What To Wear on Safari
You are excited because you are booked for a safari in South Africa, but what to wear on the safari?
Fear not! We have you covered.
An African safari is a trip of a lifetime. After reading this article, you will be confident in your choice of safari clothes, and you will be able to enjoy your adventure in comfort without worrying about how you look.
Safari Clothes - What To Wear
Pants
The best hunting pants for a safari are lightweight and breathable. Your trousers should also have plenty of pockets for storing gear such as cameras, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, and more.
As far as colors go, you cannot go wrong with Khaki. Trousers should be light in color. Thinks shades of tan, green and brown.
You want to blend in with the environment but do not want to wear camouflage. Camo is reserved for the military in some African countries.
Also, consider bringing a light pair of white trousers for dinner after a day in the field. White linen pants are the norm.
Shirts And Jackets
You will find considerable variations in temperature while on safari. The mornings can start quite cool, with the temperature rising dramatically during midday, and then it can be pretty cold at night.
For this reason, it is recommended that you dress in layers so that you can add or remove layers to find comfort in the changing conditions.
Shirts should follow the same guidelines as pants. In addition, they should be constructed from lightweight and breathable materials and feature neutral colors to blend in with your surroundings.
They should be long-sleeved and have a collar to help protect you from the sun and mosquitos.
A light fleece jacket is perfect for keeping you warm when it gets cool. Fleece is lightweight and dries quickly if it gets wet.
Boots
You will do a fair amount of walking on safari, so you should bring the best hunting boots you can afford.
Don't make the mistake of buying a brand new pair of boots for your safari. Make sure that your boots are fully broken in. The last thing you need is blisters on your feet because your boots were not broken in.
Hat
One of the most significant issues you will face on safari is constant exposure to the sun. Whether on foot or in an open-top safari vehicle, you will be constantly exposed to the sun.
A wide-brimmed hat will protect you from excessive sun exposure while also helping to reduce glare for better wildlife viewing.
Packing Tips For Your Safari Clothes
Now that you know what to wear on safari let's look at some helpful tips for packing your safari clothes to get the most out of your trip.
- Pack Light - The number one mistake that we see hunters make is that they pack everything but the kitchen sink. Pack as light as possible. Pack pants with zip-off legs so you can have shorts if you want them.
- Pack Lightweight Boots - You do not need heavy hunting boots. Pack a lightweight, breathable pair of broken-in boots. Heavy boots are unnecessary and take up a lot of room in your suitcase.
- Fly-In Safaris - If you are going on a fly-in safari, you must pack a soft bag. A rigid suitcase will not fit very well in most light aircraft.
- Bring A Day Pack - You should bring a small daypack and pack one day's worth of safari clothes in the pack. Keep the daypack with you while traveling to your safari destination. Then if your main luggage is lost or misplaced, you have one day's safari clothes to get you through until you can locate the lost luggage.
- Leave Room in Your Suitcase - Don't pack your suitcase full to the brim. Leave room, because you will collect souvenirs on safari you want to bring home with you.
Final Thoughts
Going on a safari is the adventure of a lifetime, and the way to enjoy it the most is to eliminate questions and worries about your trip.
You now know what to wear on safari. And how to pack your safari clothes to make the most of your adventure.
The only thing left to do is to spend time daydreaming about what an incredible adventure you are about to embark on.
Charity Safaris guest post by John VanDerLaan
