Now that we're getting close, is anybody buying/taking BUZZ OFF or other treated clothing? Or just putting on deet?

I received a $100 gift certificate from Travelsmith for Christmas so I'm doing some shopping.

Oh good, a clothing thread! Leslie, we are just taking deet because Ngaire said she's never seen a mosquito. We aren't doing the other part of the trip that you are doing, though.

What are we going to change in to, for dinner at Singita?

And I ordered a couple of those pickpocket-proof purses from Magellan's (TravelSmith has them, too).

I wish I knew how to post a picture! Anyway, my daughter loves "sparkle" skirts (bead/sequin trim) and today I found one to wear for the boma dinner at Ebony, just to get a little more in the mood! Didnt' get the top. She told me the peep hole was too low/big for me. Other than that, I have to see what's in my SIL's closet from her trip last year. Probably longish casual skirts, capris,etc.

http://www.barriepace.com/bp/LargeImage.asp?ImageName=S206_A1417_F_05A.jpg

VA...VA...VOOM! :woh:

Suzie, I was just playing show and tell. Bet you've got some va va voom up your sleeve!

<img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Olivia - that skirt is great! I never heard of barriepace.com - will have to look some more.

here's a cute one from chicos:
Chicos skirt

and Nordstrom is showing the safari look this season.
Prints on Safari

Leslie, Love the Chico's skirt, but one "sparkle" is enough for me! Nordstrom had a longish gauzy skirt that I LOVED, but found the cataglog in my car after it was already no longer available. It had tiers of fabric with different animal prints. A skirt I could wear off-safari, as this stuff is really hot right now!

Here's my Suzi vavoom suggestion. Just leave the boots home, too much weight for Singita! It's on sale!
Click here

I'm taking ultra nylon quick drying trail pants. They seemed to fit me better than the BUZZ OFF/pre-treated ones. So, we'll be packing the DEET also. The quick dry stuff will help since we're in the 26 lb category.
Olivia, that is a great outfit & you would look terrific in it! I'm stuck on the dinner ensembles (?) for Singita also....va voom sounds like fun! :) Michele

Michele, I did NOT get the whole outfit. Peephole top was declared out of bounds by my Joanna! That's really what made it va voom. Lots of good ideas here for a special dinner.

I think my SIL bought those quick drying trail pants. I really need to get her stuff before I leave for Harbour Island on Wednesday for our short getaway. Are you down there now, Michele? What's the beach weather forcast for Thursday-Sunday?

Mosquitoes if they are around are active from dusk to dawn. So long pants are always a wiser choice at night if you are outside so that you have less exposed skin. Just a thought!!! Wear that gorgeous outfit when you eat in the dining room Olivia, pants for the boma dinner. Of course as I say that I have NEVER seen a mosquito and they burn torches for the bomas and spray all around the camp so it probably does not matter really.

Ngaire, I live on the bay marsh, like Suzie (I think) where mosquitoes love beating out whatever you do to avoid them, especially at dusk! I'll test out the "waters" our first night. Here, even long pants don't help. They get through the fabric, or find your ankles. Remember the old movies when they had the mosquito netting over the safari "helmets"? At least we're not faced with that!

I'm a mesquito magnet also.... if there's one within 10 miles of me, it will find me. Sounds like Singita does it right; i.e., torches, spraying the area, etc. We need to spray ourselves too. I just treat it as if it's my, ahem, perfume....ugh. It works.

Olivia, we just got back from a frustrating trip to BVI's. It was crazy weather down there (windy WINDY, high seas & rained some). I would bet it will be MUCH better in the Bahamas than in BVI's. I recall it being windy sometimes in March (in the Bahamas) but it usually doesn't last too long & the temp. is always warm. It should be so wonderful...you can tell I absolutely love it there. Are you staying at the Pink Sands again? I have to wait until May to go back & not Pink Sands...sigh.
I still think you would look very good & appropriate in that "va voom" ensemble!

Anyone dressing "dressy" for Rovos Rail? Since the guys have to wear a jacket, you could splash some "va voom" here. - Michele

Yes, Michelle, we're at Pink Sands just for 4 nights, that's why weather is important! I'm dressy on the train in Africa because we're supposed to be. Doesn't weigh a lot. A little top and camisole that I wore in Norway. Sort of has a leopard "theme" in pink! Will probably wear the "sparkle" skirt the next night! Editing to say it sort of looks like this, but pink and zebra stripes! http://www.barriepace.com/bp/LargeImage.asp?ImageName=S206_A1209_F_28B.jpg Be nice to look like that model, huh?

Ngaire, I know there are two dining cars. Do you think they will allow us to be segregated into one of them each night as we will just about fill it and are traveling as a group? That sure would be nice.

Here's one Suzie sent me earlier. I didn't realize she couldn't post it. Pretty dress!
Click here

Maybe Karen or someone else will clean it up like they did for mine!

Could someone please post Ngaire's clothing checklist? I can't find my book. Thanks!!

Finally making my Travelsmith order - anybody tried any of their clothing that you really like?

