How do you pack for business meetings in the bushveld?

I am currently facing a challenge that I would never ever feel in Canada…what on earth do I pack for a week long work meeting held in the bushveld?

How does one dress for work in a sub-tropical woodland where there are crocodiles, black rhinos, white rhinos, hippos, elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, lions (white maned and black), leopards, cheetahs to only name a few? It top it all off you are in a country where dress code is taken incredibly seriously!

Yesterday, in speaking with my contact at the Ministry of Health, a lovely gentleman named Rra Busang I was assured that the normal business attire of dresses and jackets were being relaxed to more casual wear. What a relief to know that I don’t have to drag heels, dresses and suit jackets to the bush! It did seem a little absurd that in the middle of freely roaming wildlife I would be expected to wear heels but it would have made easier pickings for the lions or crocs!

So now I am trying to figure out what business casual means…who invented dress codes any way?  As the sole representative of Bonaso and Canada in an indirect way, I feel that it is very important to reflect the appropriate image of not too dressy or too casual. Would anyone with fashion sense like to come help me pack please? Who knew when I accepted the ODA position that I would have to spend this much time on figuring out what to wear. Thank heavens I love wearing dresses because they are easy to pack, wear and sweat in!

Okay, I have a suitcase to fill and a bus to catch at 9:00 am Sunday morning! hmm, I wonder what colors catch a crocodile or lion’s eye…..