What type of Clothing to take on Safari
On my last safari, one of the travellers (Raelen) asked me about what type of clothes to wear during a safari trip to Africa and Tanzania. I would say 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 the 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 Wear Colours
Try not to have too bright clothing, bright colours such as red, and white, as they can attract attention or absorb too much heat but, these colours are fine for wearing around the lodge and to dinner in the evenings. It may be dusty where you are going, so try to 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.
When you are going out on safari you want to blend in as much with nature as possible so Earthy colours like beige, khaki, olive green, and brown are ideal and will help you stay cooler in the sun and keep dust from showing easily. These colours help blend in with the natural surroundings, which is important for wildlife viewing, as animals are less likely to be disturbed by your presence.
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 that 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 do a walking safari the noise made by this clothing can often frighten others and keep animals away. Cotton works best for shirts and trousers and woollen jerseys if you are travelling in winter.
Safari Clothing for Women
Women’s Safari Shirts and Blouses
This article will take a look at women’s safari blouses and shirts and just because you are in the bush, does not mean that you can’t have style. There are many lovely fitted safari tops, especially for women, but there are also a few pointers that you may wish to consider.
Sleeves
Long sleeves can not only help protect you from the harsh African sun, but also from biting insects in the evening and the chill on an early morning game drive. If your safari vehicle does have shade, then a short-sleeved shirt or sleeveless blouse will be more comfortable during the heat of the day.
Pockets
Are not always for the show, if you carry a camera or binoculars on safari (and you should) a good pocket or two either on your shirt or safari jacket will help especially on walking safaris.
Collar
A safari shirt with a collar is a good idea, again this will help protect your neck from the sun
Colour
As is the general advice on all your clothing, you should be looking at getting colours that blend in with your environment and in this case it is the African bush, so look for shirts and blouses that are khaki, brown and green colours. To blend in many people would assume that camouflage coloured material would be best and this may be so, but it is un-advisable as in many African countries it is illegal for civilians to wear camouflage.
Type of Material
This is important, I find that cotton works best as it is the most comfortable in hot conditions. These days there are several modern materials that work just as well, but if you plan on any walking safaris try and make sure that what you wear does not make too much noise like a canvas type material as this could give your location away to any wildlife that you are trying to sneak up on.
Quick-drying fabrics are important in case of rain. Synthetic blends like polyester or nylon are often moisture-wicking and dry faster. Avoid heavy fabrics like denim, as they can be uncomfortable in hot, humid conditions and are slow to dry if wet.
Women’s Cargo Trousers & Pants
Just remember the ideal safari pants are comfortable to travel as well as walk-in, tough, without being too warm to wear in hot conditions. Their colour must help you blend in with your surroundings and any extra pockets can be really useful for holding things like birding books, cameras and possibly binoculars.
Cargo pants are so named because of their ability to carry so much “cargo” in the pockets. But as safari trousers, women’s cargo pants are ideal because most are designed for tough, outdoor activities and have several large pockets, most often with button, snap or Velcro closable flaps. In addition to these front and back pockets, they will often have side pockets as well. Cargo trousers often come in stone, khaki or beige coloured and cotton, but can come in other colours and fabrics as well.
Safari Dresses
Safari dresses are not as piratical as wearing a shirt and trousers, but they are ideal for wearing around the lodge and are fine whilst on safari in a vehicle. I would however not recommend using a safari dress for walking safaris, wear trousers to protect your legs from thorny bushes and plants are far more suitable. You can use a safari dress once you have returned to the lodge after your game drive, they are ideal to wear around the pool and to breakfast and lunch.
As with all safari wear, look out for dresses in colours that blend in with the bush, so khaki, browns, greens and stone colours work best. As a dress will not really be worn out on walking safaris, things like extra pockets and the thickness of the material are not that important.
Women’s Combat Trousers
Women’s Combat trousers and Cargo Pants are very similar and in some cases, they refer to the same item of clothing. But in general Combat pants are less formal than cargo trousers which in a way is surprising considering the military connotations.
Having said all this there are many combat trousers for women that are ideal to take with you on safari and they often end up being much cheaper than buying specifically designed Safari pants or trousers from specialist safari stores.
In general, what you are looking for is a pair of combats that are comfortable to travel and walk in, they must also be tough, but without being too warm to wear in hot conditions. The colour should help you blend in with your surroundings, so go for khaki, beige, greens, browns and stone colours. Any extra pockets can be really useful for holding things like cameras, binoculars and birding books.
Footwear
Comfortable closed-toe shoes, sandals, or lightweight hiking boots are best. Look for sturdy soles for walking over uneven terrain.
Accessories
A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are key. You can also pack a lightweight scarf to protect your neck from the sun.
Safari Clothing for Men
Mens Safari Shirts
What clothes to wear on your holiday can seem trivial to some people, but when you are on a safari holiday wearing the correct clothes is less about fashion and more about comfort as well as blending into your environment helping you to get as close to the wildlife you came to see as possible.
Safari Shirts For Men
What is interesting is men’s safari wear has become fashionable and it is now relatively easy to find the correct looking clothing, but also try and get shirts that are designed for comfort as well as durability so they survive the travelling and whilst your on safari in one of the world’s harshest environments.
A khaki colour is also ideal, helping you to blend in with the bush but any similar neutral colour like greens or browns will do.
