Clothing

[Guster]

Looking for tips on where to buy clothing for the my trip to SA. Difficult to find in Western Canada, any tips would be appreciated

 

[Royal27]

This one is easy!

Don't over think it. If you want camo wear camo that you'd wear at home.

If not, and I've never worn camouflage in Africa as it somehow doesn't seem right to me, then where darker coloured clothes, shorts or pants. 100% cotton is fine for SA, and quiet.

I had a PH wear navy shorts. Anything that isn't too light colored will work fine.

 

[CAustin]

Yep Royal is correct. Wear what you wear at home!

 

[mdwest]

I wore a camo shirt exactly 1 day of a 9 day hunt in South Africa.

All other days I wore tan colored "camp" shirts made by tru-spec or the shirt that was given to me by the outfitter when we arrived.

For pants I took a couple of pair of olive drab colored cargo pants...

Worked perfect..

 

[Hank2211]

Don't know where in Western Canada you are. There's some Cabela's sprinkled throughout Western Canada - I've been to the one in Calgary and one (of two) in Edmonton. Both have everything you might need. There's also a Bass Pro just north of Calgary which covers all the bases as well. Their mail order is pretty good as well, and their sizing charts tend to be pretty accurate.

If you're like me, most of what you have would be way to hot for South Africa. A little depends on the time of year - in their winter (our summer) it can be cold - even very cold - in the early mornings, depending on the front moving in. But it tends to warm up to the point where shorts and short sleeves wouldn't be amiss. So while I'd take a warm jacket, I wouldn't wear what I normally wear at home to hunt.

Listen to the advice that you don't need too much. Laundry is done very day, so two of anything tends to be as much as you'd need.

 

[Royal27]

Listen to the advice that you don't need too much. Laundry is done very day, so two of anything tends to be as much as you'd need.

This.

I always take 2 long and 2 short. That's it. And usually too much.

 

[Bos Javanicus]

What about the safari hat ...... turned up on one side and with a Leopard skin band

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I like 5.11 Tactical shirt, pants, shorts, etc in the cotton. Colors in Olive, Tundra or Coyote (darker khaki). Very well made. http://www.511tactical.com/511-tactical-pants-mens-cotton.html

Another place I've bought Carhartt jackets, Helly Hansen rain gear (for Alaskan adventures) is a place called "Working Person store" and have had great service from them. https://workingperson.com/

 

[Hunting Sailor]

Great advises above.
Mail order on internet has come a long way. I've bought some great stuff from the largest internet retailer.

Somewhat off topic, but I'd like to add one though, depending on where you'll hunt, mountains or savannah, it may differ in clothes, but add another layer, rather than have a thick hunting jacket. A middle micro fleece/sweater type and a wind breaker type of jacket goes a really long way for the cold mornings/evenings as well as the windy days on the mountains.
The Southern African version of a warm jacket is somewhat different from the Northern Hemisphere ones... ;-)
A warm jacket for me is a down style type of jacket (which I've had to use here, but never while hunting), but if I would have to move in it, it'd be too hot.
Please remember to bring gloves, I've wished for insulated once or twice, but it is rarely needed.

All the best with you planning, that's a great part of the safari.

//Gus

 

[cpr0312]

Any kind of olive, green, brown, etc. shirts and pants from you pick (cabelas, bass, gander, etc) The kind that is similar to Columbia or north face but cheaper. And of course camo you already have.

 

[Pheroze]

Don't be afraid to wear shorts either! The thorns are not at all bad, seriously...

 

[cem rona ergin]

Look no further
https://avedoncolby.com/index.php/shop/signature-field-shirt/

 

[cagkt3]

Went through the same thing a few months back. Wasn't sure about camo in Africa, so went to eBay and found a bunch of Cabelas safari shirts for $20-25. Cabelas is apparently discontinuing their safari shirts, but they still have some sizes/colors online.

 

[008]

Orvis and Filson

 

[mdwest]

I like 5.11 Tactical shirt, pants, shorts, etc in the cotton. Colors in Olive, Tundra or Coyote (darker khaki). Very well made. http://www.511tactical.com/511-tactical-pants-mens-cotton.html

If youre a 5.11 fan, several stores have put their older lines on clearance in order to make room for all of the new lines they have been releasing lately..

I picked up a couple of pair of 5.11 pro-lite pants in real tree for hunting here in the US.. for $24.99 from www.fieldsupply.com a couple of months ago.. and another pair of the same pants at the Frisco Gun Club for $17.99 a week later when I saw them there for 75% off (clearance)...

Cabelas was running a sale on them in July also.. my local store had them marked 25% off..

MSRP on those pants is $75...

I just checked field supply.. they still have some in stock for $38 (still a very good deal IMO)..

 

[Art Lambart II]

I'm a huge fan of the fire hose pants from Duluth Trading Company.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I wear my deer hunting clothes, all camo and mostly from Cabela's Bargain Cave. It's cheaper that way. There is really zero need to go out and buy a new wardrobe for Africa. Hell, wear your work clothes if you want. The animals don't check your style before presenting themselves for a shot.

 

[Red Leg]

Africa is a continent - it depends. I have hunted Namibia's central mountains twice in late July. Coldest weather I have experienced in Africa. At night, water bottles would freeze in the back of the cruiser. Yet, most of that, I did in shorts. I would wear a micro-fleece jacket or sweater on the way out and perhaps for the first hour or so, and then by 0930 or 1000, temperatures were mid-seventies to mid-eighties. There, and at that time of year, I normally wear long sleeve cotton shirts, and simply roll them up when the morning heats up. Some areas have far more thorns than others. Namibia is justifiably famous for its square miles of thorn brush. The mopani woodlands farther north and east can be largely thorn free. In Mozambique next month, I will hardly see a thorn, but will need long pants tucked into jungle boots for our trek through the razor grass and sludge of the Zambezi Delta. Temps there and then will be pushing 100 with humidity as well. Except for the delta, I'll wear cotton shorts and light-weight short sleeve cotton shirts - I am personally a huge fan of the Filson "feather weight" cloth shirts.

All this is a long way around to suggest getting with your outfitter, and find out what you can expect from the weather while you are there. Simply pack accordingly.

 

[TTundra]

Planning the clothing purchases was a fun part of my first trip. I went what I believe many do on their first, over bought and over brought. I wanted the 'look' of a safari as much as the experience. Next time I will remember what my PH said, "spend less on gear and more on animals". Greens and darker tan shirts from clearance racks as so many of my shirts were ripped up on stalks anyway. Even the bush cotton wasn't immune.

I am a big fan of the Cabelas safari shirts as I like the storage. Great for traveling as well. As mentioned a few times above, daily laundry means much less clothing needed.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I'm a huge fan of the fire hose pants from Duluth Trading Company.

I like their commercials!