Hello gentleman,

My father and I will be going to South Africa for a 7 day plains game hunt this July (9-17) with cruiser safaris.

For those of you that hunt or have hunted South Africa in July, what do you recommend wearing on the typical day afield?

Any advice is appreciated

The early mornings on the back of a vehicle can be quite chilli. Take a warm jacket for the early mornings late afternoons and the evening around the campfire. A good pair of gloves is well worth having with you in the early mornings. It heats up during the day and once it heats up it is very pleasant. It helps to dress in layers, but don't over do it can get reasonably hot during the day in Limpopo. You might not believe it, but on 3 occasions while hunting I got sobbing wet with rain every time in June/July, but this should not be too big a concern,

For the rest - enjoy your hunt.

Thanks for the advice - very much appreciated.

What do you guys think of TAG safari clothing - was giving their explorer pants and shooting shirts a good look.

Jaco nailed it. I wore shorts many days, but the jacket did help in the mornings/evenings. During the middle of the day, I down right got pretty warm while tracking.

I have a number of TAG shirts, but no pants. The shirts have treated me right.

Last time i hunted in SA in July, it was the coldest i have ever been in Africa.
We wore everything we had in the morning and at night.
Middle of the day it does warm up nicely.

They were putting hot water bottles in our beds at night.

Be sure to take a warm fleece and a warm hat and gloves.

We hunted the last week of July and first 2 weeks of August last year. The elevation was about 4000' at the lodge, and 6000' on top of the mountains. Very cold in the mornings, with frost on the vehicles. My friend from Texas was uncomfortable until around 1000 every day, and wore his long johns until lunch every day. Being from the mountains here in Idaho, I just thought it was nice and very similar to home.

A warm coat, hat, and light gloves are nice, if nothing else they keep the wind off you while driving.

In my 5 trips over, in all types of terrain I have been happy with brown or green Wrangler jeans and green cotton shirts from Cabelas. The Tag line are excellent, and will last you for years.

Personally, I find the sleeves on TAG shirts too short.

quote:

Originally posted by HUNTER10:


What do you guys think of TAG safari clothing - was giving their explorer pants and shooting shirts a good look.

The old models from years ago were great but sadly they have added too many pockets, often with no way to close them for easy handling of your rifle.

I was in the northern part of SA last year in late may.

We had frost most mornings, and I was asking why it was so cold in Africa... I was told that the temps we were experiencing were normal. It was cold waking up, and I was glad for the thinsulate jacket and the watch cap.

It was in the mid 70's in the middle of the day, and quite dry.

Overall, very pleasant, but having something for the head and hands while riding in the cruiser in the morning is good. Most of the time I ended up taking off the jacket as soon as we got out of the truck.

If you think early fall in the northern US states, you will have the right idea.

CRB:
Sounds like that would have been a perfect
time of day to wear shorts!
George

In SA you have the SNIPER Africa series of clothes that fit in very well with colors and shadows from the sun and vegetation. Soft cloth and very comfortable. As camo is allowed in SA many guides/PH also wear them.

Check the web pages www.sniperafrica.com

Morten

In the Kimberley area last July, it was below freezing most mornings, and a jacket, gloves, and hat were needed. By mid-morning, we were back in our short-sleeved shirts.

To your standard African togs, I would add a lightweight fleece as well as a light jacket with a pair of gloves in the left pocket and a sock hat in the right pocket.

This will be our get-up when my brother and I return to RSA this coming July/August.

Thanks guys - will certainly bring warm jacket, hat, gloves for the am chill.

As for the mid day hunts, do most of you guys go with long or short sleeve shooting shirts?

Kinda liking the look of the boyt shirts:

http://www.boytharness.com/Cat...20-ae8b-ccf37c519a9f

I find the lighter weight Carhartt canvas pants work great, as well as the Cabelas Serengeti Safari shirts. I use them everywhere, not just Africa.

My experience in South Africa was the Port Elizabeth Karoo area in 2012 with Leopards Valley Safari's.

