MyDogKyle

Just thought of something else for #4...

If you're doing a driving safari, especially from Nairobi up to Samburu or in the brutal stretch from Nakuru to the Masai Mara, it's great to have something to protect your face from the dust (even inside a closed-up vehicle). We used buffs, but any kind of scarf or bandana would be good.

LyndaS

Of course I can't resist throwing in my 2 cents here, even though you have plenty of replies, Katie!

1. I took Mephisto walking sandals on both trips. On the first trip I took closed in shoes, Rockports, but they never saw the light of day, so I didn't take them the second time around. But, that's me, I hate closed in shoes....

2. We bring our Tilley hats on all trips as they are SO squishable. We have the first hot weather one with the green brim, but I think they have updated that model quite a bit. Both years though I preferred the Micato Hat because it was a nice colour. Jim wore only his Tilley.

3. No particular brands at all on clothing - I stick to earth tones though, but then I do even for work, I like khaki's and browns and olive greens. T-shirts are whatever I have on hand, but the pants have to be the lightweight convertible type (light olive green). They are of no particular brand, but I lived in them both years and I have no idea what I will do when they wear out. I shall have to take up sewing I guess in my spare time! They are quick dry and don't show the wrinkles, I just wash them out in the sink every few nights, and presto, they are dry the next morning.

I have the Tilley quick dry cotton underwear & the Magellans - I prefer the Magellans. I have the Magellans quick dry pj's - they are a godsend too, as they dry while I am out for the day.

4. I'm with Patti on the coffee mug - we brought one both years, just a small thermal mug that has a screw top (no 'hole' for the coffee to leak out of, to drink it you have to take the cap off). We couldn't do without them!

I'm not sure if you have seen it, (but I will bet you have!) but for way more details, take a look at the packing list that many, many Fodorites gave me their excellent insight into and helped develop! It became a 'work in progress' so you would have to read it to the end (it has a final tried & true list at the end) -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34802443

melissaom

AlexisK,

Since no one has answered your "white" question, I will jump in. Some camps are a bit more serious about enforcing it than others, but some animals, especially elephants, do not like white. We were in Selinda recently on a walk and those wearing white were asked to get behind the termite mound if possible when we can across a large herd. At one other camp I saw someone get asked if they had any other color t-shirt (the lady had on white) when we were heading out.

Having said that, then why the landrovers are white (not to mention the buildings) at Chichele lodge is beyond me!! (Maybe Sanctuary will change that).

As for clothing, we wear Asolo boots and they are really comfortable. I recommend boots over sandals if you go on a walking safari. We both wear base ball caps too.

Even though we tend to safari in Oct when it is brutally hot, I always wear long pants and sleeves -for both sun and bug protection. I agree with everyone that comfort is key, and a few drab colored t-shirts and pants are all you need - especially with most camps doing laundry.

Momliz

have not been on safari recently so cannot comment on specific brands, but one of my favorite places to get stuff, besides REI and llbean, is Sierra Trading Post. Great prices, although it's all last year's or seconds or overstocks. I don't care about that.

Nyamera

Synthetics are disgusting and feel like plastic.

As the word “dorky” is used here, what could look dorkier than someone wearing a baseball cap?

I don’t like zip-offs and shorts. I use fast drying, cotton capris and on my latest trip I didn’t even pack full-length slacks because of weight issues. In game parks I wear the capris with short-sleeved cotton shirts that I’m very tired of. I don’t like t-shirts and I can’t find normal, loose, not too easily creased, button shirts that aren’t chequered. I hate checks, but I’ve been wearing more or less the same green or blue chequered shirts on all my trips. In Nairobi I wear long fast drying cotton skirts, or a thin wide synthetic skirt, with the same shirts or nicer less loose shirts or tunics (that really crease too much for travel), but now I’ve become so fat I need to wear loose shirts in Nairobi as well. For warmth I use a pashmina type thing in Nairobi and a wind jacket in game parks. The jacket is yellow (the others at a reasonably price were orange or lime) and of a brand (for those asking for that kind of thing): Fjällräven http://www.fjallraven.com/Templates/...SectionId=2737 A fleece would have been nice this year, but was too heavy.

What have people wearing white done to the elephants at Selinda???

astein12

1. What brand of hiking boots or walking shoes do you recommend for safari wear? My favorite are my Asolo Latitudes GTX's (cold) and Asolo Highlands TPS GTX's (warm). As someone mentioned, the key is to have them broken in PRIOR to any trip. I tend to stick with the same brand because they tend to build boots on the same last, so that ordering the same size generally results in the same fit.

2. Is there a particular hat that you think is worth recommending? I generally take a beat up baseball cap (or my Marmot nylon baseball cap if expecting rain) as well as my Nordic Gear crushable (great hand and it floats... has come in handy a few times).

3. What about clothing? A particular brand good, bad, ugly? There are many great brands out there... my favorite articles: Marmot Oracle rain jacket, North Face mountain jacket (the old classic), Ex officio amphib travel pants, Gramicci quick dry shorts, Outdoor Research wool blend t-shirts, Icebreaker Rock Zip wool pullover, REI Merino hiking socks.

4. Any other specific recommendations? Lots of camera batteries and memory. Take old cotton tshirts and give them away to the locals when the get dirty (frees up room for bringing gifts home).

AlexisK

Seems like the Tilley hat is a winner. I'll be checking that out.

So many options for shoes. It really seems to be a personal matter of choice.

Thank you for all the ideas.

DianeJF

1. I took Merrill breathable day hiking shoes, Privo sandles that could get wet and flip flops for the tent.
2. Any hat with a stiff brim would work, mine was floopy and didn't work at all.
3. Zip off neutral pants, or some that roll up, they don't have to be expensive or come from a outdoor store, you can find inexpensive pants at Gap and leave them at the last camp for the staff.
4. Sunglasses that have a slight wrap around your eyes. Take your own alarm clock, a small powerful flashlight. For ladies that insist on makeup a small hand-held battery operated lighted magnifying make-up mirror, whew! Lighting in tents is minimal.