Safari clothing mistakes

and how to avoid them

Your clothes
can affect your
safari experience

Wearing white, dark,
blue, striking or
camouflage clothing

Fine-dust air

The safari plains are dusty. White or dark clothing quickly shows the accumulated fine dust in the air that settles on your clothes. Khaki is the best color because it is dust hued.

Avoid blue

Blue attracts the tsetse fly. Its bite is painful and could inflict dengue fever, a form of sleeping sickness.

Don't alarm the animals

Large, asymmetrical patterned clothes can distress animals.

Shun camouflage clothes

You could be arrested in some countries for donning camouflage clothing if you are not a member of the military.

Not dressing
for the climate

Seasons are reversed

Unlike in the northern hemisphere, June, July and August are the coldest months in the southern hemisphere.

Kenya and Tanzania

The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Masai Mara game reserves can be chilly at night. The land rises as high as 2200 meters (over a mile) above sea level. Pack a light sweater and jacket as part of your safari clothing wardrobe.

South Africa

It is even chillier at night in the cold months in the Kruger National Park. Dress in layers. You may need gloves and a hat in addition to a thick sweater, especially for the late evening and early morning drives.

Dressing up
"Hollywood safari"
style

What not to wear

Very few safari-goers nowadays wear the clichéd big-game-hunter safari outfit. Those who do get deserved smirks from the rest.

What to wear

Today's safari dress code is comfortable, everyday clothing - the kind you would wear to a casual country-club barbecue.

I hope your safari dreams come true - and that my travel guide
on clothing helps you enjoy your safari vacation, tour or trip

©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications