Going on Safari in September in Mozambique. When on safari what do you prefer to wear shorts or pants.? Reasoning behind and any suggestions to brand or type.

I wear pants.

My main reason is to fend off snags, rips, etc. of flesh on the trail. On my first safari in Zim, my friend was elephant hunting. He came back on his first day out, and his legs were absolutely shredded. More red blood than white skin on those legs. He had chosen shorts. I guess that image has stayed with me.

Also, I don’t seem to suffer from hot legs on safari. Hot torso sometimes (Luangwa Valley in Nov.), but not hot legs. Perhaps we’re all different, and others do suffer hot legs. Shorts would make sense then I guess.

My favorite pants are Wrangler Riggs Workwear and Cabela’s Trail Hiker, both brands have lots of pockets, (7) each, and the Wranglers are made of rip stop material, which I like the best.

YMMV

I wore the Cabelas Trail Hikers in Mozambique hunting buff in the Delta. Protection from sun is also important.
I also wear them hunting in US, to work, dinner, around the house……
Wearing the same pants I wear all the time, broke in, comfortable, they are an extension of me.

Pants unless you want to feed the seed ticks, Tetsi flies, and assorted vicious little bastards, take a big roll or silver tape to close up the cuffs..

ONly Africans locals and PHs are immune to bugs and flying insects, only the indigenous and PHs go barefooted, wear shorts or deck shoes in Africa btw..

bugs are more dangerous than chaging elephants, buffalo or male lions, can ruin a safari..

Trousers.

Always.

Find some Convertible pants that you zip off the bottom 2/3 of the leg. You'll be prepared for about any conditions you will find.

Mark

I always take and wear both to Africa. Same answer as to long and short sleeve shirts. Depending on the terrain and the hunt I wear either shorts or long pants. When wearing shorts, I always wear gaiters with my hunting boots. I would suggest taking some of each. Your hunt, though. Enjoy!

Pants. If I wore shorts the glare would warn every animal for miles.

Shorts, the shortest ones you can find. Show off those legs.

Sweats over top for the morning truck rides and evenings around the camp fire if winter months.

Take some convertible (zip-off’s) if you must.

Trousers.

Whenever this question comes up, I am reminded of the great Stewart Edward White's comments on the subject, from his brilliant book, The Land of Footprints, published over 100 years ago and still true:

"In passing I would call your attention to "shorts." Shorts are loose, bobbed off khaki breeches, like knee drawers. With them are worn puttees or leather leggings, and low boots. The knees are bare. They are much affected by young Englishmen.

I observed them carefully at every opportunity, and my private opinion is that man has rarely managed to invent as idiotically unfitted a contraption for the purpose in hand. In a country teeming with poisonous insects, ticks, fever-bearing mosquitoes; in a country where vegetation is unusually well armed with thorns, spines and hooks, mostly poisonous; in a country where, oftener than in any other a man is called upon to get down on his hands and knees and crawl a few assorted abrading miles, it would seem an obvious necessity to protect one's bare skin as much as possible.

The only reason given for these astonishing garments is that they are cooler and freer to walk in. That I can believe.

But they allow ticks and other insects to crawl up, mosquitoes to bite, thorns to tear, and assorted troubles to enter. And I can vouch by experience that ordinary breeches are not uncomfortably hot or tight. Indeed, one does not get especially hot in the legs anyway. I noticed that none of the old-time hunters like Cuninghame or Judd wore shorts.

The real reason [that Englishmen affect the wearing of shorts] is not that they are cool, but that they are picturesque. Common belief to the contrary, your average practical, matter-of-fact Englishman loves to dress up . . . . I am not criticising the spirit in them; but merely trying to keep mistaken shorts off you."

Pants.

Usually pants. I always pack shorts as well. When it’s open country and dry with not many insects I will wear shorts, otherwise pants. All clothing sprayed with permethrin to keep bugs and mosquitos away. Pants are always checked for ticks. Tick bite fever is not fun.

Shorts for me. Always .

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Trousers.

Whenever this question comes up, I am reminded of the great Stewart Edward White's comments on the subject, from his brilliant book, The Land of Footprints, published over 100 years ago and still true:

"In passing I would call your attention to "shorts." Shorts are loose, bobbed off khaki breeches, like knee drawers. With them are worn puttees or leather leggings, and low boots. The knees are bare. They are much affected by young Englishmen.

I observed them carefully at every opportunity, and my private opinion is that man has rarely managed to invent as idiotically unfitted a contraption for the purpose in hand. In a country teeming with poisonous insects, ticks, fever-bearing mosquitoes; in a country where vegetation is unusually well armed with thorns, spines and hooks, mostly poisonous; in a country where, oftener than in any other a man is called upon to get down on his hands and knees and crawl a few assorted abrading miles, it would seem an obvious necessity to protect one's bare skin as much as possible.

The only reason given for these astonishing garments is that they are cooler and freer to walk in. That I can believe.

But they allow ticks and other insects to crawl up, mosquitoes to bite, thorns to tear, and assorted troubles to enter. And I can vouch by experience that ordinary breeches are not uncomfortably hot or tight. Indeed, one does not get especially hot in the legs anyway. I noticed that none of the old-time hunters like Cuninghame or Judd wore shorts.

