Africa - Proper Attire for Safari?

My wife and I will be doing a few days of game drives this December in Kenya. I'm seeking advice on how best to dress for these activities while keeping in mind the heat and the desire to stay comfortable plus the need to protect against Mosquitos, etc.

It's tempting to hit up the local "expedition" or trekking store and pick up some of the very nice light weight, long sleeved stuff...which we'll do if that's the consensus, but wanted to check with folks here first who have done safari before.

Are long sleeves a must? On both shirts and pants? (ie no shorts?) Are wide brim hats super helpful, or do ball caps do the trick?

Thanks, all!

My wife and I will be doing a few days of game drives this December in Kenya. I'm seeking advice on how best to dress for these activities while keeping in mind the heat and the desire to stay comfortable plus the need to protect against Mosquitos, etc.

It's tempting to hit up the local "expedition" or trekking store and pick up some of the very nice light weight, long sleeved stuff...which we'll do if that's the consensus, but wanted to check with folks here first who have done safari before.

Are long sleeves a must? On both shirts and pants? (ie no shorts?) Are wide brim hats super helpful, or do ball caps do the trick?

Thanks, all!

Haven't been to Kenya, but have been on safaria in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda.

I tend to prefer shorts and short sleeved shirts. Caps and wide-brimmed hats are both OK. Early mornings can be quite cold so long pants and jackets can be needed on morning game drives.

Cheers,
T.

Buying your wife a fillet dress a la Lady Gaga might increase your chances of seeing lions otherwise Thalassa's advice seems good. Also long sleeves/trousers at dusk/evening will do a lot to mitigate malaria risk.

I'm firmly in the shorts & short sleeves camp. I also prefer to go barefoot, bringing sandals to wear when off the vehicle, if necessary. Shoes and sock are far too warm. Mosquitos I don't worry about.

As far as chilly mornings and evenings are concerned, that will depend a bit on where in Kenya you are going. The Masai Mara, for example, lies at an altitude of between 1,500 and 2,200 meters, that's pretty high. Meru, on the other hand, is almost smack bang on the equator at 110 meters. Makes a difference.

In an open vehicle, wind chill is an important factor, which people often underestimate. As a rule of thumb, I bring a sweater along if the temperature is under 20°C on a calm morning, or if I expect the temperture to drop below 20°C before the evening drive gets back to camp. If the temperature is below 15°C, a jacket may be called for, especially if it is windy. The need to keep your head warm in such situations is something a lot of people forget to plan for. A thinsulate beanie that will cover your ears can come in very handy on cold days.

I also always bring proper rain gear. The stuff provided by the lodges is either poor quality, leaky, dirty and smelly, the wrong size, or simply not there when you need it.

I've seen lots of people get very cold and very wet on game drives, it is just so much more comfortable and enjoyable when you come prepared.

Johan

My safari experiences during the past years have been in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia.

If you pack some of the light weight shirts which have long sleeves that roll up, then you have options. :)
The long sleeves do help protect from mosquito and tsetse fly bites.
My husband likes Columbia's Silver Ridge shirts. I like their Eddyline shirts... I can layer a t-shirt under them if I'm cold.

My husband sometimes packs a baseball cap and other times he brings a brimmed hat. Many of the camps' rangers wear a baseball cap.
I always wear a brimmed hat for sun protection.

As mentioned before, the morning game drives can be quite chilly... so bring something such as a hooded fleece . Plan to dress in layers.

Many thanks to all for your thoughts. It is indeed Masai Mara we will be visiting, and it will be end of December/start of January, so hopefully mostly past rainy season and into the heat :-)

so hopefully mostly past rainy season and into the heat :-)Hopefully - you said it!

I can recall arriving in Nairobi one January evening, it was raining so many cats and dogs that we had to circle waiting for an opportunity to land. That was only the start of it! Managed to get through the Mara without getting soaked, and did well in Amboseli too. Had some interesting rain in the Serengeti, the roads resembled rivers at times. Camping on the Ngorongoro crater rim was interesting as well. No rain, but overcast, windy, and pretty chilly! Got back to the Mara to find that it had been soaked in the meantime. Driving there was a challenge, getting back even more so. So yeah, it should be dry, but you never know!

Johan