Hunting for plains game in SA this coming July. What do you recommend for clothing while hunting?

Loud Hawaiian shirts, white shorts, black knee-high socks and white patent leather sandals.
Kidding! Depends on where you are going, but it is hard to beat olive and dark khaki. As far as short or long pants and sleeved shirts, it is whateer you are most comfortable in. The most important thing is well-worn shoes you are comfortable in.

Brian

I suggest you check Terry Carr's excellent treatise on his Packing List at the African Hunting - Reference Forum. Great suggestions. Your PH or Safari outfit may also be able to help you with a packing list.

Filson shirts

First, you will find one of the most comprehensive packing lists here:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/122101325/m/869101261

That being said, think light. Most folks over pack for Africa. Each time I go, I end up taking less.

Be sure to take some warm gloves, a knit stocking cap, neck gaiter and medium to heavy jacket for those morning/late night rides in the back of the truck. I take a cheap fleece vest and heavy fleece jacket with me each year. Leave these with your trackers when your hunt is over.

The pants with zip off legs are the most versatile garment you can have in your bag.

Comfortable shoes (all leather, so the thorns will not stick you) are a must.

There are lots of other things you will need but really, read through the list above and you will have it covered.

Hello Muggles,

1. Two pair of shorts.

2. One long-leg pant.

3. Two short-sleeve shirts.

4. One long-sleeve shirt.

5. Jacket or seater for early morn/late eve

6. Light gloves

7. Canvas gater around boot to protect laces.

8. Cap to shade face and give sun protestion.

Wear a set of comfortable clothes you can use in the bush on the plane. Color: Everything safari green.

As referenced above, Terry's list is good. Add to or subtract from it as you see the need. Olive drab is a good color as has been stated.

One more thing Muggles,

Marino wool socks are the only way to fly.

Here is a kind of excessive list. * Items used ( It was cold in Limpopo in June)

Complete Clothing List – to be divided between wearing, carryon, check in, and Tuff Pak
*Three 5.11 long sleeve shirts, 1 each khaki, sage, and olive
*Two olive 5.11 pants, and one khaki (wear on the plane)
One pair of brown wranglers
Gray/green canvas shirt
*One set of long underwear
*Five changes of briefs
*Four cotton socks
*Three wool socks with poly liners
*Desert Oakley boots
*Vasque Sundowner Gore-Tex hiking books
Short canvas gaiters, either Boyt or home made from cut off BDU’s
One or two 5.22 shorts
*Cabelas Windshear fleece jacket
*Waxed cotton outer jacket (on the plane)
*Wilderness frequent flyer belt (on plane)
Wilderness 5 stitch Instructor belt
*Zip neck polypro military ECWCS underwear top
*Tilley Hat
British dark khaki boonie hat
*5.11 baseball cap
*Water sandals (shower shoes)


Doyle

Amongst the best advice I've read in these pages is to take a set of field clothes in carry-on with you. Or wear them. And carry your toiletries kit. (Minus what security won't allow, of course.)

That worked for me in 2002 when SAA waylaid my luggage (and guns) for 4 days of a 6 day plainsgame hunt in Namibia.

South Africa (July) in the morning....quite cool if not cold...we had frost one morning in August. Mid-late morning...very comfy. Afternoons can be warm. Can you say layers....
In the evening around the campfire...cool again.

As others have said DON'T OVERPACK.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

Don't take elk hunting style boots. They are terribly noisy on the stalk--your PH will give those boots some mean looks. Found this out the hard way on my first safari. Check out the Chippewa gum style soles.

2 items.

1. Zipper leg pants (converable pants)
2. A windproof jacket. It isn't necessarily cold until you ride on the back of the truck going out in the AM or returning after dark. You need something that can stop the wind with a little insulation.

I like 511 long sleeved shirts and pants.

The cotton if it is warm and dry, the nylon if it is cold and wet.

I wear Under Armour T shirts and briefs.

quote:

Loud Hawaiian shirts, white shorts, black knee-high socks and white patent leather sandals.

Brian, now you can't just can't wear what you usually put on for a Saturday night date in Oklahoma!

Take a warm jacket and knit cap for the early morning buggy rides. I was a waling ad for Cabelas. My PH hunted in green gym shorts a muscle shirt and some kind of high tech flip flops.

