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Is South Africa conservative dress?

South Africa is a conservative society and it is best to err on the side of caution in terms of dress. Therefore, men are advised to wear a collar and tie and women to wear smart, business-like dresses or suits. If meeting business contacts on a social basis, it is possible to dress more casually but not too casually.



Generally, South Africa is not a conservative dress country in the same way as many Middle Eastern or North African nations; it is quite Westernized and progressive in its fashion. In major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, "beach-casual," athletic wear, and modern Western styles are the norm. However, there are specific contexts where a more conservative or practical approach is required. When visiting religious sites (certain mosques or traditional rural churches), it is respectful to cover shoulders and knees. On safari, the "dress code" is driven by function rather than modesty: you are encouraged to wear neutral, earthy tones (khaki, beige, or olive) to blend in with the environment and avoid blue or black, which attract biting tsetse flies. In rural or traditional Zulu and Xhosa villages, local customs may be more traditional, but tourists are rarely expected to change their attire as long as it is reasonably respectful (avoiding extremely skimpy clothing).

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In South Africa the dress code is generally casual (denims, t-shirts, skirts etc.)

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South Africans are pretty conservative, so our advice would be to avoid anything too revealing. Our advice would be to keep swimwear to the beach and pool, and cover up with a kaftan or sarong when walking around public areas. A skirt or loose-fitting trousers are good in the heat and will protect you from the sun.

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Wearing white increases your visibility to wildlife, while bright colours, particularly red, can frighten animals.

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Shorts and shirts are quite comfortable on a safari especially during the day, but sometimes during the game drives and short walks in the bushes you might wish you had covered up a little more. So light weight pants in light colors like cream,khaki and Chinos or grey are good for the game drives and walks.

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