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Ok- you have all been great- thanks to you all I have the shoes and the hat figured out...what about the rest? I'm traveling in mid-August and I think it will be quite warm. I've read that most people wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid sun, bugs, etc. But what happens when it is in the mid 80s? Do people end up in short sleeve shirts and shorts just to stay comfortable? Or are the bugs/sun too much of an issue? Thank you!
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I don’t wear shorts on a safari. REI or similar stores have very lightweight pants that breathe, and that you can hand wash. I wouldn’t want my skin exposed on a safari from any bugs that bite such as mosquitos. In fact, I have rarely seen shorts on a safari. I have seen shorts at the resorts.
We were there last September, mid 80s most of the time. Cooler mornings and evening. I, a male, wore a dri fit tee shirt along with a long sleeve light weight Safari or fly fishing shirt. Long lightweight pants, and maybe shorts one or two days. Never really got too hot. Need to keep in mind, game drives start early, 7-7:30 and usually end by noon. Afternoon drives start around 4 and go to sundown. On this schedule, you’re back at the hotel during hottest part of the day. I opted for long sleeves to avoid sun exposure and bugs. You’re constantly moving, usually with the roof up, so lots of breeze going on. Be sure you have a neck gaiter or other mouth dust cover. And a wide brim hat.
Look at fishing clothes which tend to be cool and sun protective. Columbia PFG line, Kuhl Konfidant air, REI Sahara pants and shorts, Kuiu hunting clothes for warm weather, and even a merino hoodie works and merino tends to temp regulating but stay with the 17 micron weight. Rail Riders also has a good selection of travel clothing. Light colors. 3 sets: one on, one drying, and one clean.
We never wear shorts or short sleeved t shirts in Africa either. In K and T you are at the equator so although it does not get as hot as summers in the northern and southern hemispheres, the sun is more intense and damaging to the skin. Because you are on a plateau and at higher elevation, it does get quite cold at night. We have stayed at resorts with Tauck that put hot water bottles n the beds in the past. Have layers early morning, like at the Ngorongoro Crater, that you can peel off. Last year it was really cold there and took ages to warm up.
You can find suitable clothing options at places like Costco, so you don’t have to buy high end. I’m noticing more and more that wherever we travel the groups are wearing the thin breathable pants these days.
Another option is to check LLBean. They have pants and long sleeved tops that look suitable for safari adventures but since I’ve never been, I don’t know.