Your small backpack is packed, the water bottle is filled, and a pleasant route in the reserve is marked on your hiking map—off you go on a little hike through the savannah. How can this delightful time in nature be even better? Actually, it couldn't be, if it weren't for the first itch in your trekking shoes after a few hundred meters. Especially during the dry season, when the red soil of the thornbush savannah hasn't seen rain in a long time, each step in the dry sand kicks up fine, small dust clouds. Along with airborne grass seeds, burrs, and tiny thorns. On their way back down, they continuously trickle into your shoes. It doesn’t take long before you feel an unpleasant pricking at your ankles. The deeper you go into the bush, the more they stick to your hiking socks.
Ankle Gaiters
Guides wear Gaiters
Okay, maybe not all guides and not on every hike. But they do wear them almost always when going deeper into the bush and off the beaten paths. Wearing these gaiters is simple, comfortable, and saves your socks. Once burrs get stuck in the fabric, they are often hopelessly embedded.
Boot Gaiters
- Available in various sizes
- Made from leather
- Made from canvas
- Made from plastic, although these are more suitable for rain protection in Europe and not for hiking in the savannah
- Available with zippers
- Or Velcro fasteners
- With elastic or fixed cuffs
- In all colors
- And different shapes
So, there is something for everyone. Most of us prefer leather gaiters. They are durable and also protect well against dew and splashing water. Canvas versions are usually a bit cheaper.
You can buy ankle gaiters at well-stocked outdoor stores, in many shops here in Namibia, and of course, online. With some luck, you might find them at KAMBAKU, but our ankle gaiters sell out quickly and restocking them for sale can be difficult in the lodge's daily routine. However, if you come to Otjiwarongo (for example, when you book the tour to Waterberg and have time to shop in Otji), you can visit Arms & Ammunition. Here, besides souvenirs, clothing, and a lot of small crafts, you will find gaiters in various styles.