The Best Safari Clothing Colors (and Colors to Avoid)

Color sounds like a minor detail when you are planning a once-in-a-lifetime safari, but it has a surprisingly practical impact on comfort. The shades you wear affect how hot you feel, how dirty you look by day three and even how many biting insects take an interest in you.

Here is what our Arusha-based guides recommend, and the reasoning behind each choice, so you can shop your existing wardrobe before buying anything new.

Why neutral earth tones work best

Khaki, tan, beige, olive, stone and soft browns are the classic safari palette for good reason. They hide dust well, reflect more heat than dark colors and blend into the landscape of the savanna.

Blending in matters most on a walking safari, where you are on foot and animals are more sensitive to movement and contrast. In a vehicle, animals mostly see the vehicle shape rather than individual passengers, but muted clothing is still considerate to fellow guests and to the wildlife.

A simple test is to lay out your planned safari clothes on a light brown floor or patch of dry grass. Anything that jumps out visually will also stand out in the bush, while anything that fades into the background is a good choice.

• Khaki, tan and sand
• Olive and muted greens
• Stone, light gray and taupe
• Soft browns and earthy tones

Avoid dark blue and black in tsetse areas

Tsetse flies are attracted to dark blue and black. In fact, the blue and black cloth traps you may spot hanging in parts of Tarangire and the western Serengeti are designed to lure them. Tsetse bites are painful, and these flies are most common in wooded areas rather than open plains.

Navy jeans, black leggings and dark blue rain jackets are the usual culprits. If your only waterproof is dark blue, it is not a disaster, but a lighter shell is a better choice if you are buying something new.

Why bright white is impractical

White clothing looks fresh in photos for about an hour. After that, red and brown dust from dry-season roads settles into the fabric and rarely washes out fully. White can also attract some insects and stands out sharply on walking safaris.

Cream or light stone shades give a similar crisp look while hiding dirt much better.

Leave camouflage at home

Camouflage patterns are associated with the military in Tanzania and in many African countries, and wearing them as a civilian can lead to awkward questions or worse. Our firm advice is to avoid any camouflage print, including on hats, bags and children's clothing.

This applies across the mainland and on Zanzibar.

Where color matters less

At lodges in the evening, around pools and on Zanzibar beaches, you can wear whatever you like within local norms of modesty. Brightly colored clothing is also fine when you are visiting towns or markets.

A colorful scarf or kanga bought locally is a lovely souvenir, just save it for downtime rather than walking safaris.

For photographs, neutral colors also have a quiet advantage: they do not cast colored reflections onto faces in close-up portraits taken in the vehicle.