It was just like Texas Hill country in the winter. Cold mornings down to 30f, days warming up to 60-65f.

I wore Prana Stretch Zion pants and Marmot Pants along with a couple of Ex-Officio long sleeve shirts during the day and for the drive out. I also two jackets (medium fleece) and a Boyt Cotton Safari Jacket (*Love that thing!) as well as a nice fleece beanie. I was marginal on the cold side of things until 10am. I really should have packed long johns or some fleece overpants for the cold drive out.

I was actually quite surprised at how cold it was. On our last day it snowed.

The surprising part was that during the day and on the stalk it was warm enough that I didn't even use my Safari Vest. I ended up just with the long sleeve shirt and that was fine.

PS: 7 Weeks and I return for my second PG hunt!

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
I find the lighter weight Carhartt canvas pants work great, as well as the Cabelas Serengeti Safari shirts. I use them everywhere, not just Africa.

JG

You can bet this country boy will have his Carhartt ins. chore bibs in his bag going over

Whatever you decide to take, wear it before you leave. Only three things matter, comfort, comfort and, comfort. If you take something you haven't worn and it doesn't fit, scratches or is otherwise uncomfortable, you'll be stuck with it.

DHS, that is excellent advice. Chafing on a long walk can become a concern. I found the Cabela's shorts to be very comfortable, Carhardt makes Cargo pants in a heavy or a light configuration with plenty of room and pockets and their short/long sleeve shirts are roomy and comfortable.

To eliminate chafing "galling" wear boxer briefs made of 100% synthetic

Under Armour ect

OR commando...............

Whatever you bring, if it includes a fleece (and it should) make sure it is WINDPROOF! A cheap fleece is just that. A good one substitutes for a light jacket.

Well sitting outside now i am pretty cold, we had some good rains thus season so i bet it will be a cold winter!!

As it has been said in the mornings and evenings two layers will be good. During the day you will warm up.

Good luck on your hunt and enjoy, weather it is cold or hot is doesnt matter the bullet will travel straight

Best Regards

I alway wear underArmour long sleeve shirts and boxer/ briefs under my safari outfit which is usually some type of cotton pants and button down shirts some sort of green. the cabelas safari stuff is great and so is the Tag stuff and is a lighter cotton. I alway use some sort of medium ply smart wool socks and a pear of gaiters to stop the grit and dry straw from getting into my shoes/ boots. I always have a heavy fleece jacket for the mornings with gloves and a knit wool cap...it can be freezing in the morning. If I wear shorts, I still always wear a long sleeve shirt of underarmour heat gear and their boxer/ briefs. Cotton close to my body says wet from sweat and causes chafing where you do not want it.

Mark - I think there was a very detailed thread sometime back on this type of dressing, or not dressing. Seems a lot of folks who adhere to this were named and identified as well. It's definitely an option.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
Sabatti 'trash' Double Shooter
R8 Blaser
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
OR commando...............

Be prepared to ride in the back of the truck in 40 degrees, windy and steadily raining. We had this for two days our last trip. About like riding in the skiff for an Alaska bear hunt. I have never seen people so miserable as the trackers.

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaCole:
Whatever you bring, if it includes a fleece (and it should) make sure it is WINDPROOF! A cheap fleece is just that. A good one substitutes for a light jacket.

Good sound advice BC.

-for yrs I stuck to the ordinary polarfleece layer under a gore-tex outer shell,

but with todays advanced soft-shell fabrics, which are highly wind-water resistant,
I can mostly operate with a base thermal layer covered in a high quality soft-shell[as required].
My stack of high quality Arcteryx goretex shell-gear, hardly sees any use any more.

moisture[1] and wind[ 2nd].. are the biggest enemies to retaining essential body heat.
and Keep in mind that if your technical/weather resistant clothing is not breathable enough while keeping wind and rain out,
your released[but retained/trapped] body moisture will drain you of body heat, rendering the clothing less effective.

e.g.; People who have used seam sealed water-proof sleeping bags, have found that they have held too much body perpiration/moisture in,
dampening the thermal efficient of high-loft down insulation contained within.
In some cases, A lighter temp. rating bag with more breathable outer skin, would have actually been warmer/more thermally efficient.
Same applies to outdoor clothing.

