Clothing for April for S.A. Safari
 

We will be on the safari portion of our trip starting on April17 (for a week altogether) at MM and Ngala. Do you recommend that I bring cotton khaki pants or very light thin-wale corduroys (that I happen to have in brown and green)? Also, should we bring shorts?
These would be for the game drives. Trying to guesstimate the weather.
Thank you in advance for your input, based on your experience. This will be our 1st safari. I appreciate all your help.

Carole

Weather link
http://www.malamala.com/weather.htm

You will be there in between seasons. I wouldn't take corduroys but I would bring layers with something for rain.

You may have seen this from there website.

Dress code
The dress code is casual but neutral colours are recommended on game drives. A sweater may be required at any time, whilst during the winter months (May to September) very warm clothes including a windbreaker (anorak) are essential. Please note, we do request that gentlemen wear long pants to dinner in the evenings.
What To Take:
• Anti-malarial prophylactics are essential all year round. Please consult your physician.
• Comfortable walking shoes, sun hats, sun-glasses, sun screen.
• Cameras and binoculars.
• Summer: lightweight clothing and swim wear, warm clothing for game drives.
• Winter: light clothing for daytime, very warm insulated jackets for game drives.

Have a great trip.

Thanx for the great info. Yes, we checked their website. We will bring warm neutral colored clothing, to be layered, (no shorts). Do people bring a small lightweight tote on the safari vehicle to store the layers of clothing which they remove?

Carole

On several of our drives we left while still dark and I really needed my jacket - open jeep, wind lowing everyone. A scarf came in handy also!! We peeled layers as most days went on, but boy did we wish we had dressed warmer some days!!

I put the layers in my backpack/rucksack. Something to protect your chin and neck can be useful when you are moving at a fast clip. The scarf would work. I've brought a balaclava.

Most people I meet in Southern Africa in the dry season do not complain that they are too hot. They complain they are too cold.

I bring a small tote bag to hold clothing as I un-layer, and also a water bottle, scarf, binoculars, and camera.

In April, early in the morning and after dark, it will be cold. You'll want a jacket.

You'll have a wonderful time!

Celia

We leave for SA on 09 April and we take our khaki pants as usual zip pants, shirts, fleece, sweater and windbreaker. A scarf, hat and walking boots.

As the others mentioned: Layers are excellent to keep you warm but get rid of them piece by piece when it heats up during the day; midday should be around 25°C. The camps provide you with blanket and even hot water bottle if it gets really cold, especially in the early mornings.

I would expect around 8 - 10°C around 06.00am but driving in a completely open car means it's getting COLD! So if you are a freezy you should bring a bonnet and gloves as well.

Safe trip!

SV