SANParks.org Forums

Cape Union Mart has brought in the "zip up" pants in more hi-tech material. One of the advantages of the material is its ease in washing. It dries easily without creasing. On my last trip one of the campers had a pair and he always looked pristine. He would just give in a quick wash each night and viola!
In true angel style, I hate to look like I have just crawled out of bed, even in the bush.

Hi,

I cant wait to make my first trip to Kruger this April. Will be staying at Lower Sabie and Olifants. What cloths are advisable? Is it neccessary to wear long trousers and shirts due to the mosquitos, or can I wear shorts during the day?

What is appropriate to wear on a night drive?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi squirrel.
It is advisable to cover your arms, legs and feet at night.
I would definitely advise long pants and long-sleeved shirts in the evenings.
The days should be pretty warm so shorts would be fine.

Hi and welcome, squirrel
They sell the insect repellants in the park, Peaceful Sleep, Tabbard etc.
The zip off trousers are ideal if you aren't doing a walk then ordinary sandals are sufficient.
You don't need to bring mosquito nets all the bungalows have screens on the windows and doors, to be on the safe side you can burn a mosquito coil or a citronella candle.
Have a great trip.

Morning FF - how old are the children but cool clothes for the day and light warm clothing for the evenings, what time of the year will you be in KNP, could make a small difference

Summery ( cool ) clothes for day and not your cold weather cloths but warmish clothing for nights

Hi Familyfun
We always started with the famous Zipp-of pants and a fleece
And a pair of slippers in the car
When it got warmer the pants were transformed in short ones,
fleece went of and slippers instead of shoes and socks

If you intend to do a nightdrive dont forget gloves and something to cover your head. Can get cold in a open truck
And a windbreaker or something similar works wonders as well

I will be visiting Kruger in May and I have read that it will be cold.
Does this mean that for early morning and night drives I should wear a heavy long coat over heavy pants, a thick sweater, and long underwear (thermals)?
Is it this cold?
(I am not accustomed to the cold.)
Also, I have a question about what colors are appropriate.
The Kruger SAN Parks website and/or Kruger private lodge web sites, discourage the wearing of white or other bright clothes--because you are too visible to animals (though I am not at all clear on what animals see).
Meanwhile, I have read time and again (not on the SAN Parks website) that dark clothes are not good to wear at night or early morning as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, especially black and navy blue.
So what should I wear?
I just bought some khaki and olive green clothes for daytime wear, but will it matter if I wear a white jacket or black jacket at night or early morning as it will be dark anyhow?
I would hate to bring too much stuff, or pack clothes that will be of little use to me.
I also have a separate question related to early morning drives.
Not being a morning person, I need a little caffeine (tea) to wake up and get going.
However, the only bungalows I could book for Kruger are with communal kitchens.
Would it, then, be a good idea to take a Thermos with me so that I can make some tea the night before, that I can then drink in my bungalow before heading out on a morning drive (which I understand starts at about 5:30 a.m.)?
My Thermos keeps beverages hot all day.
I can't see running to the communal kitchen just before 5 a.m. and heating up some water for tea.
What do other folks do?
I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Any colour jacket will do. As long as it isnt a light colour
And mozzies are after blood and dont care much for the colour
of your jacket.
The thing is with a black jacket that it warms up fast in the sun
and insects like the warmth.

You can get hot water from the communal kitchen for you tea

I am a coffee man and wont move unless i had a mug (or two)

I just wear some fleece and jeans for drives or walks.
Being rather partial to dark colours (blue and black) for some reason chances are high that I'll be wearing that, unless I grabbed something else from my suitcase, like a grey shirt and red fleece.
Most animals can't see much in the way of colour, so a black or red fleece will look pretty much the same to them.

As for early morning drinks, there is boiling water from the communal kitchen, so on the drive you can have as many cuppers as your flask will hold.
Off the tar roads I would be a little careful though.
Hot water and legs seem not to be good friends...

I went round and round these issues in my head for weeks, before finally deciding to post these questions, as I thought they might sound silly or trivial.
You are so right, though, that packing the right or wrong clothes can make all the difference in feeling comfortable so far away from home.
Will bring gloves and a hat.
Probably some pile, though the pieces I have are pretty bulky and heavy.
But, I agree, it is very insulating, great for protection against the cold.
Excellent suggestion.
I will be sure to bring light cotton clothes for the daytime.
Yes, I, too, until recently mainly owned black, navy blue, white and red clothes.
Now I can add a few pieces of khaki to the list!
I was getting set to buy more for my trip, but would rather save the money for other expenses.
Likewise, I always thought most animals could see only a limited range of color (with the exception of other primates, squirrels, and some birds).
Nocturnal animals, I think, would have an especially limited range of color vision, probably mostly attuned to blacks, whites and grays.
So I can probably get away with wearing my favorite, warmest hooded red sweatshirt on the night drives, after-all.
That's good news about the boiling water being available 24/7.
After waking I am like a zombie in a coma until I have had my tea.
I couldn't see going out on an early morning game drive in such a state.

Hi Tangi,
we always go to Kruger every May/June and I can assure you that altho the early mornings are cold the day heats up rapidly and it can become very hot by midday.
Also, the morning/night drive vehicles usually have some blankets available to wrap around your legs.
So don't go too overboard with warm clothes.
Enjoy.

Thats why i use Zipp-off pants.
At 10.00 the temps are for shorts

Leave the long coat, but a thick sweater and heavy pants will do. a beanie is useful also. Just remember when the sun gets up it starts getting warmer quickly. You might want to peel off, so wear something lighter underneath.


Not relevant, go for practicality rather than colour. No animal is going to run away from a Man United shirt (Liverpool maybe ) Just don't wear a leopardskin suit and a pith helmet, you will be ID'd as a tourist immediately.


By May, it should be cold enough to kill off the mozzies, so this is not a major factor. Just get a Tabard spray and do your hands & head for the occasional survivor


Yes, the kitchens all have PERMANENT BOILING WATER on tap, so you just take your thermos with your brand of caffeine powder in and fill up. It takes seconds.
Another practical tip. Persuade yourself that you ARE a morning person, and if not, put your watch forward 3 hours so you run to the kitchen at 8a.m!!

You are investing a lot of money in this fantastic trip Tangi, don't let the time rob you of any experience. As Bon Jovi says, you can sleep when you're dead.

Enjoy!