Colors: While on a safari it is better to somewhat blend with your surrounding, so focus on earthy neutral colors, rather than flashy colors and prints. Avoid navy blue and black colors, that attract mosquitos, and the Tsetse fly in particular.

While you can technically wear black pants on safari, it is highly discouraged by experienced guides for two main reasons: heat and insects. Black fabric absorbs intense midday sunlight, making you uncomfortably hot during game drives. More importantly, in many African safari regions, black and dark blue colors attract Tsetse flies, which are large, biting insects that can deliver a painful sting and, in some areas, carry sleeping sickness. Tsetse flies are biologically programmed to seek out large, dark shapes (like Cape Buffalo), and wearing black makes you a prime target. Additionally, black clothing shows dust and mud very easily in the dry, scrubby environments of the savanna. For the best experience in 2026, you should stick to the "safari palette" of khaki, olive, tan, and light grey. These muted tones help you blend into the landscape and remain "invisible" to wildlife, while reflecting the heat and deterring biting insects. If you must wear black, save it for the evening back at the lodge when the tsetse flies are inactive and the temperature has dropped.