Seen various site saying "Don't wear camo" and I can understand that in Africa.

However, I'm getting conflicting date regarding colors for clothing. I currently have Khaki pants and sage shirts. But I'm now wondering if instead I should go all dark colors (OD green, rust, sage) for pants and shirts.

Any thoughts/ideas on this? Does it really matter hunting plains game in Namibia on a ranch what color clothing I'm wearing?

Khaki shows up almost white in bright conditions for sure, but darker clothes are hotter.

Yes, darker is better. Sage, Olive, Rust, Blue, not sure it matters exactly what the color is just so long as it is a darker shade.

I have only hunted in Zimbabwe but from what I've seen there it doesn't seem to make any real difference. If you look at most of the trackers and most of the workers they wear almost any color you give them. Almost all the farm workers wear coveralls of one color,whatever that particular ranch chooses. Most of the PH's I know wear shorts and have bare legs of a uniformally tan color. Just wear something comfortable and quiet according to my PH. He was more concerned with noise and movement than color. Levi's and kahki shirts has been fine for me. I wear long pants and long sleeve shirts as I hate the thorns.

Garry Duckworth mentioned to me that he prefers darker colors when hunting.

Our very talented second tracker Jeff wore a bright red t shirt and bright TEAL colored pants.

I have purchased the same for myself since returning from Zim.

Scott, I thought you were going to get a shirt like this?

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Scott, I thought you were going to get a shirt like this?

Classic!!

Check with your PH and see if he has a preference. I think the darker, more subdued colors already mentioned are the best. What every you take, it should be comfortable and quiet.

I know of at least one PH in Namibia that likes camo in the field - but you can't wear it in town.


Phil

It also depends on where you hunt. If you are headed to Namibia, the colours of the drier environment tend to be a tad lighter than what you find in Natal or the Zambezi Valley, say. Washed out sage, olive or tan normally work well.

Another matter is whether colours actually matter much at all. Some people hunt in jeans and seem to do well. Most PHs prefer muted colours, though.

- mike

I think the best thing is to wear darker colors, like dark blue geans, and the olive long sleeve shirts like the Cabela's Saringetti safari shirts. I don't like Cammo clothing, and see absolutely no need for it in Africa, or just about anyplace else, except combat!

The long sleeve shirts are a welcome thing when the sun goes down and you are rideing 30 clicks in a hunting car with no wind screen, and I might suggest a very wind proof, and warm jacket, and gogles.

Some one mentioned something, the other day, that I had never thought about.

He said, "I do not hunt in shorts, or short sleeves, because I'm not too keen on getting stabbed by a thorn that has just stabbed a tracker right ahead of me,because of AIDS transmision!" That, my friends, is something to think about!

My Ph recommended and wore camo shirts and neutral pants. I wore older jeans every day, he wore jeans most days.

Attitudes seem to be changing about camo. Ten years ago when I first went to Africa it was almost a "no-no." My last trip, my ph asked me to send him some of the new fleece woodland camo.

I think that the classic light khaki, like our semi dress pants, is considered too light and in the bush it is seen as white. Better is dark to middle browns or greens. I prefer a green like our old fatigues before camo.

You need a sweater or light fleece in this color or a medium brown and a light jacket.

Because your legs move, pant color is more critical in the opinion of several of my phs.

Kudude

I quit using camo in the US as I cannot see that it matters. I do not use it in Africa, but prefer dark green or brown. The animals seem to see movement not the color. Smell is my problem...

I have owned it all and sold most of the various brands in my store but the older I get the more I think this...it is movement and smell that will give you away more than anything. How do you find most game? I bet it is because it moved! You might smell some Elk or Buff but most of the time something moved and caught our eye.
I don't think Dan Boone had Mossy Oak or Sniper on! Evidently he did not starve.
I love that yellow T shirt and the saying on the back of the tracker! What a hoot.
I have wandered about Africa in my white New Balance walking shoes and I have not scared anything off because they are white that I know about. I have used both camo and just everday clothes both and so far....so good. Heads are on the wall and the meat went in the tummies.
But hey...now and then a fella just needs to style a little bit. Just because Chui doesn't say, "Nice threads Bwana" is no sign you should not try something!

As kudude says, attitudes to camo is changing in Africa. You have a lot of PH's who served in the military.......some very seriously! And then a lot of them are keen bow hunters. My PH in Namibia last year, Mike Kibble, really liked the Natural Gear camo we had. Yes; camo doesn't offer any benefits to concealment, if the wind is wrong or you are moving, but if you have to freeze in place, I think it helps.

