What to pack for South Africa

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I’ve ballsed up. Went shopping for a two week holiday in South Africa and bought mostly summery stuff. Only when I get back does DH tell me it’s probably going to be cool during the days with a high chance of rain.

So I’ll be doing one week in Cape Town and the garden route which will include things like wine tasting and eating out but also some trekking and visits to national parks. This takes place during the last week of August. No idea how to pack for this as it could be hot or cool or raining or a mixture

Then the first week in September I’ll be spending at Kruger, staying in the Kruger accommodation and self-driving every day. So I’ve no idea if I should be doing full safari gear or just comfort.

Please help, what should I pack?

Light cotton layers, maybe a lightweight fleece, waterproof jacket, lightweight walking trainers. Cotton trousers or jeans. Maybe a silk top or two for evenings with either jeans or a smarter trousers depending how posh you want to eat out. A nice dress and shoes if you’re going properly formal but generally smart casual should be fine.

Avoid ostentatious jewellery, fancy clothes etc. People tend to dress down mostly.

Bring some very warm stuff for the nights in Kruger. It gets cold. During the day it can be quite warm, so layers are good.

Haven't been to CT or garden route in August / September so can't speak from experience. It does rain tho.

Overall I'd bring some t-shirts, but you will need warm stuff too.

I’m in Johannesburg, it’s winter here! I’m currently wearing a long sleeve top, hoodie and a fleece over the top. Our houses aren’t heated and it’s a bit chilly. Cape Town is colder and wetter, very British weather, our winters are probably like mid Autumn weather.
You’ll need a waterproof coat, couple of hoodies, definitely jeans, decent shoes - you won’t be wearing sandals in Cape Town. It can get very windy.

Kruger will be much warmer, but dress for comfort, avoid safari gear, you’ll look a bit daft. Mornings will be very cold but it will warm up later so layers are good. Avoid white as flies seem to like white tops - but if you’re self driving you’ll have your windows closed.

Hi OP. I live in Cape Town at the moment. It's winter here, but winters here aren't close to those in the UK. August usually brings some rain to the Cape though but hopefully you'll be lucky to get a few good days of weather. I would suggest jeans and T's and layer up on the colder days...add a jumper and a light jacket. The nights can be cooler though, so a chunkier jacket will be good. Current temp is around 16-20 degrees during the day, and about 8-10 at night.

Up in Kruger, you can expect warmer days. You may even be able to get away with shorts and short sleeve t's but again, nights are colder than the Cape. My suggestion would be to pack in layers that you can adjust to the varying weather. Pack in a chunky winter jacket but have that swimsuit ready, you may very well have the opportunity to wear it. Sorry for the mixed bag of advise. Hope you have a great trip!

You’re likely to go for an early morning game drive and it can be freezing (although if you’re with a guide etc then they usually provide blankets) so do bring a warm hat and a pashmina/scarf is always quite versatile. Don’t wear ‘safari gear’.
Cape Town can be quite chilly but not like winters here.

Nothing extra to add regarding what to pack so shouldn't really be commenting. Just saw South Africa and wanted to say have the best time. Me and DH has the most amazing time doing a similar literary to you and it was the best holiday.

the power of MN! I can’t believe someone from Cape Town and someone from Johannesburg have come on to help me! I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that! Thank you so much to you both and thank you to everyone who has answered.

Glad to see you had an amazing time doing a very similar holiday, bluebear I’m very excited now so thank you.

Right! I’m not a jeans person so what do you think about this for a packing list (bearing in mind I only have 23kg luggage allowance):

• black yoga pants - can look smartish, very comfortable, breathable, water resistant and will be worn on the plane.

• khaki chinos - see photo 1 below

• grey chinos - grey version of photo 1

• 2 x linen shirts

• 3 x vest tops (can go under shirts or on their own)

• 3 x t shirts - grey, black, striped

• 2 x long sleeve tops - grey and striped

• 1 x khaki shorts

• 2 x linen dresses

• waterproof jacket

• fleece cardigan (worn on plane)

• scarf (worn on plane)

• brown shoes - 2 options, see photos 2 & 3 (please help me choose)

• either a low wedge that can smarten up an outfit or a flip flop that I’d wear for driving.

Khaki chinos

Shoe options. 1 will go better with the outfits but 2 will offer dryness and warmth first world problems I know!

And my swimsuit! Apparently one day we are visiting a waterfall that we can swim to.

So I’m thinking a can layer and do chinos/leggings, vest/tshirt, shirt/long sleeves, scarf + fleece for evenings and then my waterproof jacket folds up tiny so can be brought with me.

Does this sound ok?

I'd put another warm top in there.
Have a fabulous time.

I’m going the same time.
I can’t wait.
I am packing stuff for parkrun, and a really great outfit for my school reunion, which is the reason I am going,

Sun city for 3 nights and the Pilanesberg which I haven’t been to since 1989.

I am going to use your list as a guide,

I love the chinos. Where are they from?

In fact just pop over and dress me when you finish packing, ok?

Haven't been to west SA but have been to east at this time of year - and yep its winter! However not like our winter, just jeans, a t shirt and cardigan type weather.

I would ditch one of your linen dresses and swap for a warmer dress that could wear with tights / boots for Cape Town if you want something smarter for evening.
You might be ok for a dress in the Kruger

I would also add another thick hoodie / jumper as well.

Cape Town has lovely shops - canal walk at the V&A is nice. We have H&M, Zara and Woolworths (like M&S but better) so save some space for shopping.
I think you’ll like Poetry and Old Khaki based on your clothes you’ve shown. They are standalobe shops but also sold in Cape Union mart, there is a massive one just by the Robben Island ferry terminal.

I like both your shoes, can you bring both - boots are great i’m wearing mine every day at the moment.

And I really want those chinos, where are they from?

I don’t think you’ve packed enough warm clothes. It’s not a cold winter but it’s not linen weather either. I’d add a jumper.

We are doing a very similar holiday in 3 weeks - Garden Route for the last week of August then a safari lodge near the Botswana for the remainder.

We actually went at the same time two years ago. I mostly wore jeans and got a lot of wear out of a Barbour padded jacket in and around Capetown. I didn’t need a waterproof, an umbrella was fine for the odd shower.

I’m planning to basically take various iterations of jeans/chinos and tops and jumpers for layering, and something dressier for dinner. For daytime shoes, I’m taking trainers and loafers.

If your waterfall is on the Garden Route, I personally wouldn’t bank on swimming at this time of year.

For safari, the drives at that time of year start off as absolutely freezing (as in a beanie doesn’t go astray) then get very warm and hot quickly (so you need a hat and sun protection). Everything got covered in dust on the drives so this time I’m taking hiking pants (Craghoppers Kiwi) and low cut walking boots plus assorted hoodies and t-shirts. You’ll need a hat that doesn’t fly off as well.

During the day in Kruger, it was fairly warm so I wore shorts/summer dresses.

We lived near Kruger for 3 years - you’ll absolutely freeze in the early mornings on a game drive in just that. I can remember being sat in 3 pairs of socks, fur lined boots, leggings, jeans, a wool jumper, a hoody and a fake fur lined parka and still being cold!

We also went to CT in August a few times and froze in the day! The rest sounds perfect for the day but I would take at least one more wool/thick jumper and a coat. Mine was from ASOS and had a detachable fleece layer inside so you could wear the other bit as a lightweight jacket.