Safari Clothing Advice

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One of my lasting memories during my time working as a safari guide (field guide) is of meeting a particular guest at the entrance of the reserve, where I was to pick her up and take her into the African bush to the safari lodge. I could see her from a mile away, it was winter and she had a bright pink jacket on, to be fair it may have looked great on a night out in London, but here in the bush it made her stand out way too much.

Most people come with a far more sensible choice of safari clothing and equipment, but to be safe and if you are asking yourself 'what to take on safari?' below is my guide to the clothing and equipment you should pack for your safari adventure!

Safari Clothing: General Advice

The clothing that you should pack for safari will depend on a few things like what time of year it is and what type of safari holiday you are going on, but there are some general rules that you should follow:

Safari Clothing Colours

Try not to have too bright clothing, this is fine for wearing around the lodge and to dinner in the evenings, but in general when you are going out on safari you want to blend in as much with nature as possible. So think of greens, browns and khaki coloured clothing.

It may be dusty where you are going, so also try and stay away from pale colours, and it is said that blue and black coloured clothing can attract tsetse flies, which have a painful bite. Black can also be way too hot to wear in the summer months.

No Camouflage Clothing for Safaris!
Do not wear camouflage clothing, I know that it is popular urban wear in the west, but here in Africa only the military wear it and in some African countries you can be arrested for it.

Safari Clothing Materials

Your clothing for safari should all be made from lightweight fabrics, that will not only keep the weight of your luggage down, but be comfortable as well. Many camping shops sell lightweight, neutral coloured clothing, but it is made from material is waterproof and that makes a noise as you rub against it. This is perfectly fine for camping in a wet environment, but if you are trying to sneak up to an antelope, the noise made by this clothing can often frighten them and other animals away. Cotton works the best for shirts and trousers and woolen jerseys if you are traveling in winter.

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Safari Shirts

I would pack short and long sleeve shirts all year round not so much for fashion, but styles for practicality. Long sleeves can be used for warmth if needed, but also to protect from the sun and from biting insects, especially in the evenings.

A shirt like the one pictured on the right is perfect as you can roll up the long sleeves if it get a little hot. It also has plenty of pockets, perfect for storing your compact binoculars or camera.

A colour is also advisable as it will protect your neck from the harsh African sun.

The color is also ideal, but any similar neutral colour like green or brown will do.

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Safari Trousers & Shorts

Again long cotton trousers can really help protect you from the harsh African sun as well as prevent insects like mosquitoes from biting your legs in the evenings and early mornings.

The Cargo type trousers pictured to the right are ideal, pockets for storing your compact camera or safari binoculars or even a compact field or african mammals guide book.

Remember not to wear camouflage as this is an offence in some African countries.

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Safari Jackets

A warm jacket is important to take on safari, and not only in winter. It is more than lightly, you will go on a game drive at or before sunrise, it can get pretty chilly at this time, so pack a jacket. Just remember to try and make it neutral coloured and if possible made from a material that is warm and does not make too much noise during movement.

Something like the jacket pictured on the right would be perfect, neutral coloured, warm and made from a cotton material which will not make to much noise during movement. It also has plenty of pockets, perfect for storing those binoculars or digital camera that you will have with you.

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Safari Footwear

I guess for general safari holidays where you will go on game drives, the most important thing is to be sensible, I dont think you need to go out and buy specialised footwear. Remember you will be climbing in and out of safari vehicles and walking around the lodge which is in the bush, so high heels are not needed!

If you are going to be going on a walking safari, or atleast going on a guided walk on your safari, it is advisable to have some sort of hiking boots or specialised safari boots that are both comfortable to walk in, but also covers your ankels. This is mainly for protection from small thorny bushes, but also is advisable to help protect you in the highly unlikely senario of a snake or scorpion bite.

I have always used Courteney boots, exactly like the ones pictured above. Handmade boots designed specifically for the African bush. They are a small company from Zimbabwe, but have distributors all around the world. Because they are handmade from leather to the highest standards, they can be a little expensive, but if you are going to be walking alot in the bush and perhaps when you get back home, I would highly recommend them. Other than that look for a good quality pair of hiking boots which will also do the job.

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Safari Hats

A wide brimmed hat to protect you from the sun is ideal, but any hat, including a cap is better than nothing.

I must confess that whilst I was guiding, I always used to use a cap, partly for fashon purposes I suppose as I never really feel comfortable in a hat. I did however as part of my uniform always have a shirt with a collar that protected my neck.

The peak of the cap or the brim of a hat will shield your eyes from glare, but even so on bright sunny days, you will probably want to also have a good pair of sunglasses.

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What to Take on Safari

This page is part of a series of posts on what to take on safari, for further reading try:

• Safari Binoculars
• Best Digital Cameras for Safari Holidays
• African Safari, Travel & Wildlife Books
• Safari Clothing Advice
• Safari packing list of what to take on safari