Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Hunting shoes made in Africa

The model I wear is the Safari. It has a wide toe, narrow heel and a flat foot bed. Take the teip to Sydney.

Pete I have not worn Australian issue boots since the early eighties when my then employer insist that I wear those dreadful Oliver and Stevens GP boots.

I am of the opinion that if a Government Dept insists that you wear it then it will not fit in any way, and if it does then you are probably mal-formed.

What a trooper needs in way of foorwear is not what I need.

I shall, it is only a nine hour drive so I can turn it into a shopping trip for my family.

Sounds like I was lucky they weren't in stock!

Hehehe - Just read this and had to laugh a bit.... I guess making such a statement, you have obviously never worn a set of Courteney boots... they are THE best hunting boots I have ever had, and I have had many types of hunting boots over the past 30 years. I guess that's why John Sharp also wears them everyday of his life while hunting Zimbabwe....

Also, to merely say most taxidermists in SA are crap, is kind of a wild statement. It's like saying all food in the US is crap. LOL. Yes there may be "cheaper" and less desirable taxidermists in SA, but there are arguably some of the best in the world too. I have had many trophies done by Highveld Taxidermy (Dieter Ochsenbein) and Nico van Rooyen (both when he was still alive and after his passing) and they are right up there with the best.

I bought a pair on my 2nd safari and while I liked them the 1st couple of times I wore them, the lack of arch support coupled with no padding made them almost painful to wear and I wound up selling them as used for more than I paid for them.

At the next Safari Club show in Reno I talked to the folks at the booth and ask them if they put a different sole on them (instead of one that looked and felt like an old tire tread) and they said they would - about 2 months later they showed up at my door and after I put in a thin gel inner-sole I bought at Wal-Mart they were, and still are, very comfortable.

Buy local, wear what you wear in warmer climate hunting and get on with it. My few bits of African hunting has been simple [bleep] compared to chasing elk in the Rocky's... Basic waterproof comfort is all that is needed IME.

So? I've seen PH's hunt in locally made sandels and tennis shoes, but neither would my choice.

As I said earlier, I had a pair of Zim made boots that were copies of the Courteney, and I found they lacked arch support, lacked ankle support due to the leather becoming very soft once worn, and the sole was thin enough that the soles of my feet became tired from the impact of walking after an hour or two.

I've looked at Courteney's close up and I have no reason to believe they would be any different.

Does that mean they are a terrible boot? Nope, just no suited to my British feet that have been cossetted in decent shoes or boots ever since I was a toddler.

I suspect many Americans, especially from the cooler parts of the US would find the same..

How ever, folks from warmer climates such as RSA, or hotter parts of the US may be used to wearing less substantial foot wear and therefore may find this style of boots fine..

Personally, I prefer something akin to a desert boot /light hiker although I am liking the look of the Rogue Trans Africa's and suspect that with the addition of a decent aftermarket foot bed, they might work very well if I ever find myself in RSA again.

That would be tough as there are no water buffalo in Africa...

I received an azzload of SA taxidermy'd critters a couple of months ago and the work is indeed first class.

Hi Ed,
Can you post some close up photo's? ear/eye/nose detail? I am NOT calling you out, just want to see the stuff.

Thanks

Steve

TAG safari boots are underrated. They are great boots if you can find them.