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ii | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

The insider’s guide to

What to Wear on Safari? By Kate Bergh

Kate Bergh is the South Africa Managing Director of CEDARBERG AFRICA, a specialist travel company. She co-founded this company to help people who were unsure where to obtain friendly and well-informed safari planning. Kate has lived in South Africa since 1993.

She’s travelled extensively to the countries marketed by Cedarberg travelling either alone or with colleagues. She especially likes some of the more remote areas such as Coastal Maputaland in South Africa, the Makgadikgadi pans in Botswana and the Lower Zambezi in Zambia. Her home is in the Cederberg mountains of the Western (hence the company’s name) where she enjoys hiking and cycling. She also enjoys testing out, with the aid of her three children, the family appeal of our South African hotels and safari lodges.

CEDARBERG AFRICA has been designing tailor-made holidays and safaris to East and Southern Africa since 1995.

A fully licensed and financially bonded tour operator in the UK and South Africa, we assure you of great value and unbiased, expert advice.

What to Wear on Safari in South Africa?

Contents

What to Wear on Safari in South Africa? ...... i

Contents ...... 0

Tips for all Seasons ...... 1

However, there are some general principles ...... 1 Neutral colours for Safari ...... 2 What to wear through the Seasons in South Africa ...... 3

What to Wear in Winter ...... 4 What to Wear in Spring...... 6 What to Wear in Summer ...... 7 What to Wear in Autumn ...... 8 What to Wear in Camp ...... 9 Always have a ...... 9 Going Out in Cities and Towns ...... 10

Eating out at Restaurants ...... 10 in South Africa ...... 10 Washing at Bush Camps ...... 11

Walking Safaris ...... 11

Why the stricter code for walking? ...... 12 Safari Clothing & Insect Life ...... 13

Tsetse Flies ...... 13 What Clothes to Pack ...... 14

What Else to Pack ...... 15

Cameras ...... 16

Money ...... 16

What about medical emergencies? ...... 17 1 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Tips for all Seasons

©Norman Carr Safaris

‘What shall we wear on safari?’ is a frequently asked question. The complete answer to this, as I will reveal, differs by season and by country. In this guide I will be concentrating on South Africa, but much of the information will apply to other destinations.

The images on Safari websites mostly show very few people and those you do see are perfectly ‘attired’ in the ‘traditional’ khaki. It is likely that most, but not all, of these people are locals.

However, there are some general principles

© Okonjima

2 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Neutral colours for Safari Clothing

If you don’t own any clothing in neutral colours, it is not really necessary to buy it just for the safari, unless you are intending to do a proper walking safari (see box).

©Norman Carr Safaris

However if you are staying at one of the smarter game lodges, many fellow guests will have the classic safari gear (in brown, khaki or green) and you may want to blend in with your fellow guests and not just with the bush. This is a matter of personal preference.

However, please don’t feel that you need to dress like Robert Redford in ‘Out of Africa’, however positive the connotations. Nothing marks a person out as a tourist as much as being dressed head to toe in khaki and wearing a photographer’s !

3 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to wear through the Seasons in South Africa

The above principles remain the same throughout the year. But your packing will change with the seasons…

Dry winter season from June to mid August (Wet winter in the Cape)

Autumn Extra Variable Spring - tip… fromApril Mid August to to May September

(September to (mid March to October in the mid May in the Cape) Summer Cape) November to March

(Mediterranean in the Cape) Summer rainfall in the rest of Southern Africa

4 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to Wear in Winter June to mid-August During winter, you will need to pack a range of clothing as the South African winter varies in intensity from province to province.

© Simbavati In the Cape, where the winters are similar to Mediterranean Europe (think Spain or Italy or Southern USA), the hotels and lodges are reasonably well-equipped with under-floor heating, fireplaces, even electric blankets! You also might have some rain in the Cape so come prepared with a rainproof jacket. The rest of the country has dry winter with pleasant sunny days. It is not uncommon for the daytime temperatures to be 25 °C so bring some lightweight and t-shirts as well.

