Lilongwe
At these stalls outside the Old Town post office, vendors sell everything from trinket woodcarvings, basketware and jewellery to traditional Malawian…
Must-see shopping in Africa
Cape Town
Like a mini fashion department store, a variety of mens- and womens-wear brands are showcased here – it's a good spot to browse for colourful, locally…
Aswan
With its mock Pharaonic facade, this is the oldest, dustiest and best bazaar in town, with genuine Nubian swords, baskets, amulets, silk kaftans and beads…
Cape Town
Vinyl junkies can score their fix at this small emporium run by a local record publisher – they have CDs and even a few lo-fi cassettes too. While you…
Tangier
Next to the Kasbah Museum, this is a beautiful shop with some superb one-of-a-kind pieces designed by French artist Laura Welfling. You'll find eccentric…
Cape Town
Overlooking Bloubergstrand, this mall is pleasant for a wander between sunbathing, with plenty of cafes for taking in the Table Mountain views. Opening…
The North
Right next to the sugar museum, this impressive shop has sugar in all manner of gift packs, as well as rum made from local sugar cane, a few books and…
Green Point & Waterfront
All the big names of South African retail (including Woolworths, CNA, Pick n Pay, Exclusive Books and Musica), as well as international luxury brands, are…
Asilah
There's a fine selection of carpets on offer at this two-storey shop, with piles of shaggy Beni Ouarain, tightly woven kilim and colourful Azilal upstairs…
Sierra Leone
The top floor of the Big Market, or Basket Market, in downtown, has a larger selection than markets in Lumley. What makes this the best place to shop for…
Cape Town
Some 14 Capetonian designers, including Ballo sunglasses, Sealand bags made from recycled materials, and Grandt Mason shoes, are stocked in this Mondrian…
Dar es Salaam
This market is packed with vendors, and you can watch woodcarvers at work. Take the Mwenge dalla-dalla from New Posta transport stand to the end of the…
Sharm El Sheikh
The scruffy streets of Sharm Old Market are home to plenty of souvenir shops loaded down with lamps, shisha pipes and spices, traditional ahwa (coffee)…
Cairo
Al Qahira sells well-made Egyptian crafts, often with a little quirky element. Brilliant jewellery by Suzanne El Masry, embroidered jewellery, fabrics…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
This contemporary folk-art gallery is a great place to find attractive souvenirs. It stocks a range of interesting arts and crafts by local artists,…
Essaouira
This wardrobe-sized, self-proclaimed 'Berber Concept Store' stocks a covetable collection of Moroccan-made homeware, from macramé wall hangings to raffia…
Drakensberg Escarpment
Pick up the latest Deon Meyer thriller at this secondhand bookshop, which is one of South Africa's largest, with lots of paperback novels, a South African…
Sinai
This Bedouin women's cooperative works with more than 300 local women and displays a huge range of textiles and local handicrafts. It's signposted on the…
Kigali
Abraham Konga is a jewellery designer who upcycles discarded materials to create necklaces and earrings of high quality. You'll also find basketware,…
Rwanda
This small curio store has a varied and colourful collection of handicrafts from the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda, including lots of Congolese masks and other…
Lalibela
The one shop that stands out from Lalibela’s throng of souvenir shacks. Inside are beautiful watercolour and sepia paintings created by local artist…
Grand Baie
Hidden down an inland street away from Royal Rd, this market has a broad range of touristy Mauritian and Malagasy crafts. Prices aren't fixed, but wares…
Lesotho
Built in 2012, this glitzy mall contains upscale restaurants, several banks and ATMs, a Shoprite, a Woolworths, a nightclub and even a small children's…
Zanzibar Town
The friendly Hellen has her shop slightly off the main track, down near the Africa House Hotel. Come here to buy kangas, clothing, basketware, postcards…
Tunis
If you can't source treats to take home here, you're not trying hard enough. Perfumed water, soaps, jewellery, cosmetics and other sweetly scented and…
Coopérative Kakira Art Imigongo
Rwanda
This women's cooperative has excellent imigongo paintings (RFr5000). The property also has a traditional house done up in imigongo patterns, which you can…
Cape Town
The pungent smell of over 100 different herbs, spices and incenses perfumes the air at this cornerstone of the Bo-Kaap’s Cape Muslim community, where…
Green Point & Waterfront
Pamper yourself with the high-quality, hand-made beauty and body products from this Swellendam-based company that's like a chic South African version of…
Cape Town
Specialising in prints by local artists – both established and up-and-coming – and likely to have something that is both affordable and small enough to…
Eastern Uganda
These quality crafts, clothes and accessories are made by local women. They also sell Sipi coffee and honey. Proceeds from sales go to the community. It's…
Arusha
This original little Aladdin's cave of a place makes and sells picture frames made of dhow wood. Step inside and start fossicking or talk with the…
Johannesburg
Occupying part of a former industrial warehouse on the western edge of downtown Jo'burg, this thriving marketplace offers mainly gourmet outlets, food…
Durban
More like a museum than a bookshop, this antique-filled delight is chock-a-block with first editions and is everything an antiquarian bookshop should be…
Lesotho
More expensive than elsewhere in Lesotho, but convenient and well stocked with two floors of quality crafts from across the country. Credit cards are…
Sousse
Sousse’s weekly market is held on Sunday morning and early afternoon in the Souq El Ahad compound just south of the bus station. You’ll find everything…
Lamu Island
Some beautiful, high-end masks from Central and West Africa of interest to serious collectors, plus more affordable items such as beautiful cutlery,…
Limpopo
In the village of Mbokota southeast of Elim, local women create stunning, colourful textiles using traditional Tsonga designs through batik, hand painting…
Gonder
This child-sponsorship charity has a small store selling baskets, banana art and beads made from recycled magazines. Some items are also sold at Lodge du…
Antananarivo
A collective of 85 local artists showcasing sculptures, woodcarvings, paintings, metalwork and more. The quality varies, but it's worth poking your way…
Cape Town
Beautiful fabrics from the ends of rolls and swatch books are used by Grandt Mason to create his one-off shoes and boots, which start at around R1900. No…