I think one piece of clothing that has not been mentioned is a hat...........that should be camo in my opinion, or a dark colour.

And the lighter shades of khaki do show up as very light...........I would avoid wearing them.

Well it is good to hear about camo not being as much of a "no-no" as it used to be. I have and like Multicam:

http://www.multicampattern.com/IMAGES.htm

I have light khaki pants as well, but I think I'll send those back and get some darker olive, brown, and sage. Perhaps just use my Multicam stuff on the ranch and save the nicer looking things for Windhoek.

I went to Zim this past Sept. I wore OD shirts and tan shorts. My PH wore TEAL colored shirts and shorts the entire 10 day safari. The animals did not seem to care.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
I think the best thing is to wear darker colors, like dark blue geans, and the olive long sleeve shirts like the Cabela's Saringetti safari shirts. I don't like Cammo clothing, and see absolutely no need for it in Africa, or just about anyplace else, except combat!

The long sleeve shirts are a welcome thing when the sun goes down and you are rideing 30 clicks in a hunting car with no wind screen, and I might suggest a very wind proof, and warm jacket, and gogles.

Some one mentioned something, the other day, that I had never thought about.

He said, "I do not hunt in shorts, or short sleeves, because I'm not too keen on getting stabbed by a thorn that has just stabbed a tracker right ahead of me,because of AIDS transmision!" That, my friends, is something to think about!

medically and statistically you are more likely to win the next big Powerball lottery than you are to get HIV via a random thorn scratch by the same thorn. PH's are almost always in shorts and short sleeved shirts without having a problem. i would be a lot more concerned about a traffic accident travelling to or from the concession and needing a blood transfusion. bottom line- if you are so nervous about acquiring AIDS in africa to let it affect how you DRESS, you are going to worry enough to let it have a negative impact on is what the the greatest hunting experience on earth!! as far as color of clothing, medium earth tones. when you see what the trackers wear and realize they are out in front when stalking, you see that color isn't a big deal.

My opinion is a good scope will cure most any camo issues.

Seriously, camo is WAY overrated. ie Will you be behind a tree or a bush? Will you be stalking in the grass or will there be rocky outcroppings behind you? Please... Depending on what your hunting (dangerous game or plains game) will mean that there will be a minimum of three of you moving around out there.

Take a look at the pics of other hunters and what they were wearing. You'll see them wearing all kinds of colors and styles.

Just take something that's not bleached white. Make sure it's comfortable and quiet and have a great time.

Camo is not necessary. Just wear something dark and comfortable. I don't wear camo here at home and have no problems. I would wear it for varminting or turkey hunting but that's about it.

The reason I don't use camo in Africa is that I cannot wear it town and it would be just one more piece of clothing to carry. Besides, I don't think it would have mattered anyway because my guide and tracker always got us downwind of the game and we would be able to get pretty close without being detected. More important to me was wearing pants that were thorn resistant and long-sleeved shirts to ward off thorns and protect my arms from sunburn. When I go I take only 4 changes of clothing - 3 for hunting and 1 for travelling. Sometimes I give away my clothes to the trackers rather than take them back to the States. That way I would have more room for souveniers.



What you wear or don't wear shouldn't be that big of an issue.

Namibiahunter

What I have heard from a zoologist ( and hunter) , is that, in open field, many animals are sensitive to "quick " color/brightness variations ( ie : "high spatial frequencies") and that, for that reason, in open or relatively open fields, a uniform color had to be prefered to "camo patchworks"

Rust color John? In Kalahari wy not?



Please do not take in consideration my expression, I had the sun in the eyes and some little problems with contact lenses. I was near to cry.

In RSA, I wore camo or olive / dark tan. The PH's wore camo, and the trackers had dark green jump suits. Ask your PH for his recommendation.

Cammo has its place, but I don't think big game hunting is one of them. Cammo can be effective, but only if everyone in your party is wearing it. If you have trackers and a PH wearing regular clothes, cammo on you is not going to matter.

Smell, sound, motion - those are the things you need to worry about.

Guys,

If someone is going to buy clothes especially for safari. Green tones will probably be the most useful overall. In most cases jeans and earth tone cotton t-shirts will work fine. Camo in non military patterns is fine just don't wear it while traveling by air or road and not in towns.

I think "Safari" clothes are overrated and you definitely will stand out as a "newbie" if you show up with the full wardrobe from Cabelas, Orvis etc.