Its important/smart to have a skin layer cloth, that wicks moisture/perpiration away from your skin in cold conditions.
A number of todays advanced synthetics do a very good job of that.
Some 1st layer clothing have a syn. weave that touches the skin for effective wicking and HQ-microfine wool weave on the outer surface.
In effect, you can have a moisture laden skin layer but still be reasonably warm...compare that with the dismal effects of wet cotton on
skin, and see the difference.

I've been in the Karroo before in June, where it was so cold, I stayed bundled in my two jerseys, jacket and beanie all day, and nearly froze. The wind was so bad that when we stopped at for lunch, you could flick a slice of bread into the air and it would blow away and land 10 - 15m away.

Damn, I've never been so miserable, even in basic.

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
I find the lighter weight Carhartt canvas pants work great, as well as the Cabelas Serengeti Safari shirts. I use them everywhere, not just Africa.

I wear the exact same combination as JGR- Cabellas Safari shirts and Carhartt pants. In fact I bought two pairs of Carhartt pants on eBay yesterday.

June and July can be cold, especially in the back of a hunting truck. It can also be pretty windy.

On our previous two plains games trips, Namibia and Botswana, we had temps below freezing, in the high 20's F. The first hour of the day, can be pretty chilly in the back of a hunting truck.

We were finding ice in water troughs until noon.

On the other hand, if it is not cloudy, the middle of day warms up nicely.

Heavy cotton shirts and pants to turn the thorns, a wind stopper lined and or insulated jacket for the morning and evening rides in the truck. Gloves and a beanie are other essentials.

quote:

Originally posted by Blair 338RUM:
. . . a beanie are other essentials.

With or without a little propeller? And if with, what color propeller?

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
OR commando...............

My 5 and 7 year old grandsons call that "freeballing"!!

Simple Rules have always worked for me:

100% Cotton;

Green -- some shade(a dark Khaki or grey will do in a pinch),no need to match, probably better if you don't;

Long sleeves -- you can always roll them up;

Permethrin;

Cotton Boxers; and

A sewing kit for repairs and duct tape for major in the field repairs.

I always carry one more set of hunting clothes than recommended in case I have a "catastrophic" wardrobe failure. It's only happened once thus far, due to old clothes and sharp rocks.

If you are going to be crawling around atop big granite boulders, you might want to include knee and elbow pads in your kit. They can demolish clothes.

My first trip I wore boxers. After that trip I switched to boxer briefs and find them much more comfortable for walking. I like the Docker or Dickie pants in dark khaki or dark green. Be sure to wash and wear them until they are soft. New they are too stiff and will be noisy.

The weather can vary a lot depending upon where you will be. When hunting Natal I never needed anything heavier than a long sleeve shirt. In Eastern Free State I would start out with a t-shirt, short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, and coat. The coat came off shortly after the hunting started.

I always treat my clothing (including shoes) with Permethrin about a week before packing.

I would recommend packing a pair of warm slippers. The floors can be very cold at night.

Cold pack a jacket in the morning!!! Shorts in the afternoon!!! Sweatpants and jackets around the fire at night.

Charles,

You got floors?

Actually, the "slippers" or flip-flops are a good idea. I got nailed by a scorpionin my tent in 2007 and my leg and foot was numb for days.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Blair 338RUM:
. . . a beanie are other essentials.

With or without a little propeller? And if with, what color propeller?

Fair dinkum MJ........you are a really funny bloke!!!!

I really like the 100% cotton, ripstop, BDU pants with button fly made by Propper and others. About $30, quiet after a dozen washings, lots of solid colors from which to choose, adjustable so easy to fit, and widely available via mail order.

I'm going to treat it like the states in late fall and wear the cloths I wear here