Limpopo
Stunning wood furnishings from northern India make a marvellous purchase (yes, it ships internationally), but it also has a range of stunning homewares…
Must-see shopping in Africa
Wezandla African Craft Traders
Port Elizabeth
This brightly coloured arts and crafts centre has a huge array of items made by South African and Zimbabwean groups, including basketware, jewellery,…
Donald Greig Gallery & Foundry
Green Point & Waterfront
The striking, life-sized bronze animal sculptures of Donald Greig grace many public and private spaces around the Western Cape. At his foundry, set in a…
eSwatini (Swaziland)
This lovely boutique was previously called Rosewood before a change of ownership, but the shop still sells top-quality handwoven shawls, cushion covers,…
Cape Town
Mnandi sells cloth from all over Africa, including the local shweshwe cotton printed with everything from animals to traditional African patterns. You can…
Cape Town
Stocking high-quality, Dutch-manufactured waxed-cotton prints in dazzling West African designs, this fabric shop and tailor can turn out all kinds of…
Kilifi
Stock up on baobab oil, moringa powder, charcoal briquettes for the barbecue and – why not? – hats made from soft Ugandan bark at this innovative eco-shop…
Cape Town
A forerunner of the funky boutiques blooming along Long St, Mememe was started by award-winning sculptor and fashion designer Doreen Southwood in 2001. It…
Tetouan
The shopping palace of the medina, this 200-year-old building, a former governor’s house, has been meticulously restored. It is a clearing house for…
Pretoria
One of the projects of a nonprofit company aiming to rejuvenate central Pretoria, this lively monthly market showcases local creativity in terms of food,…
Green Point & Waterfront
This attractive range of designer cotton clothing for kids has grown from a stall on Greenmarket Sq to a global brand.
Luxor
The wonderful weekly market Souq At Talaat, in Taref, is held opposite the Temple of Seti I. Look for locally grown fruit and vegetables, and sometimes…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
This gallery sells gorgeous wildlife and savannah landscape photos in black-and-white, sepia and faded blues and greens, with images of elephants and…
Cape Town
This handsome complex of design studios and shops occupies a revamped old Woodstock building. You'll also find furniture designed by Vogel; jewellery in…
Carthage
This stylish shop has a lovingly curated, refreshingly serious collection of books, including a good selection of locally themed photography titles, plus…
Cape Town
Take your time leafing through the best range of books on South Africa and the continent, with a great secondhand section upstairs. If you can’t find what…
Mindelo
A fine place to browse for gift ideas, Cap Vert Design has dolls, aprons, T-shirts, jams, wicker bottles for grogue, Batik paintings, wallets made of…
Cape Town
The Cape Town retail outpost for this fabric-weaving business from Plettenberg Bay. They design, weave and make a wide range of attractive homeware items,…
Pretoria
A mega-mall where you'll find anything from fashion to kids' toys, homewares and clothing. Cape Union Mart is good for outdoor gear and Exclusive Books…
Draa Valley
You'll need to go early to this small, authentic Monday-morning market, where turbaned men haggle over oasis produce and catch up with their nomadic…
Kampala
This is the best place for English-language publications, with a great selection of books on Uganda, as well as novels. Stock up before a long road trip…
African Movement Art and Crafts
Southern Highlands
One of a cluster of brightly painted and appealing local businesses, this store sells souvenirs with soul: bright fabric earrings made by the owner,…
Cape Town
This ‘African salon store’, in one of Long St’s more beautiful buildings and boasting a terracotta art nouveau facade, is a gallery of top contemporary…
Swakopmund
Handicrafts and homewares from across Africa make this shop a modern-day Aladdin's Cave of pottery, fabrics, jewellery, baskets, masks and statues and…
Wild Oats Community Farmers Market
Garden Route
A Garden Route institution, this farmers market has been operating for over a decade. Arrive early to get your pick of the pies, biltong, cheese, cakes,…
Kinshasa
This charming shop, whose names means 'I earn my life', is a great spot for picking up some imaginatively crafted Congolese souvenirs; all the items on…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
In a forested valley between Simon's Town and Scarborough, Redhill specialises in pottery that mimics old enamelware in its glaze and incorporates bright…
Luxor
For more than a century, Aboudi has been offering an excellent selection of guidebooks, English-language books on Egypt and the Middle East, maps,…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
High-class and high-quality caftans are the name of the game here, with suitably high price tags. Upstairs are gorgeous traditional textiles (bedspreads,…
The Great Reef
More than two dozen stalls of local handicrafts line the street at this recently opened handicrafts market. You'll find woodwork, basketry, textiles and…
Sinai
This local cooperative of 75 Bedouin women produces bags, purses and cosmetic bags decorated with modern interpretations of traditional Bedouin design…
Draa Valley
Abderrahim Ougarane returned to his roots to become an artisan producer of date jams and syrup. Enjoy a tasting and leave with jars of this naturally…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
This leafy complex, which has the pastoral charm of a Cape Dutch farmstead, is a pleasant place to buy gifts and souvenirs, from African craft to local…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
Occupying the top floor of a pink-and-turquoise art deco building, this modern curiosity shop of crazy creatives includes wax artists, graphic and…
Alexandria
Antique and junk collectors will have a blast diving through the confusion of backstreets and alleys of this antique market. Many items found their way…
Lagos
Jankara Market is the largest market in Lagos and sells everything from tie-dyed cloth, trade beads and jewellery to pirate cassettes, pottery and…
Cape Town
Baraka means ‘blessing’ in Arabic. Co-owner Gavin Terblanche has an eclectic eye for what works as a gift or quirky piece of home decor. Products include…
Cape Town
Meaning 'Mother's Children' but also slang for 'How's it going?', this attractive place stocks high-quality, locally made kids and women's clothing and…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
With more colours than a candy store, Atika's comfy loafers are a Marrakesh must-have. Some customers have been known to buy their favourite shoe in 10…
Fondation Essalem Mains des Femmes
Tunis
Selling traditional handicrafts (rugs, scarves, napery, jewellery and clothing) made by women in disadvantaged parts of southern and central Tunisia, this…
