I had the time of my life on my safari, and I want you to have a memorable experience, too! Unfortunately, the wrong gear can leave you in a tough spot. Blisters, bug bites, sun burns…not on my watch! When preparing for my trip to the Okavango Delta, I scoured the internet for safari clothing brands that were both durable and sustainable. In this article, I’ll share all of my top finds, which I personally wore (and loved) on my safari.
As we all know, the first rule of safari fashion is function! All of the brands linked prioritize high-quality materials, so you’ll be protected you from all of the things trying to hurt you: the elements, the bugs, and the blazing sun. Also, all of these items are in safari-friendly colors (green, tan, khaki, and brown) to help you blend in well with the environment. This is important because bright colors can easily scare off wildlife! Below, you’ll find my carefully curated list of 12 sustainable safari clothing brands for women.
Featured: Ruby Lightweight Army Jacket / Bridgeway Zip-Off Pants
Sustainable Safari Clothing Brands
I’m passionate about protecting the environment, and protecting my readers from the rough elements they’ll face on their safari. The following sustainable brands are reliable, durable, and in my opinion, fashionable, too. If you need a complete safari packing list, check out my detailed post on What to Wear in the Okavango Delta.
Top Brands
1. Patagonia / 2. Prana / 3. Orvis / 4. Cotopaxi / 5. The North Face / 6. Helly Hansen / 7. Arc’teryx / 8. Birkenstocks / 9. Tentree / 10. Fjällräven / 11. Teva / 12. Aventura Clothing
1. Patagonia
Patagonia offers a range of sustainable outdoor clothing, focusing on ethical sourcing and eco-friendly materials. Their stylish and functional designs are ideal for your next safari. Patagonia has also pledged to become a carbon-neutral and zero-waste company, so you can shop with ease. Right now, my favorite style is Patagonia’s Women’s Slim All Seasons Hemp Pants.
Pictured on the Left: Women’s Early Rise Stretch Shirt
Pictured on the Right: Women’s Slim All Seasons Hemp Pants
2. Prana
Next up, prAna, which offers sustainable and organic clothing suitable for safari activities. This brand prioritizes ethical sourcing and eco-friendly materials, making them a smart choice for eco-conscious travelers! As you can see in the image below, prAna doesn’t skimp on quality. You can literally climb a mountain in their clothes and look good doing it, too.
3. Orvis
Orvis specializes in outdoor and adventure clothing for women. They commit 5% of pre-tax profits to protect nature, diversified among programs and initiatives to maintain, improve, and protect our natural world. I highly recommend Orvis’ line of UPF t-shirts and pants. The African sun is no joke, and I’d hate for you to sunburn while you’re out watching wildlife. Don’t just put on sunscreen, wear it, too! Literally, by wearing clothes with built-in SPF.
4. Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is one of my favorite brands. I love their funky style, and commitment to creating highly sustainable outdoor gear. Of course, for your next safari, you’ll need to tone down your color palette a bit. Cotopaxi does offer natural-looking colors, made out of recycled materials. Below, I’ve linked two of my favorite styles: the Paseo Travel Crop T-Shirt and Salto Ripstop Pant.
Pictured on the Left: Paseo Travel Crop T-Shirt
Pictured on the Right: Salto Ripstop Pant
5. The North Face
As a well-known outdoor clothing brand, North Face is actively working to reduce their environmental impact. I highly recommend their weather-resistant t-shirts, shorts, and pants, which will protect you from the elements. Safaris, strangely enough, can expose you to scalding hot and freezing cold temperatures, all in one day. You need clothing that can keep up. North Face is now classified as a sustainable brand with 100% of their top materials (polyester, cotton and nylon) expected to be recycled, responsibly sourced renewable, or regeneratively grown by 2025.
6. Helly Hansen
For freezing cold mornings, bring a Helly Hansen jacket with you. Their outdoor clothing is designed to withstand harsh conditions, including cold desert nights. Almost all of their non-woven insulations contain 80% post-consumer recycled polyester, and they have replaced around 70% of our fleece fabrics with recycled content.
7. Arc’teryx
The Gamma Lightweight Pants are a safari must-have. Their entire line of jackets are great, too. Arc’teryx is known for their long-lasting and high-performance outdoor gear, including their pre-loved ReGEAR™. Regarding their sustainability initiatives, Arc’teryx works with Bluesign to find safer textile chemistries and sets science-based targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Pictured on the Left: Proton Hoody
Pictured on the Right: Gamma Lightweight Pants
8. Birkenstocks
I wore Birkenstocks every day on my safari. The cork footbed will protect you against all types of spiky objects on the ground. I know this because my Birkenstocks kept me safe, time and time again, from pesky thorns and sharp plants. Since the footbed is made of cork and natural latex, your Birkenstocks are renewable and non-toxic, so you can confidently put your best foot forward out on your safari!
9. Tentree
Tentree is known for its commitment to reforestation. They use sustainable materials and plant ten trees for every item purchased, making your safari attire choices even more planet-friendly. I highly recommend shopping at Tentree for your basics: t-shirts, long-sleeves, and comfortable camp loungewear.
10. Fjällräven
Made in Sweden, Fjällräven is renowned for its durable and eco-friendly outdoor clothing. Fjällräven was voted the most sustainable brand in its industry according to Sustainable Brand Index 2020 Sweden. With a commitment to ethical manufacturing, they’re the perfect place to shop for safari staples. I adore their Raven Lite Jacket, it has so many well-sized pockets!
Pictured on the Left: Raven Lite Jacket
Pictured on the Right: Vidda Pro Ventilated Trousers
11. Teva
Teva offers adventure sandals and footwear for outdoor enthusiasts. If you’re seeking both comfort and style on your safari journey, buy a pair of Tevas for walking around camp or your daily game drives. When the heat rises, it’s nice to have open-toed shoes.
12. Aventura Clothing
Simple staples for every woman on a safari! Aventura’s motto is clothing with conscious origins. This brand specializes in comfortable, stylish, and sustainable clothing for women. They utilize nine sustainable and preferred fibers across 90% of their collection, including organic cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, lending, wool, and hemp. You can learn more about their sustainability initiatives here.
Enjoy Your Safari
With your new list of sustainable safari clothing brands, you’ll be ready to tackle all the elements. If you’re looking for ideas for your next safari adventure, check out my trip to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. If you have any other questions for me, leave them in the comments section.
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