Ever since you booked your African safari vacation, you have been wondering what kind of outfit to wear for your encounter with the wildlife.
Thus, I examined in my African safari clothing review different styles of attire for both men and women that you should pack for your safari vacation. Dress up with style and blend in with your surroundings!
How to Dress Up for an African Safari?
As a general rule of thumb, avoid wearing bright colors at all costs on a safari. The main reason is that the vivid colors attract animals. You don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Therefore, you should opt for light colors, like olive, gray, khaki, and brown.
Keep in mind that if you wear short sleeve shirts along with shorts that you need to have a bug repellent since malaria is present in many regions of Africa. Remember that exposed skin is an invitation for lunch for the mosquitoes! To avoid contracting malaria, cover your skin. If you insist on wearing short sleeves as well as shorts, spray an ample amount of bug repellent to prevent mosquito bites.
Furthermore, if you travel to Tanzania or Kenya, be on the lookout for another pesky insect, the Tsetse fly, carrier of the sleeping sickness. Thus, it is of the utmost importance to protect yourself by wearing long sleeve shirts along with pants. Also, avoid wearing dark colors such as blue and black since they are a magnet for the Tsetse flies.
One of the things that you need to take into account when selecting your safari clothing is the weather. Africa is well renowned for its broad spectrum of weather conditions. What I mean here, is that the temperature varies considerably during the day. Usually, the mornings and evenings are very chilly, while during the day, the temperature gets sweltering. Furthermore, you have to factor in the time of the year. Are you traveling to Africa during the winter (wet season) or the summer (dry season)?
Another thing to think about when buying your safari clothing is comfort. You don’t want to wear safari clothing made of polyester or any other non-breathable fabrics. This will block the elimination of the perspiration from your skin. I highly recommend that you wear cotton clothes, or clothing made of breathable fabrics, to get rid of the moisture.
Layered Clothing!
A little piece of advice, it would be wise to dress up in layers. Considering that the temperature varies tremendously during the day, this will allow you to either remove or add pieces of apparel and stay warm and cozy.
Now dressing up in layers does not imply that you have to bring your entire wardrobe! If you are taking charter flights to reach your safari destination, there is a luggage restriction. The weight limit is 30 pounds (15 kg). To avoid any unpleasantness, bring only the essentials and versatile clothes!
Full Zipper Fleece Jacket Sherpa Collar for Men
The full zipper jacket with Sherpa collar is made of fleece fabrics to keep you warm on a chilly day. The outer layer consists of polyester, which is wind-resistant, and ideal for your evening stroll around the campsite.
The Fleece Jacket Sherpa only weighs 10.5 Oz (300 g) and will not take too much space in your duffel bag!
Fabrics: Fleece and Polyester
Colors: Moss, Khaki
Sizes: Small thru 3XL
View on Tag Safari
Field Jacket for Women
The Field Jacket will most certainly keep you warm. Plus, ladies, no need to carry a purse around with this jacket! It has ten pockets, big enough to stow away your important documents and everything you need for your adventure!
Fabrics: Polyester and Fleece
Colors: Khaki, Olive
Sizes: X-Small thru XL
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Zambezi Convertible Pants for Men
The Zambezi Convertible Pants are best suited for those who want to travel light since they are versatile. Take off the legs and wear them as shorts during the day and put back the legs for dinner. Thus, no need to bring a pair of shorts and pants for your vacation.
The Zambezi pants are lightweight, weighing only 5.5 Oz (155 g). Also, the presence of an elastic waist gives you more comfort.
There are also four pockets for the storage of your safari gears such as binoculars, compass, camera and so on.
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Colors: Khaki, Olive, Stone, Moss, Forest
Sizes: 28’’ to 44’’ waist (2-inch increments)
View on Tag Safari
Chino Pants for Women
The Chino pants for women are appropriate for various activities such as walking, hiking, or going on game drives only to name a few.
Moreover, the Chino Pants with its front pleats provide a sleek and sophisticated look. They can be worn for casual as well as for formal events. So there is no need to change up for dinner with these versatile pants!
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Colors: Khaki, Olive, Forest, Moss
Sizes: 4 thru 14
View on Tag Safari
Adventure Shorts for Men
The Adventure shorts are the logical choice for hiking and walking safaris. Their length is above the knee.
They offer enough storage with their two cargo pockets to carry with you all your valuable gadgets such as binoculars, camera, and a GPS to allow you to track down and observe wildlife.
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Inseam: 7 ½ inch
Colors: Khaki, Olive, River Blue
Sizes: 30’’ thru 44’’ waist (even sizes, 2-inch increment)
View on Tag Safari
Chino Shorts for Women
Ladies, if you want to wear shorts during your safari vacation, you should opt for the Chino shorts. Why? Because the local population of many African countries is often mainly composed of Muslims, ergo, it is not a good idea to wear shorts that are mid-thigh or even shorter. It is considered a great offense by the Muslims community. It would be more advisable to buy shorts that are at the knee-length like the Chino shorts!
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Inseam: 7 ½ inch
Colors: Khaki, Stone, Olive, Forest
Sizes: 2 thru 14 (even sizes, 2-inch increment)
View on Tag Safari
Vent Back Adventure Shirt for Men (Short Sleeves)
If you are thinking of buying the vent back adventure short sleeve shirt for your safari vacation, bring as well some bug repellent!
The shirt is made of cotton, and the vented back will keep you cool.
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Colors: Khaki, Olive, Stone, Moss
Sizes: Small thru 3XL
View on Tag Safari
Trail Shirt for Women (Long Sleeves)
The trail shirt with long sleeves for women have epaulets, perfect for keeping your binoculars handy!