© Wolwedans Namibia

5 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

However it’s the diurnal range in winter which usually flummoxes visitors. A South African may say that it’s 25 °C during the day, but forget to mention that the day could have started at around 5 °C. In fact it’s the clear sunny days which produce the sudden drop in evening temperatures when there is no cloud cover. If you are on safari in June or July, you will need to come fully prepared with , and so on. The South African game lodges do not have central heating and are fairly open to the elements. So you will need to up warmly in the evening and to take spare clothing for the game drive (for after the sun sets).

Did you know?

Swimwear: very few hotels have heated pools so you probably won’t swim in winter unless you head to the sub-tropical beach destinations or stay at a hotel with a spa.

Extra tip…

I also like to throw in a hot water bottle (easily purchased in South Africa) just in case your hotel bed does not have an electric blanket.it is also handy for early morning game drives and al fresco boma dinners (though many of the more switched-on game lodges now provide them). (See our Packing List at the end of the Guide)

6 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to Wear in Spring

Mid-August to September (and to October down in the Cape) The ‘shoulder months’ of Spring are always tricky ones as far as packing is concerned. Temperatures may vary wildly within an average two week holiday period as you never know when Winter will change to Spring or Spring to Summer…

© Governors Kenya

Spring-like weather starts in late August - later in Cape Town and on the Garden Route, but there is no guarantee of this. As in Europe and the States, spring often brings variable weather – beautiful for days and then a bit cold and rainy for a day or two. Rain might occur if you are in the Cape. Hats and can be purchased easily if needed.

Did you know?

So bring a variety of clothes- both warm and hot weather options – t-shirts, short-sleeved tops, pedal pushers, swim gear – especially if you are spending time in the Kruger but be ready for temperatures to change quite suddenly.

Extra tip…

Even if the days are warm and sunny, night time temperatures will be noticeably cooler so have a warmer jacket for the evenings - pashminas also work well. (See our Packing List at the end of the Guide)

7 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to Wear in Summer

October to March Summer in South Africa is generally hot to very hot, with the occasional cooler day in and around Cape Town and the Garden Route.

© Tongole Malawi In the northern provinces of KwaZulu Natal and Kruger, or hotter areas like the Cederberg or Northern Cape, the day time temperatures will often be in the high 30’s. So bring plenty of hot weather clothing. The northern part of the country has a summer rainfall pattern. This generally takes the form of a cooling late afternoon shower, a welcome relief from the heat, but occasionally it can rain for 2 to 3 days so have a couple of warmer items just in case.

Extra tip…

As said before, we recommend long and long sleeved shirts in the evenings, if you can bear it, to guard against mosquitos (Malaria is only an issue in the Kruger and far northern KwaZulu Natal, the rest of the country is malaria-free). Alternatively liberally smother yourself in mosquito repellant. (See our Packing List at the end of the Guide)

8 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to Wear in Autumn

April to May (mid-March to mid-May in the Cape) Again, Autumn is a tricky one to call as far as packing is concerned. Temperatures vary wildly from place to place so ‘be prepared’.

© Shindzela Bring plenty of hot weather clothing, especially if you are spending time in the Kruger and KwaZulu Natal - but also be ready for temperatures to change quite suddenly. Night time temperatures will start getting noticeably cooler in April so have a warmer jacket for the evenings. If you are spending some time on safari, be prepared for a sudden downturn in temperature once the sun has set. It’s not be uncommon to start a game drive at 4.00pm feeling very hot and end it three hours later distinctly on the cold side.

Extra tip…

You may feel vaguely silly bringing hats and warm jackets to the game vehicle when it’s so hot, but you won’t regret it later. (See our Packing List at the end of the Guide)

9 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What to Wear in Camp

© Simbavati Boma The safari camps and lodges tend to be very casual but again at the very smart safari lodges, other guests will be changing out of their safari clothes before they have dinner. This is a matter of personal preference; wear whatever you feel comfortable in, as you can see above.

Always have a hat

The sun can be very strong on Safari. Not only are the skies clear but also some areas are at a considerable elevation, these facts allow for a lot of UV to reach the surface and increase the chance of sunburn. A good hat will also keep you warm on the early morning and late evening game activities, shade your eyes from the glare and keep twigs out of your hair.

© Kafunta Zambia

10 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Going Out in Cities and Towns

Generally speaking African is very casual with some provisos.

