BEST Safari Pants For Men And Women (2024)

From rugged outdoor pants to lightweight technical offerings, we share our favorite safari pants to tackle the bush. Nothing beats the comfort and protection of the right safari pants in the African bush. We share a wide range of pants to fit multiple styles and budgets. Safari pants should have quick-drying, breathable, lightweight fabrics, functional pockets, and a comfortable fit.

It may also come as a surprise, but not every safari experience has the same weather or season. It’d be outlandish to believe that the Namib desert has the same climate as the plains of the Masai Mara. Don’t fret; we have the perfect pants for any destination so you can remain comfortable and stylish.

In this post, we break down our favorite safari pants. We share details on fit, performance, pockets, and fabrics. We share tips like the best color choice and style if you’re after more information.

Our Top Safari Pants Picks

Best Overall Safari Pants — KUHL Freeflex/Free Radikl Pants (Women | Men)

Best Lightweight Safari Pant — Coalatree Trailhead Pants (Women | Men)

Most Stylish Safari Pant — Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Pants (Women | Men)

Best Alternative Safari Pant — prAna Summit/Vaha Pant (Women | Men)

Best Convertible Safari Pant — Columbia Convertible Pants (Women | Men)

Best Tough Safari Pant — Fjallraven Vidda Pro (Women | Men)

The Best Safari Pants

KUHL Freeflex/Free Radikl Pants

Kuhl’s ENDURO™ blend fabric in their men’s Free Radikl and women’s Freeflex Roll-Up pants is a testament to their commitment to quality and durability. We prefer the comfort of lightweight synthetic pants as most safaris occur in hot weather. These safari pants are lightweight and super comfortable.

Not only does the fabric feel soft against the skin, but it has also proven to be resistant to wear and tear after repeated use. The double-stitching and metal buttons are just a few of the high-end details that set these pants apart.

The Free Radikl pants offer the best technical performance and style, with active stretch panels, a dedicated phone pocket, and a gusseted crotch for added mobility. The Freeflex Roll-Up pants feature functional pockets and drawstrings, making them perfect for women who need practicality and comfort. Both styles come in a variety of colors to suit your taste.

However, men who prefer a slim fit may opt for the tapered option, as the regular Free Radikl cut can be a bit baggy for those with runners’ legs, like me. Whether you’re a rugged outdoorsman or a casual adventurer, Kuhl’s technical pants offer UPF 50 sun protection, six pockets, and the ultimate in year-round performance, making them the trusted choice for any outdoor excursion.

REI Co-op Trailsmith Pants

The REI Co-op Trailsmith Pants combine style, comfort, and durability for an excellent safari pant. The pants come in two different designs based on gender. The men’s pants are traditional, while the women’s are joggers. No matter the design style, both styles use a blend of cotton, polyester, and spandex fabric. This allows them to wick away moisture and move with the body for a comfortable fit.

We love the double-layer fabric reinforcement at the knees and thighs. It helps photographers who often take a knee to get a lower angle. However, the mid-weight fabric feels a little too warm in scorching weather. In hot safari destinations, we prefer lighter safari pants.

The pants have many pockets, including traditional hand and back pockets, a drop-in tool pocket at the side, and a pencil pocket at the thigh. We found all the pockets to be helpful. They also play well into the slightly loose fit of the pants, which provides comfort all day.

Western Rise Evolution Pant 2.0

For those searching for versatile and functional pants for their travels, the Western Rise Evolution 2.0 Pants are a top choice. Although not explicitly designed as safari pants, they can replace any outdoor pants in your wardrobe. The ultralight tech fabric is ideal for daily errands and travels, with its breathable, stretchable, and stain-resistant qualities.

Not only are these pants practical, but they are also stylish and comfortable. The slim fit is tapered for a neat appearance but may not suit those with thicker thighs. Despite this, the lightweight fabric falls nicely along the legs, and the excellent fit balances slim and loose.

Unfortunately, these pants are currently only available for men. The Dune color is popular for safari wear, but it may not be practical as it shows dirt quickly. Despite this, the Western Rise Evolution 2.0 Pants are our favorite travel pants for men and a must-pack item for any trip.

Fjallraven Vidda Pro

The Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers are our favorite adventure pants. The pants use a G-1000 Eco Fabric, a durable waxed canvas material in construction. It’s a tough material that is abrasion-resistant, but due to its excellent fit, features, and smart panel construction, the pants are super comfortable.

The G-1000 Eco fabric has sustainable cred, and the waxed feature gives the material reliable moisture resistance. We love the pant’s features like preshaped knees, gusseted crotch, and rear panel. They are pants that feel tough as nails but don’t restrict your mobility.