The folks at Long-grass outfitters have some comfortable shirts and pants. They are forum members and really nice folks

Pack what you think you'll need and then take at least half of it out. Frist time safari goers always take WAY too much gear and clothing. Remember, especially in SA, your laundry will be done every day.

Bwanna...Good point on packing way too much!

Besides, You are going to want to save a little space for goodies you pick up along the way. Well broken in boots are the most important item of all. IMO, everything else, including your rifle, is secondary. If your feet are not happy, you will not be happy. Three sets of clothes including what you wear over, sweater, jacket, ammo, rifle, wool socks (medium hikers), camera (maybe 2), travel journal.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:

quote:

Loud Hawaiian shirts, white shorts, black knee-high socks and white patent leather sandals.

Brian, now you can't just can't wear what you usually put on for a Saturday night date in Oklahoma!

The folks at Long-grass outfitters have some comfortable shirts and pants.

Rusty, A man has to stick with what works!!! Besides I learned how to dress to impress from some Texas beauties.

I have looked at a lot of the Long Grass stuff. It does look like it would be good, quality gear. Might have to try out a few of their prducts. What of theirs have you used?

Brian

Cabela's safari shirts are great fitting, good design, well made, and downright cheap. Both L and S sleeve, talls available, several colors. Stick with darker colors. Light khakie looks nice, not so goo camo. They have shorts and pants to match.

I agree about the merino socks. Wear'em all year. Also boots. Soft soles are more quiet. Stay away from white if you're using sport shoes.

I like to have a fleece top and bottom, bottom zip off, for early and late. Gets damn cold in the bakkie, baas.

Yeah Brian that's why I dress that way ona Saturday night! They can't resist an old balding fat man in an Hawaiian shirt and knee high socks! If things get rough I drag out my Kilt!

I own both the light weight and Safari weight short sleeve shirt. The light wieght is a great September Dove hunting shirt. The Heavier Safari would be great for everything else. The shirts are comfortable and plenty of room for us old fat guys!

I also own a pair of gaiters and their take down shooting sticks!

Here is a link Long-Grass Outfitters

Both Melody and Gerald are wonderful folks!

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:

The folks at Long-grass outfitters have some comfortable shirts and pants. They are forum members and really nice folks

Rusty
My wife’s Safari kit came from Long Grass. You are right Great people
Doyle

“That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's companyâ€

Whatever you take, leave it behind when you come home. The trackers and skinners will appreciate it.

It will be colder than you anticipated. I would pick stuff that doesn't catch as easily on thorns. If you are wearing a sweater, make sure you've got something you can put on over it to make it a little less of a thorn catcher.

Muggles,

If you want to buy all the safari gear from the safari outfitters you can but it really is not necessary. You can get light weight cotton pants and shirts from about anywhere and probably save a bundle. The 14 pockets, zippers. loops etc. on most "safari" gear is for the looks rather than function.

Personally in RSA where it can be quite cold I've found well broken in jeans very comfortable and they give good protection against thorns also. They can be had in greens and browns from several sources.

Mark

Under Armor as a base layer - either heat gear or cold gear. Its cold in the morning riding on the back of a truck. It gets cold at night if you decide an evening run for caracal or bush pig.

I've worn the cold gear top indoor and outside with no discomfort - the stuff is worth it.

two pairs of gloves - 1 pair insulated or leather work gloves, 1 uninsulated (like Bob Allen shooting gloves).

When riding in the back of a truck, your hands won't be in your pockets - you'll be reaching for binos, camera, rifle and often bracing yourself when the truck stumbles into an aardvark hole!

Wool Socks - or good synthetic socks with a wicking or sanitary layer. Pro-Hiking socks are a good starting point.

I like the convertible pants, but found more use out of a good pair of BDU's or Cabelas Nail Head trailhiker pants - they are very durable and not as heavy as the Carhart canvas pants. A good pair of broken in jeans shouldn't be overlooked.

Safari shirts are ok - the cheap polyester ones itch - get the 100% cotton shirts. Don't skimp on quality.

Poly blend undershirts - they breathe, you won't get chilled from them - again Under Armor.

