Shopping in Mozambique
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Mezimbite Forest Centre
Central Mozambique's forests have long been plundered, but there's finally some good news on the scene. If you have extra time and are interested in learning about local sustainable development projects, take a few hours to visit Mezimbite Forest Centre, about 50km west of Beira along the EN6.
In addition to promoting sustainable conservation of the surrounding forests through maximising the forests' benefits to local residents, it trains artisans and craftpersons to be competitive in quality at the highest levels, producing exclusive furniture designs, jewellery and other items that are marketed internationally.
The centre can be visited during the daytime (and preferably…
reviewed
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Mercado de Xipamanine
Not exactly a tourist attraction, but a Maputo institution nonetheless, is the enormous and chaotic Mercado de Xipamanine. The market, which sprawls over the length of several football fields beyond the termination of Av Eduardo Mondlane, is the place to go to buy everything from used appliance parts to mattresses and sofas. More interesting is the enormous selection of traditional medicines and remedies, including an array of animal pelts, bird claws and more.
Xipamanine is also notorious as the hub of the local underworld, with an impressive assortment of stolen items for resale.
reviewed
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Artes Maconde
Artes Maconde has an excellent selection of carvings and other crafts from around the country. They do international air and sea shipping and also take orders for local crafts and carvings. For anyone interested in high-quality Mozambican crafts, it's an essential stop. There's another outlet at the Pemba Beach Hotel in Praia de Wimbi.
reviewed
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Mercado Municipal
The Mercado Municipal, with its long rows of vendors, tables piled high with produce, fresh fish and colourful spices, and stalls overflowing with everything from brooms to plastic buckets, is Maputo's main market, and well worth a stroll. Get there early in the morning when everything is still fresh, and before the crowds.
reviewed
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Super Mares
Supermarkets in Maputo are on the pricey side, but well-stocked, with a wide selection of imports from South Africa. Luscious papayas, mangoes and other excellent tropical fruits and vegetables are available at Maputo's markets and from streetside vendors. Super Mares is an upmarket and well-stocked supermarket.
reviewed
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Fish Market
At Paquitequete's northern edge is a small Fish Market. The nearby beach buzzes with activity in the early morning as makuti (dried palm fronds used for constructing roofs), bamboo and other building materials are unloaded and readied for market.
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Casa Elefante
For capulanas (the colourful cloths that women wear around their waist) and other textiles, try Casa Elefante or some of the other nearby shops opposite the Mercado Municipal. This is also a good place to look for a tailor (alfaiataria).
reviewed
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Makonde Carvers
Pemba has some wonderful crafts, and is an especially good place to buy Makonde carvings. There's a group of Makonde Carvers in Alto-Gingone near the large mango tree opposite the airport, where you can get some good pieces at very reasonable prices.
reviewed
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Craft Shop
Pemba has some wonderful crafts, and is an especially good place to buy Makonde carvings. Try the small Craft Shop on the road between town and Wimbi beach. It's about 700m down from Av 25 de Septembro on the left side and unmarked.
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Craft Vendors
Maputo has a wide selection of reasonably priced crafts. In the upper part of town, try the Craft Vendors who spread their woodcarvings and other wares daily in front of Hotel Polana; hard bargaining is required.
reviewed
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Mercado de Peixe
The small but lively Mercado de Peixe, just off Av Marginal, sells a good sampling of what lies underneath the nearby waters; choose what you'd like and get it grilled up on little charcoal burners nearby.
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Artedif
This cooperative for disabled people is about 400m south of Holiday Inn. Crafts sold here are slightly more expensive than those at the street markets, but tend to be of higher quality. Prices are fixed.
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Craft Shop
The vendors near Clube Náutico hawk a modest array of woodcarvings and other crafts. Pricier but worth a look is the small Craft Shop opposite TDM and next to Cá Te Espero.
reviewed
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Mercado de Tchungamoyo
The chaotic Mercado de Tchungamoyo, known locally as 'Goto', is in the northeastern corner of town. It's full of imported goods, contraband and some unsavoury characters.
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Market
For self-catering, there are fruits and vegetables at the market and, in the afternoons, fresh seafood which you can usually arrange to get grilled up at your hotel.
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Craft Market
A good place to start is the Saturday morning craft market, with an array of woodcarvings and other items, some of which are of quite decent quality.
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MozArte
Just around the corner from Museu Nacional de Arte, with artists' workshops and a selection of crafts in the adjoining shop.
reviewed
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Shanty Craft
An excellent stop for high-quality souvenirs and gifts, with a large selection of crafts from around the country.
reviewed
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Gastronomia
A small shop next to Flôr d'Avineda, selling imported meats and cheeses, plus tasty sandwiches to takeaway.
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Taurus
Taurus, diagonally opposite BIM, stocks South African imports, meats and cheeses, plus soft serve ice cream.
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Mercado Central
Mercado Central in the town centre is quieter, and the best place to buy fruit and vegetables.
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Sensações
A few cassettes and CDs, and sometimes English-language magazines; next to Mundo's restaurant.
reviewed
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Osman's
For self-catering try Osman's, about 1.5km east of the main junction.
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Deli-cious Deli
Deli meats and cheeses, sandwiches, wine and other imported items.
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Deli 968
Deli meats and cheeses, sandwiches, wine and other imported items.
reviewed