Small gifts and other South Africa Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Various souvenir shops


What To Buy: Fridge magnets - so cute I couldn't resist them.

What To Pay: $2

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Theme: Home Furnishing

Name of Shop: Galleries in small towns


What To Buy: You'll find lots of really good hand-made craft works in South Africa in the small galleries that showcase the work of talented craftmen and women all over the country. Small towns along the tourist routes are the best places to look for individual items. The handicrafts for sale in the shops in the big shopping malls and at the airport are much more mass-produced and touristy. That's not to say these shops don't offer quality goods -a lot of it is very fine and you can be sure to find things you are quite happy to buy, but if you're looking for something a bit more individual, look elsewhere.

These lovely little butter /pate knives are just an example. Beautifully made in a combination of solid silver (the blades) and inlaid and annealed copper (the handles). They are so well made, very tactile and good looking - and easy to pack (always a consideration when you're travelling) I was more than happy to pay about $12 each for them.


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Theme: Gifts

Name of Shop: Homeware and souvenir shops


What To Buy: South Africans love candles - as you will have soon realised after you've eaten in a few restaurants - you need a torch in some of them to read the menu! If candlelight appeals to you, you could do worse than take a few home with you to remind you of your South African holiday. You'll certainly find plenty to choose from - from simple little blocks printed with zebra stripes and leopard spots to enormous great things that will burn for hours - and weigh a ton in your suitcase or backpack.
I liked these little tealight holders, made of wood and with a little bit of beaded trimming, they were African in their appearance as well as being lightweight in my luggage, and the candle itself can be replaced, making for a much more long-lasting souvenir that brings a little touch of South Africa to my home.

What To Pay: From just about $3-4 up ... and up.

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Theme: Home Furnishing

Name of Shop: Shops everywhere


What To Buy: South African beadwork is wonderful and there are so many ways you can buy yourself a piece of it. I fell for this beautiful blue and green necklace - you'll see similar ones in souvenir shops everywhere in every colour range imaginable. Mass produced yes, but still lovely and very wearable. You may opt for something more individual, or maybe something else - beaded baubles for your Christmas tree perhaps, or a cute beaded doll. Whatever you choose, it will be a reminder of your South African experience - vibrant, colourful and complex, created with great skill - a minor work of art from this fabulous country.


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Theme: Jewelry

Name of Shop: Souvenir shops everywhere

If carved wooden animals and people, African stools and drums, wooden bowls and walking sticks, are the sort of thing you are looking for, you're going to be spoilt for choice. Every sight-seeing stop along the way will have a whole row of stalls selling souvenirs, outside every town you drive through practically there will be more. Shopping centres in the middle of towns and the huge, secure shopping malls will all have their shops too and when you get to the airport there'll be more. The choice is endless. It's up to you whether you choose to buy from a company store or someone along the roadside, who may be working for themselves and thus being reasonably rewarded for their work - but then again they may not. The stalls at the main tourist sites are usually leased out and controlled fairly as local employment initiatives.
Needless to say, quality can vary hugely - as can prices - but there truly is something for everyone - and there cannot be a single plane leaving any aiport that doesn't have a veritable menagerie of animals on board along with the paying passengers. Personally, I think there's probably more wooden animals in South Africa than live ones.



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Theme: Local Craft