Eating out at Restaurants

Very few restaurants expect have a formal dress code for the evening. The exceptions are the luxury trains of Rovos Rail and the Blue . However, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, restaurants will be attracting local clients as well who will be dressing smart casual. Though everyone is tolerant of more relaxed dressed overseas visitors, it would be polite to bring some smarter clothing if you intend to eat out at some of the better restaurants, just like you would at home.

Smart Casual in South Africa

The dictionary says “neat, conventional, yet relatively informal in style, especially as worn to conform to a particular dress code” but what does this mean in another country with a different culture?

For women… Much the same as Europe or the United States, not too much leather or bling but as it is a warmer sunnier climate bright colours and a summery look will look great.

For men…. Also much more casual than smart, unlike the UK, the EU and the US. Don’t do a web search here for suggestions or you will be distinctly overdressed. Go for chinos or decent with a nice , and smartish and no tie. and tee shirts are too casual for good restaurants, no ripped jeans, standout trainers or flip flops please.

11 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Washing at Bush Camps

Remember that is included at many of the camps in Botswana and Zambia, when you are restricted by a luggage allowance of 20 kg including camera equipment, and so may well need to have clothes washed. Washing is often done by hand by the camp staff, and will probably not be ironed. You may want to think twice before bringing the silk or the linen trousers. We recommend the newer technical materials which are crease proof and ideal for a real bush safari.

Walking Safaris

However, if you are doing a walking safari of any length from several hours to several days you do need to be more careful about which colours you wear. Your ranger will want you to dress appropriately, that is in soft, earthy colours with no white , brightly

coloured t-shirts or strong patterns. ©Sausage Tree How strictly they may enforce this varies from guide to guide, but it is not unheard of for people to be sent back to their tents to change their clothing while everyone else waits for them. This is embarrassing for you and inconvenient for everyone else. Consider yourself warned! We also recommend long trousers, socks and proper shoes if you can bear it, especially in areas which suffer from tsetse flies (see box below).

©Lake Manze

12 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Why the stricter dress code for walking?

Why is there so much more fuss over walking you ask?

Wildlife see a game vehicle as a large animal which they are used to. Its colour is like the ‘bush’ and the odd bright splash of colour does not disturb them. They neither understand nor interact with vehicles and as a result they do not change their behaviour when they are around. ©Norman Carr Safaris

However, on foot you are entering their territory and they recognise us as what we are: a threat. Your aim, now that you are smaller than many animals around you, is to blend into your environment as much as possible.

©Norman Carr Safaris

You can then observe the animals without being noticed.

©Lake Manze

13 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Safari Clothing & Insect Life

No doubt you will have heard about the need to cover up in the evenings because of mosquito activity? This is good advice; it can be difficult to follow in the summer months when it is so very hot. Again it is a matter of personal preference; mosquito activity varies from place to place (often within a very short distance).

Extra tip…

I would always recommend bringing a couple of long sleeved thin cotton shirts in pale colours (which are also useful if you are having too much sun during the day) and some thin linen or cotton trousers. However an alternative would be to smother yourself in insect repellant.

Tsetse Flies

Why is there so much more fuss over Tsetse Flies you ask?

Where I would issue much stronger warnings would be in safari areas prone to tsetse flies. Again this varies with the exact terrain but parts of Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya can have tsetse flies. Tsetse flies do not pose any real health risk any more but they can give very nasty itchy bites which are very noticeable (as most people react to the bites) and last for a few days.

If you are in tsetse fly country (and I recommend asking your ranger when you arrive at the lodge) then you should cover up and wear long trousers with socks, especially if you are on a walking safari. You should also avoid the colours of Blue and Black as these colours attract the tsetse fly. Some people include white but this is disputed, but it really is best avoided anyway as it is very visible at night and shows the dirt. Green and Yellow are the least attractive. (You may see tsetse fly traps on your game drive which are coloured with blue and black stripes

to attract them!) ©Nevit Dilmen

14 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What Clothes to Pack

Item Spring Summer Autumn Winter Done mid Aug Oct to Apr to Jun to to Sep Mar May mid-Aug (Oct in (mid Mar Cape) in Cape) Shorts (neutral colours if walking) √ √ √ √ Long trousers √ √ √ √ Pedal pushers √ √ √ √ Light short sleeved shirts √ √ √ √ Lightweight long sleeved shirts for evening √ √ √ √ Swimming √ √ √ √ Wide brimmed sunhat (or ) √ √ √ √ Comfortable walking shoes √ √ √ √ Warmer long sleeved shirt √ Beanie or warm hat √

