clothes colors
 

Hi everyone: I'm a regular on the europe board, only been here once. I leave in 13 weeks for Kenya. I have read endless posts on what to pack and what to bring, I think that I can get it all in with the 33lbs limit.(wishful thinking)

My question is really about the color of clothes. I am not a person that even owns a kakai pair of pants, I really don't like neutral colors. Much of my clothes are white or black, both of which I know will be wrong for the safari. I do have some greens, not actually army green and I have been buying some tshirts in yellow, grey , light blue and light green.

I'm not so much asking what to wear as a fashion statement as to what to wear to not get either bitten by tons of bugs or be a target for the animals out on the drives. I am also unclear if it is fine to wear capris and sandals around the lodges for dinner or will my feet and ankles get eaten alive? I can't quite imagine wearing long pants and shoes and socks.

I read that black and navy blue is what color the mossie strips are so not to wear those colors, white will get dirty too quick, is brown in the same catagory? The pictures of the locals are all wearing BRIGHT reds and oranges...I am just confused...thanks for any help.

If you're not doing any or much walking, you'll be fine in whatever colors you like. Yes, try to avoid navy, black and red. Tse tse flies are attracted to blue and black (I *think*--can't rememeber), red's very bright for the bush. Also, in dark blue and black you will feel pretty hot.

Capris and sandals will be fine, but remember the ground may be rough even in a "civilized" camp. Also, if you choose to bare some skin in the dusk-to-dawn malarial mosquito biting time, make sure you're well DEETed.

I don't care for neutral colors either and did just fine. Just try to be comfortable. I prefer cotton clothing, but others like the special outdoor-store stuff made of...I don't know what. To each her own.

We'll be waiting for the trip report. ;)

Oh, Susanna (I've been waiting for a chance to say that), in case you need more info, here's a thread about black/white/navy on safari:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34778184

Enjoy your trip!

If you're going to be in a vehicle, I wouldn't worry too much about colors. I've heard that tse tse flies are attracted to dark blue but haven't seen any tse tse flies in Kenya. Where are they? No problems wearing brown. I've never noticed any increase or decrease in bugs based on the color of my clothing. Capris and sandals are also fine but you may be chilly depending on the altitude.

Thanks Leely, that is a great link, one that I didn't find when I was searching.
Thanks Patty, I don't think that I will bbe cold, it's usually only about 60 here in SF and I wear capris and sandals. Are tsetse the same as mosquitos?
I will be in a vehicle, so that seems to be the deciding factor doesn't it?

I've never seen one but from what I understand, it's a large fly with a painful bite.

Tse tse flies are not the same as mosquitos. Tse tses are bigger, less stealth-like and you can feel the bite right away. I have not seen them in Kenya.

I've seen very few mosquitos in Kenya at the time you'll be going. You should not be bugged by bugs.

If it fits in your bag and weighs in at 33 lbs or less, pack it, regardless of color, that is if you are not doing walking safaris.

At night it is not that warm. I don't think you will want shorts in the evening.

After your Africa trip, you may hang out on this board a lot more as yet another addict.

Have fun. What is your itinerary?

very painful! but not all of them that land on you will bite, more of an annoyance than anything.

There sounds like there aren't too many bugs in Kenya....woohoo.

Great advice atravelynn. Just how cold do you think that it gets in the evenings?

Do you all bring nice clothes for dinner or is it casual dress and what about the Mt Kenya Safari Club, I can't believe that they want me to bring dressy clothes for one evening, especially with the 33lb limit.

Here is my itinery, I think that one of the lodges changed but I can't remember which one it was:
My safari is through Wilderness Explorer. It will be 10 nights, 11 days costing $3700 for a private tour.We cut out one day from the Mt. Kenya Safari Club and chose to have the pop-up vans instead of 4x4 to bring the cost down to this. I've heard many good things about the owner, Gabriel, who will be our tour guide. He worked for another company for 20 years doing guides and now has had his own business for 6 years.
Our itinery is:
Day - 1 & 2 Amboseli National Park --- Ol Tukai Lodge
Day - 3. Lake Nakuru National Park --- Lion Hill Lodge
Day - 5 & 6&7. Samburu Nature Reserve --- Samburu intrepid./Serena
Day - 8 Mount Kenya --- Mt.Kenya Safari Club
Day - 8,9 & 10.

MASAI MARA ----Kichwa Tembo camp

This includes either 2 or 3 flights between the camps.

Hi Susanna,

I just tried to google Wilderness Explorer and all I get is an Alsakan tour agency. ::((

I am much impressed by the price you were quoted! Can you post their URL please. I really would like to look at their safaris more closely.

Thanks!

susanna:
At night in camp I wore a black "uniform"-- top and pants traveler's type fabric with a long sleeved colored or patterned shirt as a jacket over them. Black was no problem.

Thanks Bat, I would be so happy if I could just wear a pair of black cotton capris, it would solve all my packing problems.
Africnow: Here is my contact info for Gabriel, he doesn't have a web site unfortunately. My friends went with him last year on the same safari and they were recommended by another group of people who went the year before. I also got the Alaska company when I googled him, but after numerous emails I am confident in him and his safari...you will have to email him for the info.
Wilderness Explorers, Ltd
P.O.Box 11 Karen, 00502,
Kenya.
Tel: 254-20-253319
Fax: 254-20-241089
Cell Phone: +254-722955271
Cell phone: +254-723919000
Cell phone: +254-720216767
Email: [email protected]

susanna,
Is $3700 per person or for both of you?

If only it were for two...no, 3700pp.

I wore a fleece or jacket in the evenings since dining was usually in the open air, even if there was a roof.

I have heard about the request for nice clothes at Mt. Kenya Safari Club before. I would think black capris and a nice top should work. You could accessorize with any jewelry purchased along the way.

I never dressed for dinner other than changing out of dirty clothes at the camps and lodges where I stayed. Some ladies I met enjoyed dressing up a bit in the evening or just adding a pretty scarf, that weighed nothing, to their outfit.

The black theme that worked for Bat would be stylish for evening, practical, not show dirt.

Have a wonderful time.

susanna - If it makes you feel any better, I plan to take some black stuff. I have a T-shirt, and a pair of black capris I'm taking - athough the capris are the nylon "outdoor gear" type of capris. I also have a black cotton turtleneck that I will probably wear at night. I have so much black iin general, it's not even funny. My mom has been praying since I was in my early 20s that I would wear something colorful once in awhile. :-)

Enjoy your trip!

That's what I thought, just checking.

Cooncat 3: have a wonderful vacation and let us know upon your return if all the black worked out well. I also have two pairs of the nylon/outdoor capris, soooo comfy! I am a hairdresser so black doesn't show hair or color and white can be bleached. I have the perfect sicilian widow closet full of black!

My niece was asked to take off her reddish sweatshirt in our safari vehicle. Same for my brother's white cap. I can't imagine that any black item would be a problem, except that it'll show the dust and get hot in the sun. If you're only wearing black for dinner, no problem! Me, I always have fun shopping for the bush-colored clothes.