Furthermore, if you are planning to visit countries where there is a risk of contracting malaria or the presence of the Tsetse fly, you should wear a long sleeve shirt such as the trail shirt. This is by far the best option to protect yourself.
Fabrics: Tropicool cotton
Colors: Khaki, Olive, Stone, Forest, Moss
Sizes: X-Small thru 4XL
View on Tag Safari
Final Thoughts
In this review, I took a closer look at the basic clothes that you will need for your African safari vacation.
Because of the luggage restriction, you need to pack versatile clothes! Keep it simple by bringing only the essentials. Furthermore, many safari lodges and hotels provide a laundry service, so there is no need to bring your whole wardrobe!
You should opt for clothing made of breathable fabrics such as cotton, and dress up in layers.
To ensure that you return home safely, you should buy safari attire of light colors. Dark colors are a magnet for the megafauna. Try to blend in with the décor!
Furthermore, to reduce the risks of mosquito bites and, therefore, contracting diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness, pants and shirts with long sleeves are preferable.
If you have any inquiries about African safari clothing, leave a comment below, and I will get back to you ASAP!
Hello,
You are right; No one wants to attract the wild animals. Therefore, they shouldn’t wear bright colors. In my opinion, people should be the most concerned about insects, so repellent is a must in Safari. Also, a jacket with long sleeves and long pants would be nice. However, It may be too hot sometimes. I especially like those convertible pants you mentioned. I’ll definitely consider buying it.
Thank you!
Hi Julius,
I personally prefer long sleeve shirts, pants and a lot of bug repellent since mosquitoes love me too much! Thanks for your input about safari clothing.
Sonia
I spent a good stretch in India and had also been to South Africa – which included a visit to Kruger Park. I would like to suggest that regardless of whether or not you are going on a Safari that when travelling to Africa, India, or South America, take adequate precautions regarding bugs that bite as well as clothing choice.
It just makes life safer and a hell of a lot more comfortable.
Well, you are right that by selecting the proper clothing and having plenty of bug repellent handy, is the best course of action as it helps avoid many health issues. Because getting ill during your vacation is the last thing you want.
Thanks for sharing this great piece of advice. Better be safe than sorry!
Sonia
Hi Sonia!
I really enjoyed your site! Do you have a safari planned anytime soon? A safari sounds like an amazing experience, but you definitely need to be careful too.
I liked how you discussed what clothes to wear and what not to wear. I didn’t know that bright colors attracted animals….good to know! What about perfume, hairspray, and deodorant? Will these attract the animals? Thanks for all of your advice!
Julie
Hi Julie,
No, unfortunately, I don’t plan in a near future to go on a safari vacation.
Not only you should avoid wearing bright colors but also any perfumed products since animals have an excellent sense of smell.
If you are interested in learning more about planning a safari vacation, then click here to get some travel tips.
Thanks,
Sonia
Hello Sonia!
I didn’t know that vivid colors attract animals! I was sure they don’t care about colors! Very informative. About the clothes you proposed, I’m not sure about shorts?? They are not protecting your legs and I’m afraid I may be hurt by branch or stuff like that.
Your thoughts please!
Hi Maxg44,
I don’t like wearing shorts much. Therefore, I would not wear shorts while on an African safari. There are other reasons, and I have listed them below:
First, I find that mosquitoes love me too much! So, by wearing shorts, I would get a lot of mosquitoes bites, even if I use bug repellent! Since mosquitoes are carriers of diseases such as Tsetse illness and malaria, getting a bunch of mosquitoes bites would significantly increase the risk of contracting these diseases.
Secondly, by wearing shorts, this could lead to higher risks of injuries over the legs such as scrapes and cuts. Also, because of the scorching temperatures in Africa, if you suffer any injuries that are not treated immediately, the infection could set in quickly, which could have serious consequences (septicemia).
Lastly, as I mentioned in my African Clothing Review, in some African countries, where there is a high concentration of Muslims, it will be viewed as a great offence to wear shorts that are below the knee.
So, in a nutshell, these are the main reasons why I would not wear shorts on my African vacation. Notwithstanding, since some people might prefer to wear shorts on their African adventures, I have reviewed them in my post.
Thanks,
Sonia
Hey Sonia,
This is pretty cool, I’ve never been to a cultural place like Africa and I’ve always wondered what to wear so that I won’t look like an outsider too much.
City wear is definitely not idea and in the safari, Tshirt alone wouldn’t suffice. Fleece Jacket sounds pretty interesting, definitely getting my hands on that! Is the heat at the same temperature through the whole continent of Africa?
Hi Riaz,
I have a few Jacket fleece and I find them to be quite handy!
As for the temperature in Africa, it varies throughout the continent. Near the equatorial region, the temperatures are hotter than in the southern portion of the African continent. Furthermore, the temperatures are scorching over the desert areas. If you would like to learn more about the different climates of Africa, click here.
Thanks,
Sonia
Hi Sonia,
Packed full of information about Safari clothing – thanks! I thought the temperature’s hot in Kenya or Tanzania all the time, never thought about evenings & mornings. Zipper Fleece Jacket Sherpa Collar seems like ideal one to take.
Do we really need to wear shorts by the way? Initially, of course, I thought I’d definitely need a pair of shorts for hot weather, but considering insect bites and the Muslim countries you mentioned, long pants may be a lot more useful, then… I’d love to go on a safari tomorrow if I could!
Ray
Hi Ray,
No, you don’t need a pair a short, it was just a suggestion since many people prefer to wear shorts in scorching weather! Personally, even though the temperature is hot, I prefer to wear long breathable pants because I want to avoid to expose my skin to those pesky insects!
Hey, you never know, you might be able to go on a safari in a near future! And when the time comes, you will know what kind of safari clothing you need to buy for your adventure!
Thanks,
Sonia