Malawi
For high-end craft hunters, this cavernous boutique is a good bet for everything from beadwork to bags.
Must-see shopping in Southern Africa
Gaborone
A small gallery of modern and contemporary local work that should be a first stop for anyone interested in buying art that goes beyond the usual African…
Johannesburg
In a new smaller location on the corner of Ntemi Piliso and Commissioner Sts, Kohinoor is one of the best sources of African music, and sells everything…
eSwatini (Swaziland)
This fair-trade enterprise employs more than 30 local artisans who produce beautiful printed wall hangings, clothing and cushion covers. It's based at the…
Northern Mozambique
A community-run shop-cafe selling Ibo coffee, shawls, handmade baskets and locally made silver jewellery. If you're hot and hungry, cake, empanadas and…
Victoria Falls (town)
This store sells stuff from all over Zimbabwe and Africa. Here you can pick up knitted Zulu dolls, masks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, or wall…
Swakopmund
This local carpet factory produces original and beautiful African rugs, carpets and wall hangings in karakul wool and offers tours of the spinning, dyeing…
Malawi
There are good craft stalls under an awning next to the salmon-coloured Malawi Savings Bank building. The work on sale is excellent and browsing is…
Zambia
Along Mfuwe's main strip is this craft shop selling handmade items made by local women, including bags, fabrics, lithographs print cards to items using…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
It’s hard to pass by this appealing bookshop if you’re looking for old editions and antiquarian books. The shop also has local art, as well prints and…
Cape Town
If you're after something art nouveau, art deco or of 20th-century design, then this expertly curated dealer is the place to head. Their displays are like…
Johannesburg
If you’re after serious retail therapy, head to this interlocking series of upmarket malls. Central parking is available on the corner of Cradock Ave and…
Lilongwe
This small mall off Paul Kagame Rd has a couple of bookshops and craft stores as well as Mamma Mia restaurant. Chic and quiet.
Cape Town
Colour-coordinated items pack this emporium of all things African, tribal and crafty. They support local artists, who sell some of their beadwork and…
Eastern Cape
Just off the main road, the market showcases the products and projects of the local community, including craftwork, clothing, crystals and the odd bio…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
You can't buy fresher fish in Cape Town than the glistening specimens in this small market, directly beside the harbour where the daily catches are…
Gaborone
Perhaps the best of Gaborone's Western-style malls, with a good range of restaurants and shops, including Exclusive Books.
Kasane
An upmarket gallery exhibiting purchasable work by artists from Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as woodcarvings from around the continent.
Cape Town
A very groovy little shop stocking a great range of locally produced souvenirs, including their own brand of design T-shirts and some African music CDs.
Cape Town
Packed with a wide range of local artworks at a range of price points. Look for the humorous colourful pieces by David Kuijers, puppets and ceramics.
Limpopo
This group of 15 women produce traditional- and contemporary-design pottery, including, pots, bowls and beads. It's in Mukondeni, southeast of Elim.
Durban
Durban's hip elite hang out at this delightfully cluttered record shop. There is a coffee shop and expansive veranda where music is always pumping.
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Pick up African craftwork and souvenirs at this lay-by market with sea views. It's on the main coast road, just north of the turning for Llandudno.
Drakensberg Escarpment
A lovely selection of African arts and crafts and textiles, including jewellery, statuary, woodcarvings, pottery, basketry and children's T-shirts.
Cape Town
This gallery can be credited with kicking Capetonian creativity up the backside. Drop by to witness the unruly forces of young South African art.
eSwatini (Swaziland)
This colourful, compact craft centre has several shops featuring everything from weaving and tapestries to candles, woodcarvings and T-shirts.
Green Point & Waterfront
Stocks highly original, colourful and distinctively South African fashions (mainly for women but with a few jackets for men) and accessories.
Cape Town
A well-stocked and convenient branch of South Africa's excellent supermarket chain, where you can buy quality food and wine (but not beer).
Harare
A handy location for those staying at the nearby backpackers, with supermarkets, banks, mobile phone stores, restaurants, bars and cafes.
Pretoria
Mainly selling artisanal foods and drinks, this is a popular meeting spot on a Saturday morning for grazing and general people-watching.
Sunshine Coast
This shop has a 'museum' upstairs tracing the development of local surf culture, as well as surfboards, bodyboards, wetsuits and so on.
Durban
One of Durban's major shopping centres, with pharmacies, banks, several chain restaurants, a movie theatre and plenty of chain stores.
eSwatini (Swaziland)
Run by a group of women, this sustainable outlet sells modern accessories of cutting-edge design, made in Mbabane from recycled paper.
Lusaka
A good store for all your last-minute safari needs, including GPS units, tents, camping equipment, sleeping bags and khaki clothing.
Malawi
A wide selection of fiction, kids' illustrated books, potboilers, biographies, guidebooks, maps and international magazines.
Lilongwe
Has a small selection of English-language novels, pictorial travel books and some very nice prints of Malawi for keepsakes.
Lilongwe
Excellent secondhand bookshop with a wide range of novels, guidebooks, children's books and more. It also has a small cafe.
Maputo
A good place to buy capulanas (sarongs). It’s opposite the Municipal Market. There are many tailors nearby.
Livingstone
The craft stalls in the southern corner of Mukuni park are a pleasant, and hassle-free place to browse for souvenirs.
Cape Town
Watch various flavours of chocolate being made from organic beans, and sample the very tasty product before you buy.
