Sustainably produced and rugged as hell, Courteney boots are made from some of the most fierce animals you’re likely to encounter on safari.
So you’re headed out on the savannahs of Africa looking to gaze upon the big five, to bask in the continent’s awe-inspiring landscapes, and to delve into its timeless tribal culture. When it comes to outfitting your wardrobe for your next expedition, why not try boots made from the most dangerous animal in Africa?
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While boots made from the hides of the hippopotamus may not be your first choice (or second), adventurewear specialist Courteney Boot Company, which until recently sold almost exclusively to farmers in Zimbabwe and its neighbours, has been steadily making a name for itself on the international scene for its bespoke leather boots and shoes, each made from hippo, ostrich, cape buffalo, Nile crocodile, kudu or impala leather.
Exclusively handmade and exported from Zimbabwe to the world’s farthest-flung corners, these exotic leather shoes are made from all certified and approved, renewable materials, meaning each individual animal had a natural life and was sustainably harvested.
As you might imagine, Courteney Boot Company is one of the world’s most exclusive footwear brands, producing just 18 pairs of handmade boots and shoes a day. Each game skin is handpicked and hand-dyed for the best final product. More comfortable to wear than bovine leather and incredibly durable, buffalo leather absorbs and releases moisture, making these boots comfortable in both summer’s heat and winter’s cold.
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While the leather from kudu or impala is lighter and softer and features scratches in the material unique to each pair thanks to the animal’s tendency to graze among thorny trees (you could say it’s evidence of a close call with Africa’s resident cats), the leather from a hippo carries distinctive scars from battles waged during its life, making your boots a talking point on any safari or city-bound soiree.
Love em or hate em, each pair (which ranges in price from US$145-492) is made at the company’s small workshop in Bulawayo, and offers a livelihood to 16 local artisans. Every boot is made to order so your feet are guaranteed an authentic piece of African.
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