How about the crinkle stuff:

travelsmith crinkle clothes

Leslie,

I sent back 90% of the clothing I've tried from them - mostly jackets, slacks, blazers. Sizing doesn't run true and quality of some pieces was terrible. I do love their t-shirts - lightweight and don't wrinkle. And my travel rain jacket is gortex lined and really nice.

Kathy - thanks - I'm thinking of getting a microfiber rain jacket, lightweight "anywhere" pants and a crinkle stretch mandarn collar big shirt.

Kathy, I may order a pair of lightweight pants from them with the zip off legs that turn them into shorts. I'm between two sizes. Should I order the larger or smaller size? That is if they come in #'s sizing.

Olivia,

I found their sizing to be off a full size so order up! Everything I ordered had to be sent back for either a size change or because I did not like the quality of the goods. just allow time for the back and forth. Actually, I just did new orders and returns separate. They were very good about crediting me back for the returns.

Thanks Cathy! Will order "up"!

Olivia,

I bought a pair of those convertable pants from Columbia sportswear. They are sized S, M, L so that might be easier.

I was going to get the Challenger convertable pant(39.99), but went with the Omni Dry Venture pant(44.99) because I bought the Million Mile Vest and it was the same fabric. There were some deals out there on the web a few weeks ago for last year's models, but I went into my local Sportsmart because I wanted to try them on for size. I went with the small.

Suzanne, thanks. I noticed the ones on Travelsmith are cotton, and about $70 (I'll probably never wear them again). I'm only having to buy pants because my SIL is about 3 inches shorter than I, and I look like I am wearing puddle wadders in hers, as she shortened them. All my other safari day clothes are hers, so I was lucky! Think I'll try to find what Columbia has in a lighter weight fabric.

I've never found a pair of those zip off pants that fit me comfortably or look good as shorts. I'd definitely go to a store to try them on.

I haven't found any of those zip-off pants that fit me either. One problem I have is that my legs are so short. I could almost zip off the bottom and wear the "shorts" part as the pants (well, not quite, but close). So Olivia, they'll probably work for you. Anyway I'll be wearing jeans, or just plain old khaki pants. Also, Olivia, if you have a Sports Authority near by, they carry several different styles of Columbia pants--I agree with Leslie, try them on at a store.

Peggy: I don't have them but Tony does - they don't fit him properly either BUT he won't admit it - BUT I do remind him - Joanna

This is what I just emailed Olivia:
"This what I bought in "fossil" (light stone color) size small:
http://www.sportchalet.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2052493

These are the other ones: http://www.rei.com/product/47977906.htm

Both have zip off legs. The omni dry Venture also have an zipper from the hem up the ankle so you don't have to take your shoes off if you are converting to shorts.

Here are both on the Columbia website. There is a link as to who carries them:
http://www.columbia.com/Subcategory.aspx?top=2&cat=4203030&viewAll=

I didn't want to spend a fortune because they are "not my thing" and will probably never wear them again. So I bought the pants, vest, roll up sleeve shirt and 4 T-shirts... What was I smoking that day???

Jeans for me too...brown, khaki and blue with safari shirt and jacket. My Mickey Mouse safari hat and I'm a safari fashion maven ;)

These aren't zip-off, but they are comfortable and lightweight:

gramicci qwik dry pants

Sensible solutions all.

I think I just wanted to see how ridiculous I could make myself look. I'm sure the rangers get a good laugh every time a new group arrives with all their "gear".

What I really want is a pith helmet to top off my look. :D

My brother did say that you can buy ANYTHING needed at the Victoria & Albert's shops in Cape Town. So worry not if everything not perfect before you leave. Suzanne, we can buy pith helmets together. Can we get the kind with the mosquito netting?

Okay, ladies, you must both get pith helmets with the netting, so that you can look like Elizabeth Taylor in "Elephant Walk", no????

Why was I thinking Katherine Hepburn(sp?)

Olivia, are you thinking of African Queen?

Oh goody!

A shopping excursion in Capetown!

I love the Columbia pants, the fabric is nicer than the Travelsmith pants. You will find those in any sporting goods stores and they are usually around $40. I NEVER zip off the legs I would look really dumb with the legs zipped off. Once you start wearing these you may wear them more than you think. That is what I lived in while in India, the Galapgos and Peru. So lightweight and comfortable and wash like a rag.Just wear tee shirt tops and you are all set.

I order a lot from Travelsmith but Kathy is correct a lot of the products are not good quality. It is a hit and miss situation.

Kathy, I don't remember, except her beautiful bones behind that netting. Freddie is going to have to go one better to bring up a vision of Liz Taylor in that getup.

Ngaire, I was thinking same thing. We go out so early, and back out so late that I would think the temps are cooler then.

Oh, pith helmet memories...during all the planning emails we talked about which "Princess" personna we were going to be and how we'd decorate our pith helmet to match. I was supposed to decorate one with lace and silk magnolias, to be the "Belle" because of being from the south. We never got that done, did we? Claudia was going to be the "Bride" and I don't remember the rest.

I have two pith helmets from Viet Nam (the tunnels) if you want to borrow them fine...you would defintely want to REdecorate them