Going for a Kenyan safari is more of an adventure than a vacation. This means the kind of clothes you choose to pack will need to have a lot of thought put into them. One important item in your packing list will be the kind of shoes you wear. So as I plan to go out on safari myself it got me wondering, what are the best shoes for a safari in Kenya?
The best shoes for a Kenyan safari are hiking shoes like the KEEN Women’s Targhee II Hiking Shoe. Most hiking shoes are lightweight, durable, can be used for everything from light walking to hiking. Hiking shoes score really well on all of the metrics of a Good Shoe for Safari and are a great shoe to take on a Safari. In this article, I’m going to break down what kind of shoes you need to wear when coming to Kenya and some of the factors you need to consider when choosing the pairs.
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Things to consider when choosing a pair of shoes for a safari in Kenya
When choosing a pair of shoes for an African safari here are the things that you should consider:
Flat: Heels are not appropriate when coming to Kenya for an African safari. You will spend a lot of time in the car and walk on surfaces that are not very even. I think this may be the best way to get yourself a rolled ankle so please avoid it.
Closed: The kind of shoes you will choose should be closed. The main reason for this is you may sometimes have to walk on the streets of the towns in Kenya which are sometimes dusty or muddy. Read my article on what to wear in Nairobi for details. With closed shoes, you will also be able to protect your feet from mosquitoes.
Thick sole: This is especially important if you’re going to do any hiking or walking in the bush. Most of the Kenyan Savannah will have plants with sharp Thorns that are one or two inches long. Having shoes that have a thick sole will prevent you from getting injured if you step on one of these.
Breath well: the kind of shoes you choose need to breathe well. An average day in Kenya will have temperatures of 20-30℃. If you sweat easily you will find it very uncomfortable if you have a pair of shoes that don’t breathe well.
Durable: it is very likely that you’re not going to be walking on paved surfaces at all times and this means that you may encounter the occasional rock or tree root and trip over it. The shoes you wear need to be durable enough to survive several tripping without getting ruined.
Easy to clean: As I mentioned you will not be walking on a lot of paved surfaces and your shoes will get dusty or muddy. It is for this reason that you need to carry shoes that will be easy to clean with a wet piece of cloth.
Best women’s shoes for Kenya safari
Your Main pair of shoes: Based on the factors I have discussed above I’m sure you can be able to find a pair of shoes that fit this description in your closet. A pair of walking shoes or sneakers would be most appropriate.
Open shoes: I would also advise that you carry a pair of open shoes that you will use when in the vehicle, hotel or traveling. However this should not be your only pair of shoes.
Fancy dinner shoes: You may also want to carry a pair of fancy shoes for the evening dinners. These need to be stable enough to walk on uneven ground without making you fall.
If you in the mood to buy
If you would like to buy a new pair of shoes for your safari to Kenya, here are a few recommendations that I found on Amazon. They all had stellar reviews for the categories and I would recommend checking them out.
The choices for men are much easier since all you need to find is a good pair of comfortable walking shoes that can be used in different scenarios including evening dinners. You can safely carry one pair of shoes and you’ll be ok.
If you’re in the mood to buy a new pair
if you’re in the mood to get yourself a new pair of shoes for your safari in Kenya, here are a few options that you might want to choose from. I also did a bit of scouring for you on Amazon so you have a head start on making a choice for the kind of shoes that are best suited for a safari in Kenya.
When it comes to kids, you will need to keep their feet protected from getting hurt when they stumble over a rock when they are running. Toe protection will need to be at the top of your list when choosing a shoe for them.
When choosing a hiking shoe for a safari in Kenya, you will need to think about where you’ll be hiking. If it is just a walk in one of Kenya’s forests like Karura, all you need is a pair of walking shoes that have good enough grip to prevent you from falling or slipping on wet trails.
However, if you’re going to be tackling a more technical trail you will need hiking shoes that are specialized for the job.
I would recommend the Keen Hiking boot. It is comfortable, lightweight and waterproof. I was surprised at how affordable this pair of keen boots was on Amazon considering how high rated they are.
Best Shoes for walking in Kenyan towns
When walking the streets of Kenyan towns you will need to wear closed shoes that are easy to clean. This is because most of the towns in Kenya don’t have paved sidewalks and are mostly dusty or muddy depending on the weather.
You will also need to choose a flat pair of shoes since you will not be walking on very uneven ground and you risk spraining your ankle if you wear raised shoes
Lightweight; remember that you may not be using them as much and so they should not contribute a lot of weight in your luggage.
Durable: of the things that I destroy the easiest are sandals. I’m a bit of a clutz and keep tripping over rocks and this is both incredibly painful and it destroys my shoes. If you are anything like me, you need to get a pair of sandals that can endure this beating.
Easy to clean: your open shoes need to be easy to clean since they will be with the rest of your luggage. Keep in mind that all single use plastic bags are banned. This includes all zip lock bags that can be used to store muddy or dusty shoes. This means that you will have to clean your shoes well to prevent them from ruining the rest of your luggage.
If you’re in the mood of getting a new pair of open shoes, you can check out the following pairs I found on Amazon. I was looking for a pair with a great price and great reviews by people who have actually purchased them.
High End: KEEN Women’s Whisper Sandal
Mid Range: Teva Women’s Tirra Sandal
Budget: Teva Women’s W Sanborn Sandal
What Socks should I wear?
When choosing a pair of socks, look for light absorbent socks that keep your feet dry. Socks that you would wear on a hike during summer are most appropriate.
Unless you’re planning to wash your socks, make sure that you come with enough pairs to last you your whole journey
