Khaki Fever

Posted on 25 November 2010

He’s tanned, good-looking and khaki clad. He oozes enthusiasm, knowledge and charm. He wears veldskoens and a bullet belt with a .375 slung over his shoulder. He should also come with a ‘dangerous goods’ sticker slapped on his back.

It’s a peculiar phenomenon, this so-called “˜khaki fever’. By definition it’s a woman with the condition of being ridiculously attracted to a soldier in uniform. In 1914, an epidemic of khaki fever broke out across Britain. Young women, it seemed, became so attracted to men in military uniform that they started to behave in an immodest and even dangerous way.

If you’ve ever visited a game reserve in Africa and been driven around by a hunky game ranger, you might be suffering from this too, it’s a fairly easy “˜fever’ to contract. It’s the phenomena of falling head over heels in lust with your game ranger – the man responsible for rescuing you if you ever get in harm’s way out in the perilous African bush.

Having had a full blown case of “˜khaki fever’ once before, I know a bit about it. Although mine didn’t have the happy ending I’d hoped for, I know of one story that did.

Cathy was a young, all-American Texan student who’d flown to Africa with a few girlfriends for a safari in a South African game reserve. Their ranger, Brad was a handsome man with an athletic build and a captivating personality to match. He’d been asked to drive the ladies as a once off as he actually worked at the neighbouring lodge.

Three days later, Cathy (who had by now been bitten by that khaki bug and was absolutely smitten with Brad) left without having seen any elephants. Shortly thereafter, Brad rang her up to tell her that at his lodge (10 mins down the road) they had hordes of elephants and if she ever wanted to see them she should visit him.

Three months later she flew to South Africa hoping to spot some elephants, without realizing that she was about to return to almost the exact location as her previous trip. After seven days they were engaged, six months later they tied the knot and 12 years down the line, they are still happily married living in the African bush.

On a recent visit to a game reserve I came to the conclusion that once you’ve been bitten, it’s a pretty hard ‘fever’ to shake off. It could be the adventure factor that thrills most young women. “˜If we come across dangerous game, listen to what I tell you as I have the rifle. And whatever you do”¦don’t run’ says Ranger Bob. We passively listen, follow their instructions and put our lives in their hands – there’s something about a rugged camel-man with a domineering manner that totally turns women on.






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