Despite the heavy fabric, the pants feature two ample ventilation zips on both legs, allowing you to dump heat effectively and efficiently. The pants also include many functional pockets, such as two large pockets, a knife pocket, and an axe loop. Even if you don’t need the robust features of these safari pants, they have a very cool utilitarian look.

Coalatree Trailhead Pants

We love the ultralight and uber-comfortable Coalatree Trailhead pants. The unique eco-friendly fabric blend is waterproof and breathable, providing excellent protection from the elements while keeping you cool and dry.

What we love most about the pants is the material. They use a four-way stretch and ripstop nylon fabric blend that moves with your body. It’s not only comfort that the fabric provides, as the antimicrobial properties keep the pants fresh for multiple wears without a wash.

While the drawstring ankle ties allow you to easily adjust the length of the pants to suit your needs. They also pack up super well as they fold into their pocket, which is great with the limited space allowed on bush flights.

Columbia Silver Ridge/Saturday Trail Pant

Whatever the Columbia Silver Ridge or Saturday Trail Pants lack in appearance, they make up for in practicality and value. The Silver Ridge is a zip-off pant for both sexes, and the Saturday Trail Pants are women’s hiking/travel pants. The synthetic material in both designs offers UV protection, breathability, and excellent moisture management.

We pair these two different pants together because convertible shorts don’t look nice on women. However, with similar material and a nicer fit, the Saturday Trail Pant is a great safari pant for women. Women will find far more style with safari shorts such as the prAna Elle Shorts.

Both feature large pockets, but only the men’s pants have two cargo pockets to carry necessities like bug spray, sunblock, or binoculars for your safari. Another nifty feature of the Silver Ridge is the adjustable belt that saves weight over a traditional option.

Columbia products always offer plenty of value but are far from the highest quality. It’s always apparent in their products’ details/style and longevity. These are not a great choice if you’re seeking a pair of pants to last a lifetime.

prAna Summit/Vaha Pant

I spend so much time traveling in these pants, and they’ve become one of my favorite pairs. I now have a couple of pairs of Vaha pants. The prAna Vaha Pants and Summit Pants are for yoga and climbing, but I use them for anything. For safari, they’re great for a relaxed evening around camp or the lodge and can even double as pajamas.

Hemp and recycled polyester give breathability to the pants with quick-dry and odor-fighting qualities and are a heck of an eco-friendly product. It’s a very relaxed and soft pant that feels like a regular pair of pants. The style works for almost all women, but the casual style may put some men off. We’re big fans of prAna, so we highly recommend checking out some of their products. The women’s pants are Summit pants, and the men’s are Vaha pants.

Outdoor Research Ferossi Pant

The Outdoor Research Ferossi Pants are ideal for a safari due to their comfort and performance. The pants feature the brand’s signature Ferrosi Fabric, providing lightweight durability, stretch, and overall mobility. The pants regulate temperature effectively while protecting you from the wind and light rain and drying and breathing quickly when the temperature rises.

The recent update to the Ferrosi pants has increased sustainability, with the fabric being Bluesign-approved and made with 46% recycled materials. However, the Ferrosi pants don’t come with a built-in belt, and the drawstrings along the waistband are less effective. They are the top pick for hitting the backcountry, especially given the recent expansion of the Ferrosi line to include a convertible option, a cargo model with more pockets, and the Crux Pant for climbing.

Our biggest complaint with the Ferossi Pants is the style. We find them too outdoorsy-looking to walk around more formal environments comfortably. We like safari pants to feel comfortable on a game drive and at dinner.

Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Pants

You won’t find a tougher pair of pants than the Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Cloth pants. These pants can tackle any challenge from Africa to working on the ranch or running errands around town.

The quality and finishes make the pants stand out from most. We love the heavy canvas, exceptional stitching, and brass fittings. The canvas fabric is coasted in an oil-finish wax that provides moisture repellency and protection from the elements. Despite the heavy material, the pants offer exceptional freedom of movement. Thanks to a roomy cut through the seat and thighs.

They have a big downside: a prohibitively high price tag for a pair of pants. The heavy and rugged design is also too heavy and warm for the average hot weather African safari.

Patagonia Quandary Pant

Patagonia’s Quandry Pants are a great lightweight option for safari pants. The pants are comfortable, versatile, and offer plenty of performance. They manage to hit the perfect balance between casual travel and active adventure.

