Women's Cooperative of Aït Bououli
High Atlas Mountains
This is a 40-member cooperative that takes every aspect of carpet-making into its own hands: tending and shearing sheep; carding and spinning fluffy…
Must-see shopping in Africa
Free State
This wonderful and expansive bookstore lives in a Victorian home dating to 1881, which a previous owner lovingly restored. (In the 90s, the place received…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
Recognisable by its vivid green glaze the colour of desert palms, Tamegroute pottery comes from a town in southern Morocco just before the landscape…
Luxor
Run by an Australian woman who promotes the best of Egyptian crafts, Habiba sells an ever-expanding selection of top quality Bedouin embroidery, jewellery…
Zanzibar Town
This shop sells products from Moto, a Zanzibar-wide handicraft cooperative that supports the island's rural economy by selling bags, sun hats, baskets,…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
Kaftan Queen is the go-to boutique for fresh and affordable bohemian chic fashions. The collections, including flowing caftans with delicate beadwork,…
Limpopo
Located on the outskirts of Acornhoek township, the Mapusha Weaving Cooperative was established in 1973 to give unemployed women a craft and an income…
Cairo
It's a shame more travellers don't venture to this modern market-complex after their Coptic Cairo visit as there are some interesting boutiques here –…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
To get a jump-start on the souqs, come to this government-sponsored showcase across from Cyber Parc to see the range of crafts and prices Marrakesh has to…
Zanzibar Island
Jenga is a social enterprise offering Zanzibari entrepreneurs a platform (both online and in-store) from which to sell handmade products. And what…
Nairobi
Busy, popular Maasai markets move around the city according to the day of the week and are excellent shopping experiences. Sites change regularly. At the…
Western Desert
Stock up on all your fresh produce at this truly local market that runs through the alleyways off Midan Sho'ala. You'll find everything here from plastic…
Windhoek
The throbbing heart of the Windhoek shopping district is the bizarrely colourful Post St Mall, an elevated pedestrian walkway lined with vendors selling…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Pick up items ranging from contemporary African craftwork to fashion at this buzzing indoor market, where 45 shops mix with 25 food stands and a fresh…
Tunisia
Medina touts work hard to lure tourists into this rug shop inside an 18th-century residence of the former beys (or pashas) of Kairouan; they'll usually…
Marrakesh
Soufiane Zarib has gained a reputation for his quality textiles: he buys his own wool and employs his own weavers to produce carpets that are distinctly…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
This tourist-friendly herboriste selling all manner of Moroccan spices, herbal medicines and natural beauty treatments is a fifth-generation family…
Zanzibar Town
This multifaith community project builds bridges between Zanzibar's minority Christians and the largely Muslim population through its sewing school and…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
Located in Le Jardin, Algerian designer Norya Ayron's bijoux boutique counts American actresses Maggie Gyllenhaal and Sharon Stone among its fans thanks…
Agadir
This covered, breezy market will appeal to fans of Brutalist architecture; it's all concrete and corrugated metal. Inside, it's a mix of leather tailors…
Cape Town
Swing by this converted warehouse complex even if you're not in the market for a custom-built bike. They also sell fashionable, locally made biking tops,…
Cape Town
At this co-op you'll find a rough-and-ready collection of start-ups, try outs and established traders, hawking a range of appealing items including…
Limpopo
Next to the busy workshop, a shop sells vivid wall hangings, cushion covers, tunics and table mats, designed here and embroidered by 1200 local Shangaan…
Cape Town
If you’re after a full hide – cow, buffalo, antelope, zebra etc – head over to these savvy guys who’ve been catering to Cape Town’s leather trade since…
Marrakesh
Moroccan embroidery is a signature of Les Marrisiennes' Parisian-designed, Marrakesh-made fashions, but there's nothing traditional about these pieces,…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
French interior designer Anne Bénédicte Dorbe discovered Morocco's boucharouite carpets (rag rugs made from recycled cloth) while kitting out Marrakesh…
Sharm El Sheikh
This shopping and nightlife hub is home to an ice-skating rink, a bowling alley, a Culturama centre (playing a multimedia film of Egyptian history) and…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
Offering the buzzy feel of an art studio rather than a sterile gallery, Blue Planet is the seaside portfolio of artists Koos de Wet and Anastasia…
Ouarzazate
Henna-painted pottery, hand-painted tea glasses, and silver filigree rings are sold at reasonable fixed prices, supporting Horizon’s programs to provide…
Kâat Ben Nahid & Bab Debbagh
This smart yet approachable gallery knocks the socks off the medina art shops and stalls. It's a showroom for well-regarded contemporary Moroccan artists,…
Dadès Valley
At the converted home of Zaid Abbou, who runs the museum at Lalla Mimouna, you might find Tinejdad-made ceramics in the courtyard, sand-worn bracelets in…
Alexandria
In a city that devours more fish than a hungry seal, you’d expect to find a pretty impressive fish market – and Alexandria delivers. Located at the…
Marrakesh
For honest salesmanship and good-quality local textiles, family-run Atelier El Bahia is a great choice. It's a proper emporium with fixed prices, made-to…
Marrakesh
This upmarket concept store is a sign of the times on gentrifying Riad Zitoun El Kedim. Its walls are lined with shelves of beautifully packaged saffron,…
Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle
Belgian designer Laurence Leenaert opens her showroom for design lovers to shop the looks gracing the latest interior design magazines, from distinctive…
Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre
Green Point & Waterfront
This emporium is packed with backpacks, boots, clothing and practically everything else you might need for outdoor adventures, from a hike up Table…
Marrakesh
Bold, colourful and tongue in cheek: Wafl's Belgian-designed pop-art illustrations are part of a new art vanguard in Marrakesh that's eschewing…
Malawi
In this thatched workshop, single mothers and orphans handcraft a range of items using locally sourced materials, reflecting Likoma's colours and culture…
Cape Town
This small market is one of the projects of a worthy, nonprofit urban agriculture scheme that exists without a lease on prime city land. Food security…
Cairo
This charity store run by the Anglican church sells work done by refugee organisations and disadvantaged families. There are plenty of kitchen linens and…
