What clothing essentials should I buy for a safari?

[SurreyisSunny]

Safari clothing

Me and my DS (who will be almost 8) are heading on a safari next summer. I know it’s early but I’m wondering if it’s worth buying any clothing essentials in the sales.

We will be doing game drives plus a couple nights on a houseboat

We have a 15kg weight limit so cannot overpack.

Mosquitoes love me!

Shoe wise - it can be quite sandy/dusty so just bear that in mind if you are wearing trainers that may have mesh or similar.

uniqlo is a good shout

I bought the insect repellent clothing from Rohan (in their sale when I could manage it).

Layers are essential - mornings particularly can be cold before the sun really gets up.

Get muted tones, no bright colours.

if you are doing a multi-day safari recognise that the laundry in the camps can be quite rough on clothes - particularly synthetics.

20 visits to the Kruger over the years and I don’t buy special clothes. Whatever is comfy in the climate. A jacket with a hood for night drives to stop things getting stuck in your hair.

If you're coming in August, bring something warm. I'm currently in bed with fleece pyjamas, an electric blanket and a hot water bottle, and I'm a little chilly. I think it's 4 or 5 degrees tonight.

At least 1 jumper each, probably 2 for laundry purposes, and warm socks.

And I know you're limited with baggage, but putzi flies are an issue, so don't rely on washing something and hanging it outside your tent to dry. If you won't be able to iron things, then quarantine them in your bag for 3 days. So don't be super Conservative and pack only 2 outfits to wear on rotation!

Oh, and depending on which areas you're in in those countries, mosquitos may not be a problem. We've not had them for 2 months now, as it's cold enough, but they'll be in warmer areas still.

If you can get hold of "peaceful sleep" stick roll on or spray, it is the most effective against the local mozzie population.

Just a quick note regarding Zimbabwe. It’s illegal for civilians to wear any clothing with a camouflage print on them (because it looks like military uniform). Things can be a little more relaxed on a safari but I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I’ve been to Zim and love the country but it’s wise not to attract attention to yourself. The people there are very friendly and I really hope to go again one day.

Yes will be August.

I won’t be conservative as tend to be an overpacker so will definitely be weighting my luggage

Yes putting flies are why you need cotton it can be ironed, everything should be ironed including your knickers and socks

Rather than walking boots, we wore desert boots. They were light but covered our ankles. I don’t know where you can get them these days, though!

If you don’t wear a sun hat (you wouldn’t need one on a night drive for instance), then use a head scarf - otherwise you end with your hair full of dust!

Craghoppers have a sale on btw. The kiwi pro trousers are good and are half price but I do like the Nosilife

I’ve never been that cold but a good scarf is useful beyond a light jacket and hoodie.

Also no black as the flies love it!

Start eating marmite mozzys don’t like it.

also Avon “so soft” body lotion is a good deterrent.

Also, I know this is about clothes, but if you're going to be in a malarial zone, which parts of Zimbabwe and Borswana are, you need to have the right prophylaxis, and don't mess around when it comes to bite prevention. You need the 50% DEET stuff and to keep covered. Dengue fever is still a risk besides the others and there's no guarding against that.

I’m pretty sure this isn’t true. It’s guidance, not mandatory. Although maybe some walking safaris are more strict on this.

Avon So Soft changed the formulation some time ago and the ingredient which worked against mozzies/midges is no longer allowed so it is of no use now.

Take as little luggage as possible.
Most camps do laundry (free of charge) to encourage people to take less.
Some travel companies provide a suggested packing list.
Agree - khaki type colours no blue or white.
A swimming costume for downtime during the day.
A fleece and a woolly hat for early/late game drives.
Sensible walking shoes.
For hanging out in the camp, I suggest a pair of kikoy trousers - Tom's Trunks are good ones.
Don't worry about fashion or dressing up!

No need to buy khaki or sand coloured things...you will be in a giant vehicle so the animals will see the vehicle first before a pink t-shirt. No need to camouflage at all....you cannot hide a big safari truck!

Just wear regular clothes....long sleeve t-shirts, pants, fleece, waterproof jacket. I would recommend a blanket for your legs if going in their winter time as it does get cold am and pm. But the locals do not wear khaki or sand things on safari....they just wear their normal clothes. Colours are fine. Yes the tsetse is attracted to navy, black etc but you are fine in many other colours. Tsetse is not an issue in Botswana either.

Or on foot, or in a boat

We went on walking safaris in S Luangwa. We were told not to wear white. We did walk into a clan of hyenas; there was no vehicle between them and us. Luckily, they were startled and scattered. We were also quite close to a lion.

We also went for a leak behind our tent, before bed on a campsite in Tanzania. We felt we were being watched. We looked up to see a large elephant, about six feet away, watching us. Admittedly, colours were irrelevant by then. We just backed away slowly.

If you don’t like traditional safari/ outdoor style clothing then linen or cotton/ viscose blend trousers and a light cotton shirt (with a vest underneath) would be fine. Most stores have these things in stock at the moment. I’d also take a roll up hat (fishing style but with a wide brim) and a baseball cap. get a Rucksack with side pockets for water bottles.

Yup colours are irrelevant most of the time and the locals mock ppl who turn up looking like explorers!! I have always worn white and other colours - blue, red, pink, purple, turquoise, yellow for example and plan to do this year when I go.
My last time the guide just laughed as I had white trainers and white top and white hoodie and he laughed saying you are not coming back that colour....oh but I did! 😂

For me it was all about keeping warm first thing in the morning and on a late drive. I wrap up with my fleece blanket and hot water bottle! That is how I prepare. Forget the colours and think layers!

That would be amazing to see the hyenas and elephant that close I only ever have seen hyenas in the distance and elephants close but when in a car when self driving...that was enough for me!!

I missed if you said where you’re going but we’ve just done a few days in SA and the game drives were freezing! We were fairly high and it’s winter here so although warm during the day the morning and evening drives, in an open safari truck were very cold - layers and a beanie. Even with the blankets they supplied I wished we had brought light packable down jackets. On the other hand no issues with mossies or other insects like tsetse - I think this will depend on where you are so do research specifically for that area.

You should pack something warm for the nights. In Africa they are rather cold especially if you are taking a boat.

You can treat clothes with permethrin before you go, that will keep mosquitoes off you.

You don’t have to wear khaki, muted colours are suitable.

It does get very cold and vehicles are open sided. Take layers if you don’t want to take thermals. Some people on our safari took just fleeces and were cold. I took one of those jackets that weigh next to nothing and can be squashed down.

If you can keep your eye out for "cuffed" long sleeved things and long trousers - again if you can get loose / cuffed because the little sods go up anything loose. Then socks up and inside the cuffs. It isn't the best "look" but you will be grateful. Deet roll on, not spray (we used Jungle Strength) for any exposed areas, yes it is greasy, and yes, you may stain your clothes, but it works - the spray just chokes you - we got used to the smell. Layers, it was cold on our early mornings, but OK the rest of the time, I did not take a wooly hat or beanie but I think I would have liked one. I have a Hoodie, as they get in my hair. We didn't get massively dusty (mainly in a vehicle or boat). We were borderline obsessive iro lodge room, no open windows, nightclothes, etc.