Must-see shopping in Southern Africa

  • 27 Boxes

    Johannesburg

    This shipping-crate complex of boutiques, galleries and eateries is well on its way to establishing its Melville street cred. A newly planted park,…

  • 44 Stanley

    Johannesburg

    The antithesis of consumer tack, 44 Stanley is a blueprint for future mall development. It’s a warren of lanes around shady courtyards and features an…

  • Patrick Mavros

    Harare

    His clients may include Bruce Springsteen, Kate Middleton and the king of Spain, but Patrick Mavros' stunning handmade silver jewellery is very affordable…

  • Penduka

    Windhoek

    Penduka, which means ‘wake up’, operates a nonprofit women’s needlework project at Goreangab Dam, 8km northwest of the city centre. You can purchase…

  • Bay Harbour Market

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    This imaginatively designed indoor market at the far end of Hout Bay Harbour is one of Cape Town's best. There’s a good range of stalls selling items from…

  • Elephant's Walk Shopping & Artist Village

    Victoria Falls (town)

    A must for those in the market for quality Zimbabwean and African craft, this shopping village is home to boutique stores and galleries owned by a…

  • Africa Nova

    Cape Town

    One of the most stylish and desirable collections of tribal and contemporary African textiles, arts and crafts. You’ll find potato-print fabrics made by…

  • Neighbourgoods Market

    Cape Town

    This is the artisanal goods markets that kickstarted the craze for similar markets across the Cape – and it's still one of the best. Food and drinks are…

  • Montebello Design Centre

    Cape Town

    This development project has helped several great craftspeople and designers along the way. In the leafy compound, artists' studios are scattered around…

  • Kim Sacks Gallery

    Johannesburg

    Kim Sacks, a renowned ceramicist and ceramics teacher, has assembled an astounding collection of handcrafted pots, baskets, tapestries, rugs, jewellery,…

  • Streetwires

    Cape Town

    Their motto is ‘anything you can dream up in wire we will build’. And if you visit this social project, designed to create sustainable employment, and see…

  • Market on Main

    Johannesburg

    Spilling out of Arts on Main onto Fox St is this buzzy weekly market. You'll find the usual selection of takeaway food stalls downstairs (look out for the…

  • Four Seasons Centre

    Lilongwe

    An oasis of fine dining and upmarket shopping, featuring clothing and design boutiques, a bar, a restaurant and a cafe, Four Seasons is a restful one-stop…

  • Namibia Crafts Centre

    Windhoek

    This place is an outlet for heaps of wonderful Namibian inspiration – leatherwork, basketry, pottery, jewellery, needlework, hand-painted textiles and…

  • Art Africa

    Johannesburg

    Arts and crafts from across South Africa as well as Mali, Ghana and the Ivory Coast are attractively displayed here – you'll be spoiled for souvenir…

  • Old Biscuit Mill

    Cape Town

    This former biscuit factory houses an ace collection of arts, craft, fashion and design shops, as well as places to eat and drink.

  • Woodstock Exchange

    Cape Town

    As well as good places to eat and drink, there's a fair amount of original retail at the Exchange, including the boutique Kingdom, which mixes fashion and…

  • Ngwenya Glass

    eSwatini (Swaziland)

    One of eSwatini's major tourist attractions, this superb glass-blowing factory and boutique showcases a fantastic selection of animal figurines, vases,…

  • AHEM! Art Collective

    Cape Town

    Shining a light on the graphic art and illustration talents of local artists, as well as importing some great pieces from France and elsewhere, this…

  • Swazi Candles

    eSwatini (Swaziland)

    A mandatory stop for the souvenir hunter, Swazi Candles is one of the most famous handicrafts outlets in Southern Africa. Here you can wax lyrical about…

  • Rialheim

    Cape Town

    Locally sourced clay is used in the Robertson-based factory to make these stylish, mainly monochrome ceramics that range from plates and mugs to…

  • Monkeybiz

    Cape Town

    Colourful beadwork crafts, made by local township women, are Monkeybiz’s super-successful stock in trade – you'll find their products around the world,…

  • Hout Bay Lions Craft Market

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    Browsing the stalls at this little village-green market, a fundraiser for the Lions Club of Hout Bay social-upliftment organisation, is a lovely way to…

  • LIM

    Cape Town

    Although the shop’s name is an acronym for ‘Less is More’, this interior design shop has been so successful that they've had to add more room by expanding…

  • Ethno Bongo

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    A court order may have stopped this shop from using the name Dolce & Banana for its bead jewellery, but otherwise it hasn’t put a dent in this long…

  • Thesis

    Gauteng

    Typifying the new Soweto are the crew who run Thesis, a streetware brand selling colourful design T-shirts and hats made locally. Next to the boutique is…

  • Ashanti

    Cape Town

    Baskets, mats, lampshades, pillows, bags and cushions are among the many rainbow-coloured products on sale at this great artisan design shop that creates…

  • Chandler House

    Cape Town

    Michael Chandler showcases his quirky ceramic homewares and decorative pieces in this well-edited collection of imaginative local arts and crafts, which…

  • Stable

    Cape Town

    A one-stop shop for a variety of South African designers' products, including very portable items such as clothes hooks, fridge magnets, skinny leather…

  • Book Lounge

    Cape Town

    The hub of Cape Town’s literary scene, thanks to its great selection of titles, comfy chairs, simple cafe and busy program of events. There are up to…

  • Handmade by Me

    Cape Town

    Sera Holland is the artist responsible for the colourful, floral and abstract designs on the fabric items – cushion covers, napkins, table runners etc –…

  • Bluecollarwhitecollar

    Cape Town

    There's an eye-catching selection of tailored men's and women's shirts from this locally based fashion brand – formal (white collar) and informal (blue…

  • Stefania Morland

    Cape Town

    Gorgeous gowns and more casual wear made from silks, linens, lace and other natural fibres seduce fashionistas in this chic showroom and atelier.

  • Lentswe-la-Oodi Weavers

    Botswana

    The village of Oodi is best known for the acclaimed Lentswe-la-Oodi Weavers, a cooperative established in 1973 to provide an economic base for women from…

  • Doon Estate

    Harare

    A few kilometres east of town, Doon Estate is known for its galleries, cafes and souvenir shops. Sadly these days it's a shadow of its former self (many…

  • Artes Maconde

    Pemba

    Even if you don’t think you want to buy crafts, it’s worth stopping in at the excellent Artes Maconde at Avani Pemba Beach Hotel. It sells a wide range of…

  • Kalahari Quilts

    Gaborone

    These stunning quilts are made by Batswana women, overseen by the engaging Jenny Healy, and are a unique craft to take home. Each one bears an individual…

  • Tribal Textiles

    Zambia

    This enterprise employs a team of local artists to produce, among other things, bags, wall hangings, bed linens and sarongs, much of which are sold abroad…

  • Gantsi Craft

    Botswana

    This cooperative was established in 1983 as a craft outlet and training centre for the San. It’s an excellent place to shop for traditional San crafts,…

  • Bridge Books

    Johannesburg

    An independently owned, mostly African literature bookstore, Bridge Books has become a literary meeting place for Jo'burg's top local authors. The books…