A Fashionable Safari: Where To Go And What To Wear

                                                                                         

The word "safari" entered English from Swahili in 1890. Safaris in Africa became popular when Meryl Streep uttered those famous words ‘I had a farm in Africa’, while playing Danish writer, Karen Blixon in the film ‘Out of Africa’.

African safari apparel as donned in the film has dominated various collections of most fashion houses down the years, including those of Jean Paul Gautier and Versace. Safari fashion is light and sporty. It boasts clean lines and sharp cuts in matte cotton fabrics. The colours reflect those of the Savanna such as khaki, cream, and sand. A safari holiday is an expensive one, so it pays to have the right information, plan well and wear the right gear - to get into the true spirit of things. Most importantly, find out as much as you can before you part with your dollars, euros, or pounds.

Choose an African Safari

A safari does not start and end with a game drive in the bushveld. You can pick and choose between adventures like Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking, Elephant-Back safaris, and Rail safaris with game drives en route.

Choose a part of Africa that you’ve always wanted to visit and have your safari customized accordingly. Examples of sought after safari destinations are South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique.

Your choice of accommodation ranges from luxury lodges or established tented camps to more adventurous safaris where you're continually on the move (African tracker style) between temporary camps. You can explore the bushveld on foot or horseback and also in a mokorro (dug out canoe).

Climates and Seasons

South Africa: Rainfall mostly in summer months
Summer: September to April. Winter: May to August

Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania: Long rains in all from November to April. Summer: December to March
Winter: Malawi: June to July; Tanzania: March to May; Zambia: April to August.

Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia: rainfall common across regions in summer
Summer: late October to early April
Winter: dry and cloudless. May to early October: warm days, cold nights

Kenya: Long rains from March to May and short rains from November to December. Summer: December to March
Winter: July to September

Mozambique: High summer humidity, light rains from September to April. Summer - October to March
Winter - April to September

What to Wear on Safari

A safari jacket is a garment originally designed for the purpose of going on safari. Popularized by turn-of-the-century Anglo African adventurers, safari-style jackets were engineered for comfort and function in the African bush. Traditionally khaki, brown or beige, the jacket enabled the ranger or traveller to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Go for a comfortable, light weight fabric like a cotton, drill or poplin and make sure it has lots of pockets. You’re going to need them.

If you want to be really fashionably attired in the bushveld, The Pith Helmet is the ultimate ‘Out of Africa’ look. It is a lightweight helmet made of cork or pith with a cloth cover - designed to shade the wearer's head from the sun. It’s very British and was worn by Westerners in the tropics, and in Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War.

If you are going on a walking safari there is no question that you need to take safari boots with you: a good pair that are water resistant. Take comfortable and cool sandals to wear back at camp and a pair of ordinary shoes you don’t mind getting scuffed. Wear cotton socks rather than man-made fibres that absorb moisture and let the skin on your feet breathe.

Zip Trousers are a cunning invention: long pants that zip off at the knee to convert instantly into shorts. Take a selection of long sleeved shirts and long trousers to help protect against sunburn and insect bites. Short sleeved tops and vests to layer underneath to keep warm are also useful

Safety Tips on Safari

When you see a lion don’t wave or shout. Seriously, you’ll be in an open landrover and you need to be cautious. You need to do exactly what the ranger asks while you are in his care. Don’t talk, stand up, or get out of the vehicle unless directed to do so. His expert knowledge could save your life! In the wild things happen in a second and he needs to stay alert in order to monitor the behavioral signs of the animals.

Game Rangers carry rifles. They are not gun fanatics, nor do they go around shooting recklessly at animals. The gun is essentially for your protection in case a situation gets out of hand. Fortunately, occurrences like these rarely happen as game rangers are so well trained in the bush, they can sniff out a bad atmosphere before it occurs.

Safari Accessories

Binoculars are like glasses - each person calibrates them to suit their individual needs, so rather bring your own pair. A good sunblock and sunhat are also essential. Anti-malarials must be taken before, throughout and after your holiday.

An effective insect repellent (containing at least 20-35 per cent of the compound DEET) is imperative. Long sleeved and legged pajamas to ward off the mosquitos so you don’t suffer sleep deprivation will ensure pain-free sleep. A pair of gloves, a scarf and a woolen cap to wear on night game rides (the best time to view animals.) is a must. Stay warm and enjoy!

About the author:
The most fashionable place to safari is Sir Richard Branson’s private game lodge,Ulusaba:home to three of the most acclaimed 5-Star lodges, setting world-class standards in luxury accommodation, service, cuisine, special facilities and exceptional wildlife encounters. Highly trained and experienced rangers and trackers ensure that your African safari experience ranks among the best in the world

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