Safari vellies
Safari vellies are the everyday South African walking shoe: soft leather, a low cut, and a sole built to be worn rather than admired. They sit somewhere between a chukka boot and a moccasin, and they get more comfortable the longer you own them.
Genuine Safari by Bata
The Safari range is made by Bata, a shoemaker that has been supplying South Africa since the 1930s. We stock the genuine article rather than a lookalike, so the pair that arrives is the shoe Bata built, with the construction, leather and sizing that name carries.
If you have worn Safari vellies before, these will fit and wear the way you remember. If you have not, they are a sensible first pair: the pattern has barely changed in decades because it did not need to.
What a veldskoen actually is
Veldskoene, pronounced FELT-skoona, and known almost everywhere as vellies, pronounced FELL-ys, are traditional South African walking shoes. The uppers are vegetable-tanned leather, soft rawhide or suede. Those uppers are bonded directly to a leather footbed and a rubber sole, with no tacks and no nails anywhere in the construction.
That single detail is what separates a real veldskoen from a shoe that merely looks like one. Nothing metal sits between your foot and the ground, so there is nothing to work loose, press through, or rust.
Where the name comes from
The word comes from Afrikaans. Vel means skin. It was later amalgamated with veld, meaning field, and skoene, meaning shoes. A shoe of skin, for the field.
The design dates to the 17th century and the first Dutch settlers at the Cape. The traditional Khoisan footwear those settlers encountered is widely credited with shaping what the veldskoen became, which makes it one of the older continuously worn shoe designs anywhere in the world.
The shoe that became the desert boot
The veldskoen has a well-documented descendant. Nathan Clark, of the British shoemaker C&J Clark, saw veldskoene for sale in the bazaars of Cairo during the Second World War. Those shoes had been imported from South Africa. Their round toe and low profile became the template for the Clarks desert boot, which went on to sell in the tens of millions.
Safari vellies are close cousins of that desert boot, and of the chukka. For the wider range and a guide to choosing and sizing a pair, see our veldskoen page. The main difference is the topline: a vellie sits lower on the ankle, which is why it wears comfortably in South African heat where a boot does not.
How they are made
Good vellies are built the old-fashioned way, from quality leather chosen for comfort and longevity rather than for how it photographs. The leather and suede soften with wear and take the shape of your foot instead of fighting it.
The soles are usually crepe rubber. In the older tradition, and still in some workshops, they were cut from worn vehicle tyres, which is about as durable as a sole gets. Modern Safari vellies use a more refined sole design, available in a range of colours.
Finding your size
Vellies are easy to size at home, and getting it right the first time saves an exchange.
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your weight on the foot.
- Mark the paper at the tip of your longest toe and at the back of your heel.
- Measure the distance between the two marks.
Measure heel to toe, not just the outline of your footprint. Your longest toe is not always the big toe. If you fall between sizes, take the larger one, because leather gives a little as it wears in.
Wearing them
Vellies are genuinely versatile. They are at home at a braai, on a farm road, and in most offices, which is a range very few shoes manage. A tan or brown pair goes with almost everything. Black reads more formal. Suede is softer from day one but asks for a little more care.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Safari vellies?
Safari is a Bata brand. Bata has supplied footwear in South Africa since the 1930s. We stock the genuine article rather than a lookalike, so the pair you receive is the shoe Bata built.
Are Safari vellies the same as a desert boot?
They are close cousins. Nathan Clark of C&J Clark saw South African veldskoene in Cairo during the Second World War and used their round toe and low profile as the template for the Clarks desert boot. The main difference is the topline: a vellie sits lower on the ankle.
Are Safari vellies made of real leather?
Yes. The uppers are vegetable-tanned leather, soft rawhide or suede, bonded to a leather footbed and a rubber sole with no tacks or nails in the construction.
Do Safari vellies come in men\u2019s and ladies\u2019 sizes?
Yes. The range covers men, ladies and unisex fits. Men\u2019s are cut wider through the forefoot, ladies\u2019 use a narrower last with a slightly lower profile, and unisex sits between the two.
What size Safari vellies should I order?
Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the tip of your longest toe and the back of your heel, then measure between the marks. Measure heel to toe, not just your footprint. Between sizes, take the larger one, because leather gives as it wears in.
How much is delivery?
Delivery is free on all orders over R200, anywhere in South Africa.
Ordering and delivery
Choose your size and colour, add the pair to your cart, and check out. Delivery is free on all orders over R200, anywhere in South Africa. Please make sure your delivery address is a South African one before you pay.
If you would like advice on sizing or want to know what is coming into the next range, email us at admin@myvellies.co.za and we will help.