Preparing to pack

[ArmyGrunt]

I'm headed to RSA in mid-September. I'll be hunting in an area NE of Joberg, with the farm address in Limpopo and NW Province.

What type of clothing should I pack, and what colors? Do I need the camo clothes (realtree, military attire, etc), or are drab colors sufficient? I'd guess hunter safety orange would not be a great idea since I'm seeing many of these animals have super keen senses.

One pair of boots or two? Just over the ankle, or a taller 8-inch cuff?

 

[Royal27]

CamI can be worn in SA so it is up to you. I'm not a huge camp guyou even here in the states and personally prefer the drab. But again, that is just me.

For boots two pair is always better than one as you never know what can happen. For my trip next month though my backup "boots" will be tennis shoes. And the height is again a personal preference. My real boots are seven inch Russell's. Many wear lower though.

The planning is half the fun!!!

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Have you noticed one type work better than another, or do those critters see everything?

 

[Sika98k]

Hunting here in Ireland or Europe I would normally wear a stout pair of boots,comfort and stability. The going tends to be rough.
Last month in Namibia I took a pair of meindl desert boots. Too hot,too heavy. Our PH wore a pair of Courtney's or a pair of vellies. Far more appropriate in my opinion.

Camo,take it or leave it. At this stage I think it's just marketing. Drab,green or khaki will do the job perfectly. Movement and keeping your silhouette low are far more important.

There's a good packing list here on the site somewhere and DO pack a warm jacket. It gets cold after dark and around dawn.

Have fun. I,m hooked now.

 

[Royal27]

My PERSONAL opinion is that movement is more of a factor than anything else, but I'm sure that others will chime in here.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Movement is a good point. I've seen somewhere that the human eye can pick up on movement better than other visual pieces. I imagine the animals, which are constantly at risk for their lives, likely see the movement much better than we do.

Jacket and some thinner layers is good advice. I've very warm natured, but sitting around doing little movement will get to anyone. I have printed the list that Jerome put up on here. I was asking more for a regional standpoint. I'll be emailing my PH on this one, too.

 

[Bushman10]

September in Limpopo is going to be warm to hot with cool evenings and mornings. You are welcome to wear either camo or a khaki colours. Think "layers" that you can take off as the day heat up. No thermal underwesar needed though. The country side will be coming out of winter where most grass has turned brown to khaki. Depending on the amount of rainfall it is likely that only the trees will still have green.

Ankle high boots is recommended and wear some gators to keep those dried grass seeds out of your socks. Be CAREFUL and don't wear your snow (-15C rated) boots as you will overheat. Long thin pants of a rip-stop nature is great to withstand the haak-and-steek thorn bushes. A floppy hat with a brim all round is good and take a small backpack (cabelas camo) that has a water bladder.

Also think about ticks and wash or soak your clothes in some repellent before you come and have your best buddy (or the camp cook) check you very well all over every night for any ticks that is taking a ride.

 

[Patrick R]

Also think about ticks and wash or soak your clothes in some repellent before you come and have your best buddy (or the camp cook) check you very well all over every night for any ticks that is taking a ride.

haha...i presume squatting down...

 

[Patrick R]

I'm headed to RSA in mid-September. I'll be hunting in an area NE of Joberg, with the farm address in Limpopo and NW Province.

What type of clothing should I pack, and what colors? Do I need the camo clothes (realtree, military attire, etc), or are drab colors sufficient? I'd guess hunter safety orange would not be a great idea since I'm seeing many of these animals have super keen senses.

One pair of boots or two? Just over the ankle, or a taller 8-inch cuff?

Nate,

In the NW (Rustenburg) of RSA the 1st of September is suppose to be the starting of our 'spring' season...but, yes, 'globall warming is a bitch...' It will be cool in the mornings and warm up by 08h30 - especially when walking... Hot to very hot (80 degrees F +) at 12-14h30, then it will be cooling down to about 53-45 F from 18h00 to 20h00 at night. Can still reach 25 F between 00h00 to 04h00. Bring a Jacket with, together with tracksuit pants for the evenings. Cargo safari pants (have the option for long or shorts pants via a zip) works well.

Camo is not necessary (may help with the tall grass), just stick to darker colours. NW and Limpopo areas has a lot of rain up to the end of March 2014 still. The bush is still dense, green and grass long and the rainy season are suppose to start in mid-October again...Please leave your hunter's safety orange at home...

Angle boots is ok, perhaps some gaitors...Myself hunt is shorts and gaitors...just to hot for me that time of year...

 

[VanderLaan]

I went to Limpopo during the first week of September. The first two days it was raining and the high temp was around 70! I was glad that I brought my fleece jacket, cargo pants and a stocking cap. The rest of the trip was cool mornings and I wore cargo shorts and light cotton rip-stop shirts. Colors were light green, sand and dark brown. My hat was a boonie hat that I wear for duck hunting in a Shadow Grass pattern (unless I have to wear orange to comply with the law, that is the hat I hunt in). For boots, I wore ankle-height trail runners. There was no need for the 8" leather boots that I brought, as the terrain was pretty much sand and dirt.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I went to Limpopo during the first week of September. The first two days it was raining and the high temp was around 70! I was glad that I brought my fleece jacket, cargo pants and a stocking cap. The rest of the trip was cool mornings and I wore cargo shorts and light cotton rip-stop shirts. Colors were light green, sand and dark brown. My hat was a boonie hat that I wear for duck hunting in a Shadow Grass pattern (unless I have to wear orange to comply with the law, that is the hat I hunt in). For boots, I wore ankle-height trail runners. There was no need for the 8" leather boots that I brought, as the terrain was pretty much sand and dirt.

Thanks for the info. I'll add some light and medium snivel gear to my bag.