How to Be the Chicest Cat on Safari! Your Guide to Dressing Stylish While in Africa

Let’s face it, as a woman safari clothing can be dull, boring, and frumpy—BUT, if you have the right packing guide and product suggestions, you’ll be the “cat’s meow” out there on safari (I know that was beyond cheesy, but I couldn’t help myself with the pun!).

The key to a comfortable and luxurious safari is to make sure that your outfit and accessories are not only stylish but also efficient and serving a purpose!

Below are our tips for what to pack for a stylish and comfortable safari experience:

Protect yourself with a Hat + Sunglasses: Weathered and sun-damaged skin is not a pretty look, so make sure to protect yourself with sunscreen (apply every two hours all over) and a cute hat and sunglasses.

Although you can wear a baseball cap on safari, we suggest connecting with your inner safari guide by purchasing a fully rimmed hat in a earth tone. Some of our favorite safari hat products include:

Brixton Tracker Hat

Image above taken from Nordstrom.com

Tommy Bahama Cotton Safari Bucket Hat

Image above taken from Nordstrom.com 

Stetson Water Repellent Safari Hat 

Image above taken from Nordstrom.com

As for sunglasses, shoot for an aviator style that fits the shape of your face just right. Banana Republic and Ray Ban offer a wide variety of this style.

Tell time with a safari-inspired watch: Never be late for high tea, safari, or sundowners when you have a beautiful watch to tell you the time! We love watches with natural earth tones and textures for safari. Look for watches with a large face and leather strap for the ultimate in chic safari wear! We like Michael Kors’ Chronograph Leather Strap Watch, 41mm. He makes a fantastic watch product and you’ll always want to tell people the time—even if they don’t ask . . .

Image above taken from Nordstrom.com

Get leggy with comfortable and stylish pants: Nothing is worse than a baggy pair of pants that doesn’t fit any part of your body right . . . When looking for a pair of pants to wear on safari, look for a drawstring waste, lightweight material, pockets, and a nature-inspired color.

We love the Michael Kors Crepe Athletic Pants, which have a natural rise, relaxed fit with tapered legs, and drawstring waist. These pants are also super VERSATILE and can be worn on safari or at night while out in Cape Town or Cape Winelands.

Image above taken from the Michael Kors website.

Never lose anything with a compartmentalized travel satchel: You don’t want to be saying, “Where’s may passport and travel documents?” on safari, right? Right, so make sure you pack efficiently when it comes to your travel documents. The best way to do that is with a compartmentalized travel satchel with designated areas for your passport, travel documents, money, and credit cards. We love the L.L. Bean Traveler Passport Organizer.

Image above taken from the L.L. Bean website.

Keep warm and dry with a trench: When out on safari, the temperature can change pretty rapidly throughout the day—make sure you’re prepared for cooler temperatures and possible showers with a durable trench. We suggest the Vince Camuto ‘Miley’ Safari Anorak.

Image above taken from Nordstrom.com

Adorn your shoulder with the ultimate safari duffle: It’s always so romantic to think of going on safari in the 1920s and being a true explorer. Even though the 1920s are in the past, you can still attempt to relive them with a chic, authentic safari duffle.

One of our favorite safari-inspired bags is the L.L. Bean Canvas Rangeley Duffle (and make sure that before departing on your safari, you check domestic airline regulations for carry on size and weight restrictions).

Image above taken from L.L. Bean website.

Put a little pep in your step with versatile shoes: When it comes to shoes on safari, you need to bring two or three pairs with you. For the actual safari, you want to wear ankle-high shoes / boots to ensure that you don’t get any bug bites on your ankles. If you are lounging around the pool or walking around the countryside or city, you can wear sandals or tennis shoes.