The real reason [that Englishmen affect the wearing of shorts] is not that they are cool, but that they are picturesque. Common belief to the contrary, your average practical, matter-of-fact Englishman loves to dress up . . . . I am not criticising the spirit in them; but merely trying to keep mistaken shorts off you."

That was brilliant

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Shirts for me. Always .

You might want to read the question again Larry

Unless it's really cold, always shorts with gaiters over my boots.

Trouble is some clients like to be like their professional hunters.

Doesn't work.

Professional hunters have as much pain sense in their bodies as they have normal sense between their ears.

Just about detectable by an electron microscope!

We followed some buffalo, and managed to shoot one after midday.

On trying to get close, we had to crawl on some rocks.

I was wearing jeans.

Roy was wearing shorts.

I can barely manage to crawl on the hot rocks with my jeans, Roy was crawling with his bare knees as if there was nothing there.

After I shot the bull, Roy went to get the truck.

I was left behind with two German friends, a father and son.

This was in Chete, in October.

No shade, as hot as hades.

Each one of us found a small mopane tree - no leaves - about 8 inch in diameter to sit by avoiding the sun.

My friend's father was almost dead by the time Roy came back with the truck.

So go ahead and wear shorts, and enjoy the punishment!

I like Larry’s comment. It begs the next question: sleeves or no sleeves?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Shirts for me. Always .

You might want to read the question again Larry

F’ing autocorrect

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Find some Convertible pants that you zip off the bottom 2/3 of the leg. You'll be prepared for about any conditions you will find.

Mark

This! Best of both worlds.

Shorts. Always

Shorts always...

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
I like Larry’s comment. It begs the next question: sleeves or no sleeves?

Unless your are John Sharp, may want to keep the sleeves....

I'm a shorts guy unless hunting in the jungle or it's cold, like the RSA mid-winter.

And I wear long sleeves and either roll the sleeves up or down as needed.

I like canvas material in my shorts for durability and an 8" inseam. Mountain Kakhi, Carhart and Patagonia are brands I have worn...

Shorts and short sleeves, and bring a light jacket/fleece/softshell with a windstopper membrane for cold mornings. Feeling the hot needle of the occasional tsetse fly bite is part of the fun.

And don't wear gaiters with long pants, unless you're really wanting to look the bozo. With shorts, on the other hand, they're helpful.

My feeelings are hurt, I said the same thing as whitey said but in two sentences, bloody English bastards!!

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
I like Larry’s comment. It begs the next question: sleeves or no sleeves?

Unless your are John Sharp, may want to keep the sleeves....

Shorts are popular in Namibia, but I've only had a couple of PH's in Tanzania that hunted in shorts. I never will. I'd add one thing, I don't hunt in light pants -- anymore -- and prefer Carharts. Had a similar situation to what Saeed described and was hunting in lightweight pants. As I was sliding over the rocks to try to get a shot, I shredded those pants and finished that day's hunt with a pair of pants taped together by duct tape, which thankfully, I always carry in my daypack.

So for me, not just pants, but something like jeans, appropriately colored of course. This year, I'm actually taking a couple of pairs of overalls. They have advantages I think, but I'll let you know how that goes.

And long sleeves always. You can always roll long sleeves up, but you can't roll short sleeves down. I like shirts with tabs.

I wore shorts some days and long pants on other days in Sept. in Mozambique up in Niassa. Ticks were not bad, but there were a lot of Tsetse flies. Pick your poison, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Preferred brands for pants or shorts: Wrangler Riggs Workwear, Duluth Firehose Flex, Carhartt

In my six safaris to Namibia I’ve worn shorts ONCE. My legs were so chewed up from thorns and brush I bled like a sieve. Once was enough- I’m a big Carrhart fan for pants

Depends on terrain and vegetation.

In the jesse and mopane terrain etc in Zim shorts will be best. In high grass, sticky bush and thorns pants will be better.

Morten

I'm a convertible pant fan. That being said, the pant legs stayed in the pack on the truck the entire 10 days I was in Zim this month, the same as they have on my previous two trips (Limpopo).

And if a zipper breaks they'll stay in the truck as well. Convertible pants are one of life's complications I don't need, but I'm old and intolerant.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'm old and intolerant.

I resemble that remark.

Just man up! Wear the shorts,look the part! (Unless it's a bit chilly, the flies are bad, the thorns are thick, then be a wimp like me)

Had on what those trousers that zip off to shorts.

Arrived at camp lunch time with two buffalo, and decided to call it a day.

After lunch, I thought I might take a dip in the river to cool off.

The question of crocs came up.

A couple of nights earlier, we counted 35 crocs in front of the camp!

Walter and me have swam in that river before, but he chickened out on this particular day.

Rene and Maktoum were adamant that I should NOT go swim.

What they did not not know was that I flew a drone several hundred yards either side of our camp, and couldn't see a single croc!

Zipped off my trousers, and started down the river bank.

Rene was shouting that I should wait.

She is getting her camera to record me being eaten!

Maktoum was on his sat phone to his wife - who apparently is terrified of crocs!

Went back to the mess tent and got a Coke to enjoy while lying in the cool water of teh river.

Had a nice long swim.

Again, in the evening, lots of crocs showed up.

Too late!

Shorts!
With a pair of sweat over in the cool mornings

Shorts with a long sleeve fishing shirt. Frankly I've never encountered anything worse than a 2-3 year old cutover in Louisiana while in Africa.

I take both and make a decision on what to wear after I get to the hunting destination.