Putting Boots on Africa’s Front-Line Rangers

Gareth Crouch never expected his plan to help African rangers to become a global movement.

What began as a simple idea—donating one pair of boots for every ten pairs sold—has now put more than 10,000 pairs on the feet of rangers working across Africa’s wild places. In this episode, Gareth shares the story behind Jim Green Footwear’s Boots for Rangers program and the people who inspired it.

A third-generation shoemaker from South Africa, Gareth explains how Jim Green grew from a small local factory into an international footwear brand while keeping its manufacturing, materials, and mission rooted at home. He also reveals why rangers needed better boots, how the Game Rangers Association of Africa helps connect the right boots with the right people, and why designs like the African Ranger and AR8 are built for demanding conditions.
This conversation is about more than footwear. It’s about conservation, ethical manufacturing, African entrepreneurship, and the bold decision to support the people protecting the continent’s most important wild areas.