What to wear on safari (men’s and women’s options!)

Packing and dressing for an African Safari is easier than you think! You likely already have several pieces that would be perfect for the occasion. My guide below will tell you exactly what to what to wear on safari to ensure you’re comfortable from early morning game drives to nights at the lodge and everything in between. I’ve also included links to items my husband and I wore on safari and loved, plus additional pieces i found that would be perfect for the occasion. Happy shopping and packing!

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What to Wear on Safari

Clothing types

The types of clothes you’ll want to wear on safari depends a bit on the time of year you’ll be there. We went on Safari in November, which is the beginning of the summer months in South Africa. the mornings / evenings were cooler, but it did get pretty warm during the day, so layers were a must! If you’re going on Safari in other African countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, it will generally be warmer there than in South africa since those countries are closer to the Equator. In that case, you’ll just need less layers and potentially no jacket. Just check the weather before you leave of course!

you’ll also want to bring clothes to wear around the camp during the day, e.g., a swimsuit, coverup, workout attire, etc. This is all included in my packing lists below.

Colors

When on safari, it’s important to wear neutral colors like beige, tan, olive green, ivory, etc to blend in with the surroundings. you should avoid bright colors as they can attract unwanted attention from the wildlife, but a little color on an accent scarf is generally okay. Additionally, camo print is illegal to wear in many African countries as it is reserved for the military, so I suggest avoiding it altogether.

Shoes

many people opt for boots on game drives, but my husband and I were both perfectly fine in just sneakers. it rained a good amount while we were there too, but it was never really an issue as you don’t get out of the vehicle unless you’re stopping for a break. This saved us a good amount of room while packing too. some people think boots are a necessity though, so it’s totally up to you!

Dress code

the type of lodge or camp you are staying at dictates how nice of night-time / dinner outfit options you need to bring. For example, we stayed at Ngala Safari Lodge and it was very casual. I usually just wore my afternoon game drive outfit to dinner because that’s what everyone else did! I have heard that Other camps are a bit more dressy in the evenings (e.g., casual dress, linen shirts), but it is generally still very relaxed. Ask your hotel or travel agent how nice you need to dress for evenings if you are unsure what is expected!

Laundry

most camps offer laundry service, which can be super helpful with packing. Check with your hotel or travel agent to find out if that will be an option for you!

women’s packing list

Below is a general packing list for a woman heading to safari for ~5 days, assuming laundry facilities are available. adjust based on the weather forecast and your trip length!

men’s packing list

Below is a general packing list for a man heading to safari for ~5 days, assuming laundry facilities are available. adjust based on the weather forecast and your trip length!

Women’s outfit inspiration

Here are links to clothes I wore on Safari + other options I love! my #1 recommendation is the 3-pack of cropped long-sleeve shirts from Amazon. They were perfect and I still wear them all the time! you can also find all of these on my shop my profile here.

men’s outfit inspiration

here are links to clothes my husband wore on safari + other options perfect for the occasion! you can also find all of these on my shop my profile here.

looking for more Safari information?

check out my various posts from our honeymoon in South Africa linked here.

Comments or questions?

Let me know below!