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Kenya
Safari Clothing:
General Advice
The clothing
that you should pack for a Kenya safari will depend on a few things
like what time of year it is and what type of Kenya safari you are
going on, but there are some general rules that you should follow:
Safari Clothing Colours
Try
not to have too bright clothing, this is fine for wearing around the
lodge and to dinner in the evenings, but in general when you are going
out on safari you want to blend in as much with nature as possible. So
think of greens, browns and khaki coloured clothing.
It may be dusty where you are going, so also try and stay away from
pale colours, and it is said that blue and black coloured clothing can
attract tsetse flies, which have a painful bite. Black can also be way
too hot to wear in the summer months.
No Camouflage Clothing for Safaris!
Do not wear camouflage clothing, I know that it is popular urban wear
in the west, but here in Africa only the military wear it and in some
African countries Kenya being one of them, you can be arrested for it
especially if it looks like the Kenyan military one. Since you are not
familiar with the Kenyan military uniform the best option would be to
avoid military or camouflage clothing.
Safari Clothing Materials
Your clothing for safari should all be made from lightweight fabrics,
that will not only keep the weight of your luggage down, but be
comfortable as well. Many camping shops sell lightweight, neutral
coloured clothing, but it is made from material is waterproof and that
makes a noise as you rub against it. This is perfectly fine for camping
in a wet environment, but if you are trying to sneak up to an antelope,
the noise made by this clothing can often frighten them and other
animals away. Cotton works the best for shirts and trousers and woolen
jerseys if you are traveling in winter.
Safari
Shirts
I would pack short and long sleeve shirts all year round not so much
for fashion, but styles for practicality. Long sleeves can be used for
warmth if needed, but also to protect from the sun and from biting
insects, especially in the evenings.
A shirt like the one pictured on the right is perfect as you can roll
up the long sleeves if it get a little hot. It also has plenty of
pockets, perfect for storing your compact binoculars or camera.
A colour is also advisable as it will protect your neck from the harsh
African sun.
The color is also ideal, but any similar neutral colour like green or
brown will do.
Safari
Trousers & Shorts

Again long cotton
trousers can really help protect you from the harsh African sun as well
as prevent insects like mosquitoes from biting
your legs in the evenings and early mornings.
The Cargo type trousers pictured to the right are ideal, pockets for
storing your compact camera or safari binoculars or even a compact
field or african mammals guide book.
Safari
Jackets
A warm jacket is important to take on safari, and not only in winter.
It is more than lightly, you will go on a game drive at or before
sunrise, it can get pretty chilly at this time, so pack a jacket. Just
remember to try and make it neutral coloured and if possible made from
a material that is warm and does not make too much noise during
movement.
Something like the jacket pictured on the right would be perfect,
neutral coloured, warm and made from a cotton material which will not
make to much noise during movement. It also has plenty of pockets,
perfect for storing those binoculars or digital camera that you will
have with you.
Safari
Footwear
For
general safari holidays where you will go on game drives, or walking
safaris, the most important thing is to be sensible, you really don't
need to go out and buy specialised footwear. Remember you will be
climbing in and out of safari vehicles and walking around on what is
normally grassland around the lodge or in the park, so high heels are
not needed.
If you are going to be going on a walking safari, or atleast going on a
guided walk on your safari, it is advisable to have some sort of hiking
boots or specialised safari boots that are both comfortable to walk in,
but also covers your ankels. This is mainly for protection from small
thorny bushes, but also is advisable to help protect you in the highly
unlikely senario of a snake or scorpion bite.
Great boots
include the like of
caterpillars, and in Kenya you can buy safari boots. These are
comfortable boots that are popular with tourists. Because they are
handmade from leather to the highest standards, they can be a little
expensive, but if you are going to be walking alot in the bush and
perhaps when you get back home, I would highly recommend them. Other
than that look for a good quality pair of hiking boots which will also
do the job.
Safari
Hats
A wide brimmed hat to protect you from the sun is ideal, but any hat,
including a cap is better than nothing. The peak of the cap or the brim
of a hat will shield your eyes from glare, but even so on bright sunny
days, you will probably want to also have a good pair of sunglasses.
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