No matter what time of year, I would suggest you pack short and long-sleeved shirts. Long sleeves can be used for warmth if needed, but you can also wear them to protect from the sun and from biting insects, especially in the evenings. Find a shirt that is perfect and one that you roll up the long sleeves if it gets a little hot. One also has plenty of pockets, perfect for storing your compact binoculars or camera.
A collar is also advisable as it will protect your neck from the sunburn. The material the shirt is made from is also important, I have found that cotton works best and is most comfortable. There are some made from new man made materials, which work well, just be aware that some make a lot of noise when you move about, this is usually fine on a safari drive, but if you plan on a walking safari, stealth is key!
Men’s Safari Pants and Trousers
There are a few specialised shops that offer specific safari wear including men’s trousers specifically designed for safaris, but I have often found them to be on the expensive side. This is just because these shops are so specialised and obviously aimed at tourism, where like weddings, everything seems to be just that little bit more expensive. So in my opinion, it is often better to look for some long pants that make ideal safari trousers rather than ones marketed as “Safari Pants” or “Safari Trousers”.
What Makes the Ideal Safari Trousers?
The main functions of your safari pants are to protect your skin from the sun, biting insects and thorns in the bush. On top of this pockets will help you store books, cameras or binoculars.
Colour
As with most of the clothing that you should wear in the bush, you want the colours to blend in with the environment, so look for Beige, Brown, Green and Khaki coloured trousers. My advice is to always stay clear of camouflage prints as in some African countries it is illegal to wear it if you are a civilian.
Material
I find that a cotton material works best for me, depending on the thickness used they can be surprisingly cool and still protect your legs not only from the hot African sun but also from biting insects like mosquitoes, especially in the evenings. These days you can also find many trousers made from new man-made materials, specifically designed to keep you cool that also work excellently. I would however just make sure that when you walk they don’t make too much of the canvas-type rubbing noise which could scare away potential animal sightings, especially on walking safaris.
Ruggedness
There is always a balance between your trousers not making you too hot when you wear them and being tough enough to survive walking through a thorny bush whilst on a walking safari. Even if you don’t plan on walking through the bush your trousers must be tough enough for travel.
Pockets
Again depending on the type of safari you are on pockets are either nice to have or almost essential. If you are going to be in a game drive vehicle for most of the time, extra pockets are nice to have. If however, you are going to be going on camping and walking safaris, extra pockets to carry things like compact cameras, binoculars, bird books or even pocket knives are really important.
Cargo Pants
Cargo-style trousers are ideal as they have all the qualities we are looking for.
Mens Cargo Pants for Safaris
As I mentioned above, it is often far more expensive to buy trousers specifically designed for safaris from a safari clothing specialist than it is to just get some that are ideal to take on safari without specifically been designed for that purpose.
In a nutshell, what you are looking for are pants that are comfortable to wear and walk in, tough, without being too warm to wear in hot conditions. Their colour must help you blend in with your surroundings and any extra pockets can be really useful for holding things like birding books, cameras and possibly binoculars.
Cargo Trousers
This style is ideal as most Cargo pants are designed for tough, outdoor activities and have several large pockets, most often with button, snap or Velcro closable flaps. In addition to these front and back pockets, cargo pants will often have side pockets as well. Cargo trousers are most often khaki or beige coloured and cotton, but can come in other colours and fabrics as well. It is no wonder that Cargo pants are so named because of their ability to carry so much “cargo” in the pockets. The style became so popular that cargo shorts soon followed and are also ideal for taking on safari.
Mens Combat Pants for Safaris
After much research, I am still not totally sure what the exact differences between Combat trousers and Cargo Pants are. I think they are less formal than cargo pants which is surprising considering the military connotations. The term “combat” also implies to me that you are more likely to have a camouflage type material but this is not always the case.
Whatever the differences, many Combat pants are ideal to take with you on safari and they usually work out much cheaper than buying specifically designed Safari pants and trousers from specialist safari stores.
In general what you are looking for is a pair of trousers that are comfortable to travel and walk in, tough without being too warm to wear in hot conditions and the colour should help you blend in with your surroundings. Any extra pockets can be really useful for holding things like cameras, binoculars and birding books.
Shorts
If you prefer shorts, make sure they are long enough to protect your legs from sun exposure and insect bites, but avoid anything too short or too tight.
Men Safari Jackets & Bush Jackets
Guide to Bush & Safari Jackets for Men
Some people go on Safari thinking that Africa’s weather is hot and so a good jacket is not that necessary. Not true, winters can be very, very cold in many safari locations and even in summer it can be pretty cold on an early morning game drive, on night drives or even in the evenings sitting around the boma enjoying your evening meal.
Safari & Travel Jacket
You must remember that a true safari jacket or bush jacket is a garment designed to go on safari in the African bush and therefore function and comfort are far more important than style. But also remember that before you get to to the bush, you will also be doing quite a bit of travelling. To save on luggage space it makes sense to use the same jacket for travel, so make sure that it is comfortable and at least a little stylish!
Colour
As with most of your safari clothing, stay away from bright or shiny colours. On safari, you want to blend in as much with your surroundings as possible. So stick to green, brown, beige and khaki Jackets.
Pockets
Pockets to me are really important and cannot be underestimated! Look out for ones that will make it easy for you to carry your camera, binoculars or guidebooks.
Footwear
Comfortable walking shoes, ideally with a sturdy sole. Hiking boots are often a good choice, but sturdy sneakers or closed-toe sandals can work too.
Accessories
A wide-brimmed hat for sun protection and sunglasses are essential. Consider packing a scarf or bandana for dust protection.
