DEET for tropical countries. If youre in upmarket camps you may find they provide their local version.

As per PP, wear muted colours (and not camouflage). This is especially important if you're walking at all but even driving; you dont want to be the bright pink target of an angry elephant's attention.

I was only driving (not walking) so I wore skirts and sandals. If you're walking you'll probably need closed shoes and prefer trousers or shorts - it depends on the terrain where you are. You need to climb in and out of jeeps so if you do wear a skirt make sure there's enough room to do that.

Sunglasses, a hat, binoculars if you can. I found a light scarf useful - sunshade if sunny, shawl if chilly, tie on hat if motoring at speed in a roofless jeep.

You'll probably stop mid-drive for a cuppa and a chance to wee behind a bush. Tissues and a small plastic bag will be useful!

Again depending on the camps youre staying in, they may do laundry (but not underwear so either take enough or handwash your own).

Thanks all! It's definitely not a luxury trip, we're staying mainly at campgrounds, but I think I'll still be able to hand wash our clothes.

Would you stick solely with long trousers and long sleeved shirts, or is that more for the safari drives and we might need shorts/a dress around the campsite/lodge?

I was thinking maybe 4 tops and 4 bottoms plus a dress (we have 4 days in Johannesburg after the safari in a nice hotel so I know we'll want at least one nice outfit). Does that sound too much? Too little?

Oh I am recently back from Botswana.. it’s amazing
-is often cold in mornings.. I wore a puffer for first couple hrs (6.30 to 8.30 am )
-gets quite hot during day.. esp sitting in vehicle game viewing.
-take a wide brimmed hat .. and a spare as they can get blown off
-when it was hot the coolest thing I wore was some merino joggers .bonus dried quickly and don’t smell
-I found some merino knickers and only needed a few pair as would hand wash
-big sunglasses
-separates good but I also has a couple light cotton dresses .. not heavy and dried quickly
-I wore muted colours but not safari green!.. you look a bit odd decked out in complete green
-you need a jersey evenings as can be cool
-I didn’t much wear shorts.. wanted to protect myself insects and sun

it’s the best thing I have ever done.

I generally wore T-shirts with a loose long sleeved shirt on top. Then I could choose between short or long sleeves depending on the flies, heat, amount of direct sun etc. Natural fibres and muted colours as others have said.

My top tip is sports bras or similar unless you're pretty flat-chested. It's bumpy on the drives and it will get pretty uncomfortable without some decent support!

Thank you! T-shirt with shirt over is a good idea.

@LunaTheCat when you say puffer, do you mean a proper warm puffer jacket? I'd been wondering if we could maybe get away with a fleece jumper or two for ease of packing, but you were glad of the jacket? Dd1 is highly reluctant to ever wear a coat (why are teenagers like this?) so it would be good to know if you think a grumpy 15 year old who doesn't feel the cold much would manage without one?

It's bumpy on the drives

aka "African massage" my guides said 😂

Yep.. first thing am I wore a puffer.. it was cold in the jeep. .. jacket was enough, not a long coat. I don’t think a fleece would be warm enough by itself.

Not that specifically but you need full length trousers you can tuck into socks and full length top to protect as much skin as possible as possible from mosquitoes, wide brimmed hat that can roll for travel is a good idea too. Layer for the evening is important and shoes suitable for uneven ground. If camping consider bathroom arrangements, you might need flip flops/crocs

And the hat needs to have a strap so it can’t blow off.

Layers. We had about 8 to go from early morning darkness to heat of day.

Binoculars each, not to share.

Thank you!

Thank you everyone!

Long trousers, hat with strap and lots of layers all added to my list!

I was in Zambia in June.
T-shirts in muted colours. Green, beige brown
Long trousers our morning outings started at 6 am and we were back by 10am as the animals go in in the bright sun
Hat
Fleeces. I was quite cold on the night drives so layer up. We did get blankets but the safari jeeps are quite high up so it was breezy.
Water bottle
Strong shoes/ sturdy trainers

4 of everything sounds fine. My husband took three and it was a little short on occasions even with daily laundry service.

Alarm on phone
Toilet paper and nappy sacks. You have to go to the loo behind a tree when you're out and about so having somewhere to put used loo roll was useful then just threw it away back at camp.

Sunglasses

Good binoculars
Camera
Deet spray
Get your immunisations booked in asap. We got ours in Feb/march for June trip. We got rabies to as we were going on a walking safari.

Enjoy and if you're out walking keep quiet and appreciate all around you. We had a couple in our group who we had to ask to be quiet as they were disturbing the atmosphere.

i had these for safari and they were good, https://amzn.eu/d/eBVT2N2 - cool but warm enough and flexible for sitting in etc. good pockets for the odd item.

I also had a lineny scarf which was good for the dust

I am also going to Botswana in July / August! Can’t wait.
We were in Namibia last summer, I found packing hard especially as the temperatures seemed high but don’t underestimate how cold it can be early morning and during the night. Think warm fleeces, hats and even gloves for game drives. Day time is warm - shorts and t shirts were fine. Light colours.
We took our swimming stuff and had some nice afternoons by the pool at the lodges we stayed at but the water was generally freezing.
Sunglasses, good hat.
Maybe we will cross paths!

I'm often in southern Africa around that time. Definitely a down jacket - doesn't need to be a school run puffa like you'd need here in winter. They also have the benefit of folding up super small. If you want to grab something in Johannesburg you can grab K-Way stuff pretty easily. Agree on layers - I like to wear a shirt over a vest and maybe a lightweight jumper. Evening vibes depending very much on where you are. We tend towards everyone layered up drinking round the campfire type places but there are more formal options! You'll have the best time, mainly try not to worry and enjoy it - I often do work trips/exercise/socials and game drives out of one hand luggage bag and the same chinos and shirts have to work hard and double up, no one really cares!

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your advice!

I will look for a puffer jacket and speak to the dc about needing these, and also something to keep off the dust. We're sorted for binoculars as got these for Christmas.

@Lamontaine so exiting that you are going at the same time! What route are you taking? I'm delighted to have someone to enthuse about the trip with!

Have done quite a few safaris and agree that clothes that can be layered and double up depending on occasion are best. I bring chinos and chino shorts, linen/lightweight shirts, vest tops and a couple of cotton cardigan or fleece. Denim jacket for travelling. Long floaty skirt that rolls up small and can be worn with vest tops and cardigans for any smarter moments. Cotton scarf for chilly mornings. Baseball cap. Walking sandals, nice flip flops, trainers (not white). I don’t get specific “safari stuff”. Made that mistake once and never wore it!

Agree can be very cold in the morning, a hat was appreciated plus warm jacket. Get proper mosquito deterrent (Deet). Small rucksacks for water, snacks, binoculars, hats once not needed etc.

@Stompythedinosaur We arrive in Victoria Falls and then travel south and then west to
end in Maun. What about you? I think it’s going to be amazing, I heard that the wildlife is incredible (and we thought that in Namibia!).

We start in Vic Falls too, then Chobe, Elephant Flats, a few days in the Delta and then work out way south to Johannesburg.

The Okavango Delta has been a place I've read about for years, so it's so exciting to actually go! It's out first safari and our first time in southern Africa, so I'm very excited! We'll have to stay in touch for tips and to enthuse!