Scarf √ Non-crease clothing at Bush Camps √ √ √ √ Rain jacket √ √ Warm jacket √ Sleeveless jacket √ √ √ Pashminas √ √ √ Smart casual clothing for good restaurants √ √ √ √

15 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What Else to Pack Many of the below can be easily purchased in South Africa at both Johannesburg and Cape Town Airports or at places like Cape Union Mart. General Items Comments Buy at Airport? Check Passport with spare pages At least 2 blank pages per country Yellow Fever Certificate Only if visiting certain countries Travel Insurance Documents Plus copies kept in separate place Copy of essential travel Kept in a separate place (with one documents (such as Passports) copy left at home with someone) Itinerary and e-tickets Credit Card and Cash Glasses and Contact Lenses If needed Personal toiletries Sunblock Preferably with 2 different SPF Yes After-sun lotion If prone to overdoing it! Insect Repellent Yes Malaria tablets If going to malaria area Small first aid kit See below Personal Medications Adaptor plugs Yes Backpack or bag for excursions Six pack cooler bag Cold drinks if self-driving Larger airports

Safari Items Comments Buy at Airport? Check Small torch or Head torch Yes Hand Sanitizer Very useful for the bush Yes Pocket-sized animal So you don’t have to borrow the Yes identification book ranger’s copy Binoculars One pair per person: 8x30 or 10x40 Larger only One ‘serious’ camera One ‘point and shoot’ camera Larger only Battery charger (with adaptor) Larger only Memory card Journal or notebook Yes Hot water bottle (!) Winter only

16 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Cameras We recommend that between a couple you aim to have one ‘serious’ camera and one ‘point and shoot’ or good smartphone camera. In this way if the serious photographer has the wrong lens on at the precise moment of high speed drama, the other person can capture it. It may not be the best shot but at least it is recorded by someone. Plus you may not always want to lug heavy cameras around when sightseeing!

If travelling as a family, I also recommend giving as many children as possible the ability to take photos either using a camera on a phone or a disposable camera. It saves any amount of low-grade squabbling. Same goes for binoculars…

Money Travellers Cheques are not used widely in Africa anymore. In South Africa most people use their credit card or debit cards to draw money in the local currency (Rands) from ATMs or from local Forex offices. However we recommend that you also bring some dollars, pounds, euros to change as well. If travelling in Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania or Kenya, you may be able to use dollars for tips and buying curios. Please note that ONLY Rands are accepted as currency in South Africa and only Kwacha in Zambia. Note: You cannot use credit cards to purchase fuel at most South African and Namibian petrol stations only local currency.

17 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

What about medical emergencies? I am in danger of getting into too much detail so ignore me if you wish… South Africa is plentifully supplied with pharmacies and the safari lodges are always stocked with a comprehensive medical kit, but sometimes it’s most convenient to have the main items that you might need. However do not feel that you have to bring a vast armoury of kit.

Item Comments Check

Painkillers

Anti-itch cream for bites

Anti- diarrhoea medication

Air sickness pills Idea for small charter planes in Botswana!

Anti-allergy pills If you suffer from hay fever, the change in climate can produce allergic reactions

Tweezers

Plasters

Antiseptic cream or wipes

Throat lozenges

Lip salve Preferably with sunblock

Cold/Flu medication

Personal medications

CEDARBERG AFRICA has been designing tailor-made holidays and safaris to Southern and Eastern Africa since 1995. A fully licensed and bonded tour operator in the UK and South Africa, we assure you of great value and specialist, unbiased and expert advice.

Talk to us about a Safari

18 | The insider’s guide to What to Wear on Safari

Top TIPS

Plan a few weeks before you go and • Be sure of the Season in South Africa

• Check out the likely Weather • Keep an eye on the weight • Casual is the keyword • Layers for versatility • Easy to wash