Tunis
On La Marsa's main square, this place sells a large range of colourful traditional Tunisian tunics and robes, and while they’re no better in quality than…
Must-see shopping in Africa
Limpopo
For a coffee stop and a browse through some wonderful locally made pottery at a little, landscaped, grass-roots initiative, venture north of Phalaborwa to…
Fez
Historically only Jews were allowed to sell gold jewellery in Fez, and the shops clustered in and just outside Bab El Magana (Clock Gate) are still the…
Botswana
Thamaga is home to the Botswelelo Centre, which is also known as Thamaga Pottery. This nonprofit community project was started by missionaries in the…
Dadès Gorge
Tufted carpets are made at this weaving cooperative, but soft kilim blankets made with undyed, extra-fluffy lambswool are signature pieces. The women are…
Mouassine & Central Souqs
This is the Marrakesh outlet of a women’s organic-certified argan cooperative outside Essaouira. The all-female staff will ply you with free samples of…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Recycled tea bags are used to produce an attractive range of greetings cards, stationery, and other quality paper products; it’s a worthwhile project that…
Mahé
This British-born artist creates some truly amazing bronze sculptures and his works, such as the Liberty Monument in Victoria, are increasingly being…
Melilla
Excellent quality (yet pricey) Moroccan gems made by artisans from Tetouan, Marrakesh and Fez are available at this boutique beside the Oficina del…
Johannesburg
It's mainly about grazing and hanging out at this two-storey brick warehouse, which fills with artisan purveyors and their foodie fans every Saturday…
Mahé
The Domaine de Val des Prés at Anse aux Pins consists of a cluster of craft shops grouped around a 19th-century plantation house with a few bits of…
Nanyuki
Started in 1977 and now providing employment to 107 women, this craft cooperative specialises in high-quality woven woollen goods. The women will show you…
Marrakesh
French-Gabonese fashion designer François imports his wax-print fabrics directly from Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mali to make bold contemporary…
Cape Town
Hunt for vintage pieces and collectables among the junk and cheap goods at this car-boot sale that fills up a car park on the edge of Table Bay. The views…
Cairo
This shop opposite the Mosque of Ibn Tulun is stacked with a desirable jumble of reasonably priced crafts, wooden chests, jewellery, pottery, puppets and…
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam's biggest and busiest market occupies several city blocks and the former barracks of the British Carrier Corp. It heaves with people morning…
Cape Town
Exhibitions at this well-respected gallery have included the humorous, subversive work of Anton Kannemeyer, also known as Joe Dog, creator of the darkly…
Western Cape
Locals love to stop here for a freshly baked pie and some just-pressed apple juice before heading off on a road trip. As well as the farm stall, there's a…
Johannesburg
An art deco-style building covered in pink and green tiles, 99 Juta is home to several of Jo'burg's top local product designers, including the wildly…
Tunis
This upmarket shop sells Tamerza dates au naturale, stuffed with pistachio paste and dried apricots, or covered in sesame seeds. By the bag, they are…
Medina
Opposite the Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed Tijani, follow the sign for CyberNet, then take an immediate right under an extremely low (fortunately padded) door…
Medina
This shop stocks creative work by Moroccan and French designers, playing on traditional crafts and designs: Mondrian-pattern babouches, for instance,…
Accra
A warren of stalls selling arts and crafts, known simply as the Arts Centre, this is the place to shop in Accra. The level of aggressive hassling may make…
Cairo
Cairo’s last working bookbinder also makes beautiful leather- and oil-paper-bound blank books, photo albums and diaries. Gold monogramming is included in…
Cairo
Established in 1885, this is one of the most esteemed spice traders in Cairo, with a brisk business in medicinal herbs as well (upstairs, herbalists…
Essaouira
At this stylish, carefully curated homeware store from the French owner of Umia restaurant just around the corner, you can pick up a shaggy raffia bag or…
Namibia
This craft centre markets Caprivian woodwork, San arts, Owambo basketry (also some great basketry from the San), European-Namibian leatherwork, karakul…
Annette Oelefse Mohair Products
Eastern Cape
South Africa is the largest mohair (a fabric made from the hair of an Angora goat) producer in the world, and the majority of South African mohair is…
Cape Town
A microcosm of the continent, packed into three floors, with a bewildering range of arts and crafts (which you should certainly bargain over). On the top…
Arusha
The large and unmissable Cultural Heritage craft mall on the western edge of Arusha has all the usual souvenirs as well as some less common items…
Antananarivo
If you'd like a gourmet souvenir from Madagascar, look no further than Pili Pili Dock. The boutique is stunning and everything is beautifully packaged –…
Okavango Delta
This cooperative draws together around 70 local women who produce Ngamiland-style baskets with beautiful and elaborate patterns. It’s right next to the…
Cape Town
There are several tailoring shops dotted along Long St where you can buy ready-to-wear items or have custom-designed clothing made from vibrantly…
Cape Town
Carole's colourful hand-printed and hand-painted fabrics can be bought by the metre or sewn into table linens, cushion covers, tea towels and the like…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
Pick up works by local ceramicists, including rejects of hand-painted plates and cups by the Potter’s Workshop (www.pottersworkshop.co.za), which often…
Merzouga
Creative French-Amazigh (Berber) couple, Johanne and Lahcen, have set up a small, rammed-earth art gallery and cafe in the village of Khamlia. Her work is…
Johannesburg
Occupying part of the 1911 Potato Sheds building that is now part of the Newton Junction mall development, this small arcade offers up emerging fashion…
Zanzibar Town
This place calls itself an emporium, and it does indeed have a massive range of souvenirs: carvings, clothing, books, ornaments, furnishings, jewellery,…
Tunis
Facing the main entrance to the Zitouna Mosque, this gorgeous boutique sells perfumes for women and men, soaps, cosmetics and toiletries. For a great gift…
Moshi
A local craft cooperative run by, as the name suggests, a handful of friendly local mamas, this place sells beadwork, kitenge cloth and a small collection…