We think it hits all the essential criteria for a good pair of pants. The pants have a clean style, gusseted crotch, articulated knees, and lightweight fabric with DWR and 50+ UPF sun protection. They are the perfect combination of comfort, performance, and style. Whether you’re out on a safari or need a pair of durable and versatile pants, these are a great choice.

prAna Halle/Brion II Pants

We’ve been fans of the prAna Brion/Halle Pants for years. However, prAna recently released a new version, the “II.” It was a big risk, and we love they took a step toward a more sustainable ReZion blend fabric, which is excellent. The pants also have a new button closure and a slightly different fit.

The pants have plenty of stretch in the construction, which is helpful for safari. We also love the built-in belt, which makes it easy to dial in the perfect fit. The ample pockets are always a plus. Style in pants is still good with clean lines and a wide range of colors that work well for safaris, such as mud, sepia, and dark khaki. The pants’ roll-up design still offer flexibility, especially in the women’s Halle Pants.

However, the updated ReZion fabric is less soft and comfy than the original. It’s also oddly shimmery in the sun, which can be distracting. Additionally, the standard model has a more pronounced flare at the bottom, which can lead to some annoying swishing when you walk. We hope they return to their former glory as our top pants for safari.

Table Of Safari Pants

Tips for Picking the Best Safari Pants

Research Your Destination

Not all of Africa is hot weather.  The weather here can vary in extremes, so we suggest a little research about the season and destination. It’s important to note the region you are going to and the time of year you travel. The two main seasons are the dry and rainy seasons.

For example, if you’re heading to Southern Africa during their dry months, April to October, be prepared for cooler mornings and evenings. However, if you’re heading to East Africa around this same time, you’ll need to be ready for much more humid and wet conditions from April to June. Read more in detail about how to plan a safari here.

So as you can see, there’s variation! There will be sharp differences in the temperatures depending on where and when you go. We therefore highly recommend that you plan your pants selection accordingly.

Color Selection

The goal of the safari is to view wildlife, which in turn means that your goal is to not spook wildlife by wearing bright pink neon pants when trying to see them. So while you’re researching the weather at your destination, take a look at a few pictures and get a feel for nature’s colors in that area, and dress to match.

Khaki, dark green, beige, and grey are popular colors to wear on safari. If you don’t have the fitting color pants, it’s not the worst thing in the world, but it may make you stand out.

Durability

A safari isn’t precisely the cushiest environment for clothes. You’ll be climbing in and out of cars, hitting the dusty trail on bumpy roads, and walking through the bush. It’s therefore essential to make sure you opt for a pair of pants that have this kind of use in mind.

We recommend aiming for pants designed for hiking or backpacking when shopping. You’ll then be sure to find some of the most rugged and long-lasting materials on the market.

Moisture and Ventilation Control

As you know by now, the weather for your safari can potentially be very hot or very wet, or both! Depending on what you’re facing, keep an eye out for pants that will perform well in those environments.

In the case of a toasty trip, pants with built-in ventilation and moisture-wicking technology will perform best. These will wick any sweat away from your body to keep you nice and dry, and at the same time, the pants themselves will dry quickly to avoid becoming sodden.

But when the weather turns wet, a water-resistant finish will help keep rain from soaking in. You’ll typically see this listed as a ‘Durable Water Repellent (DWR).’ Lightweight, quick-drying material will also be a plus in this department for any moisture that happens to sneak through.

Versatility

A safari often doesn’t allow for a wide range of clothing options. You’ll find that one pair of pants will need to last you for every aspect of your day, from early morning at camp to a day of wildlife viewing to an evening back at camp, or maybe even to dinner.

It’s, therefore, beneficial to find pants that embody the heavy-duty ruggedness of the trail but can also be just as acceptable at a casual evening event with your safari buddies.

Where to Buy Safari Pants

We have found the best place to buy safari clothes is online. Amazon has great deals and prices; if you are an Amazon Prime member, two-day shipping is free. REI and Backcountry are also great outdoor companies to find a variety of safari clothes as well.

Book A Safari in Africa

Traditionally if you wanted to book a safari, you’d have to go to a travel agent and have them book your safari for you. They made suggestions for camps and lodges then presented you with a hefty bill. Most of the industry still operates in this fashion.

However, Timbuktu is a new platform that allows you to select the lodges you’d like and see the pricing per day that way. You can choose the best itinerary for yourself. They will then contact the lodges and help you by booking your safari. Experts on staff can also provide suggestions and arrange the little details much like a travel agent.

Our Favorite Lodges in Africa

We’ve spent over a year on safari, tried out dozens of lodges, and visited nearly every park in Africa. While it’s impossible to say we’ve visited every lodge, we’ve seen a fair amount. Check out our list of favorite lodges in Africa. Have you visited any yourself?

See more of our safari gear!