A good pull-over top like fleece with a hood - check out Cabelas Revolution fleece in outfitter camo. The insulated ones are so warm you won't need a jacket, but in Africa - always be prepared. You could go with an uninsulated pullover and an (thinsulate) insulated vest or jacket.

An insulated vest or jacket that converts into a vest is a good top layer. Avoid "puffy" down vests - the vegetation will shred them.

A neck gaiter or a balaclava is perfect. Wish I had one.

Depending on where and with whom you hunt, you'll be able to shed your layers by lunchtime, and pack lghtly for the rest of the afternoon.

Buckwing Neoprene Tick Gaiters. Not for the ticks....

If you wear high lace boots, you won't be reaching down to re-tie your boots.

A pair of Wolverine Ranch Wellingtons (multishox or durashox) are comfy if you need a good all purpose boot - break in all your footwear before you go. I suggest you find a place near home and hike some hills. I didn't do an incredible amount of climb-hiking, but for two or three days, mostly walking and sitting.

A comfy sweatsuit for after the hunt - those shearling mocs are nice on the feet after a long day's hunt.

I am one of those people who cannot stand the cold, but has very little tolerance of being over-clothed. I love the UnderArmor and won't shoot in anything else. Their HeatGear is great and so easily layered with other stuff - Long Grass and She Safari stuff specifically.

Again, the zip-off pants are prefect. Mine are zipped off by 8:30 a.m. and not back on until the ride back to camp, but I appreciate them every little bit.

UnderArmour also makes a balaclava, which I have and use, and other misc. stuff that is great. If you look on Brigade Quartermasters you will find everything in browns/greens.

Just MO

From my nephew
My Two Cents
BY
Josh

I thought I would come and throw my two cents in. I'm the one on the far right in the group picture.


IMG]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c373/dmhuff/Africa06Dean085.jpg[/IMG]
One thing that always interests me in reading in talking about hunting is what gears works and what does not so I will give a quick run-down of some of the stuff I used.

Clothing:
Under Armour Cold Gear long underwear
Cabelas Trailhiker Pants
Cabelas Serengeti Safari Shirts
Cabelas (anyone see a trend here) ECWCS Polartec Jacket
Hatch Winter Specialist gloves
Oakly SI Desert boots

Other gear:
Leupold Wind River 8x42 binocs
Eagle Industries AIII pack
Tactical Intervention Specialists M24 sling

A quick word on performance...all of the above gear worked exceedingly well. The Under Armour
Was a lifesaver a couple mornings because I didn't have a heavy enough jacket. Even so I stayed at least comfortable enough to hunt despite being a little bit of a sissy when it comes to cold. The Oakly boots were great for stalking as they are more akin to a heavily soled athletic shoe than a true boot. In terms of optics one thing I will take next time is a pair of range-finding binocs but the Leupolds I took on this trip were more than up to the task. About the only gripe I have is on the TIS sling. You could use this thing for a tow strap if needed but the hardware was a little noisy. Not sure what I'll do for a sling next time.

dark is better than light colors

September 2001: hunting Vaal Rheabok (sp?) in RSA it was downright cold and I had to borrow clothing. Throw a sweatshirt, long pants, and outer jacket in with your kit. Once the sun sets it can get cold while riding in the back of any hunting vehicle.

Wear what you can hunt in on the plane. Pack important stuff in your carry-on. It might indeed be the only thing that shows up with you at the airport.

I like longsleeve stuff as the sun is tough on my skin. Thorns are very real too. Long pants are good (or knee pads) as I've attempted to crawl on my hands/knees for a couple hundred yards and could not do it on bare skin.

What you don't need are two pair of boots and remember they will be doing your laundry at least every other day. One pair of all-purpose hunting boots and some light shoes for camp use is all you need.

Obviously the boots issue depends on where you go. If you are going somewhere wet, you will want to have two pairs of boots so that one can dry during the day while you're hunting. That is just my experience.

The only other thing about having two pairs of boots is even if they are both the exact same, it does help to switch out if you are having feet issues. JMO

Two years ago, as I was climbing back into the Land Rover,i caught the seat of my brand-new Tilley long pants on the door latch post. I put a 6" long tear in the arse of them and they were the only long pants I had with me. It's darned cold in Toronto in mid November when you walk out of the airport wearing hiking shorts. Sure wished I had taken 2 pair!