Mark

Agreed with Mark. I'm surprised by how many Americans wear camo on the plane to Africa. I think it's inappropriate personally.

The reason I don't wear jeans in the field is because, quite honestly, I can't stand how it feels especially when it gets hot. 100% cotton, BDUs, etc. are much more "breathable" to me, easier to adjust, and extra pockets are also nice.

Thanks for the advice on clothing.

Now, about "scent" - any recommended ways, products, etc. to help in that area?

Luckily I don't smoke, so that is one scent I don't have to worry about.

Get downwind of one of the trackers and then tell me if you think any scent control on your part will be necessary,LOL! The PH will keep you downwind on the stalks, and that's worth more than anything else, given the above.

Yeah, you're right on that one.

I wore green, longsleeve shirts for sun protection and jeans last time, and also a pair of those Beretta thorn pants that don't make any noise. Woulda fried in a T shirt.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
The reason I don't use camo in Africa is that I cannot wear it town and it would be just one more piece of clothing to carry. Besides, I don't think it would have mattered anyway because my guide and tracker always got us downwind of the game and we would be able to get pretty close without being detected. More important to me was wearing pants that were thorn resistant and long-sleeved shirts to ward off thorns and protect my arms from sunburn. When I go I take only 4 changes of clothing - 3 for hunting and 1 for travelling. Sometimes I give away my clothes to the trackers rather than take them back to the States. That way I would have more room for souveniers.



What you wear or don't wear shouldn't be that big of an issue.

Namibiahunter

NamibiaHunter,did you get lucky with her?

Olive green works for me anywhere I'm hunting. Not just Africa.

I bow hunt a lot and camo clothing is a must for me most of the time. I usually don't wear it in Africa because like as been stated before the PH and trackers won't be wearing it, so kinda useless if you are the only one out of four or five doing so. I also use scent absorbing clothing while bowhunting and have seen positive effects with it. The only time I have used scent clothing in Africa was in RSA on a bow hunt only and I supplied a set for my PH who accompanied me in the hide. I usually opt for olive green, or brown in pants,shirts and hat for most African adventures. I like cotton fabrics that are of a loose fit nature and in a "broken in" condition.

Larry Sellers

Namibiahunter: It seems to me that that open air bazaar is right next the the Namibian Supreme Court Building in Windhoek. Is that correct? (It appears that part of the Supreme Court building is in the background of the pic) Unfortunately, when we were there in July there was no such creature stalking the area!

I've been so close to elk wearing that same outfit above the things could've peed on me. So much for camo and scent absorbing clothing. If the wind is with you and you don't move you can be as close as you want.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCrighton:
Seen various site saying "Don't wear camo" and I can understand that in Africa.

However, I'm getting conflicting date regarding colors for clothing. I currently have Khaki pants and sage shirts. But I'm now wondering if instead I should go all dark colors (OD green, rust, sage) for pants and shirts.

Any thoughts/ideas on this? Does it really matter hunting plains game in Namibia on a ranch what color clothing I'm wearing?

If you filter through the guys with more experience than the guys with less experience, the conclusion from the guys with more is that it doesn't really make any difference.

The biggest two factors is to stay out of sight and downwind.

And dark clothes are very much hotter than hell.

quote:

If you filter through the guys with more experience than the guys with less experience, the conclusion from the guys with more is that it doesn't really make any difference.

That's true for big game. Maybe not so for pass-shooting birds.

How many people who wear blaze orange at home, agonize over which shade of khaki to wear in Africa? By the time you parade 3 to 5 people through the bush, colour choice is just a detail, and not a very important one.

Dark Khaki is probabl best all around color, its an earth color and natural to any enviorment.

Dark Green is condusive to drawing Tetsi flies to you in Tanzania, they like dark colors.

IMO its not a big deal, just stay away from any very light or white color as a white flash is a warning signal to wildlife of all kinds.

Movement, smell, and noise are the most detrimental to hunting...the color of your clothes is the least important..I have had deer, plainsgame walk within feet of me in all kinds of cothes and if I was still they just ignored me with an ocassional suspecious look.

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
How many people who wear blaze orange at home, agonize over which shade of khaki to wear in Africa?

Conversely, how many people in Africa wear wildy different colored clothing while hunting when guys at home swear that camo clothing is a necessity?

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson: Dark Green is condusive to drawing Tetsi flies to you in Tanzania, they like dark colors.

Did not know that. Thanks.