With a unique mix of culture, beach and safari, deciding what to pack for a trip to South Africa can be overwhelming. This is everything you need to know.
Married to a South African, Morag Turner, editor of Citizen Enfants, has been visiting regularly for over 20 years. Along with her husband and children, Morag will see in 2025 in Cape Town, and next Easter they’ll be taking a safari trip in Kwazulu Natal. This is what she’s packing for trips to her much-loved second home.
What To Wear On Safari
Spotting animals in the wild is a thrilling experience. There’s nothing quite like getting up early and setting off on a game drive as the sun comes up, looking out for elephants, lions and giraffes before pulling over for an al fresco breakfast in the bush. Or enjoying sundowners by a campfire overlooking a waterhole, as all sorts of wildlife appears. Next year we are taking our boys to Nambiti Game Reserve which is close to our family home in Durban. It’s a stunning place from which to explore the wilder side of South Africa with children, in the safe hands of experienced and knowledgeable guides. Family-friendly Phinda is also on our must-visit list. Sometimes it can be chilly in the bush so it’s good to have some lightweight trousers as well as shorts. I’ll team these with a simple vest and an over shirt that can keep me warm or protect me from the sun, and can always be tied around my waist too. Good sturdy boots and a hat are a must – and a little scarf to cover your neck comes in handy too.
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What To Wear To The Beach
It’s all about beach life in Cape Town. It really does have some of the best stretches of sand in the world; from the stylish Clifton beaches to quieter, family-friendly Llandudno and beautiful Blouberg with phenomenal views of the city. This year we are staying right on Camps Bay (my favourite beach in the area) so will be spending plenty of time chilling out there, playing bat and ball and swimming. While the weather is very warm during the summer months (winter season in Europe), the sea temperature in the Cape is chilly – but this won’t stop me having a dip in the ocean, so I’ll be packing my bikini. The sun is strong, so a cap and good sunscreen is a must at all times. I also love linen shorts and an oversized shirt that I can just chuck on to cover my bikini when I’m running around with the kids. With all the beach kit to carry as well as snacks, I need a big bag; my large canvas Isabel Marant Yenki bag is ideal.
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What To Wear For Sightseeing
There’s a very long list of things to do and see in Cape Town. A trip up Table Mountain is the first one to tick off, followed by a visit to Robben Island (a hugely significant place if you want to understand more about South Africa’s history). Then there is the fantastic aquarium and the extremely interesting District Six museum. I love shopping at markets, so will be heading to Green Market Square to pick up some arts and crafts. We also plan to take the hop-on-hop-off tram out to Franschhoek to visit some wine estates. I plan to have lunch at Babylonstoren which looks fantastic. Sightseeing calls for comfortable but stylish outfits. I love a pretty, simple dress, flat sandals and summery jewellery with a raffia bag to carry my essentials.
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What To Wear For Dinner
One of the stand out features about South Africa is the food. Whether it’s a little beach café or something more upmarket, expect to be wowed by the quality and the flavours. Nothing beats a big braai (a South African BBQ) with friends at our beach house – and if we are going out, our kids usually come with us. It’s a very family-friendly city. In Cape Town we will be going to seaside restaurants like Bilboa and Surfshack on Camps Bay, to The Bungalow at Clifton and a couple of places at the V&A Waterfront. I love Farm Rio’s bright, bold prints and their dresses are perfect for beachside dining on holiday nights out. I team them with flat gold sandals (I never wear heels at the beach), a clutch, and big, fun pieces of gold jewellery. Add some bronze eyeshadow and a coral lip, and I’m ready.
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Lead image: ZIMMERMANN
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