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Shopping Guide

Zimbabwe offers unique shopping experiences, from world-renowned Shona stone sculpture to colorful textiles and handcrafted curios. This guide helps you find authentic products and navigate the shopping landscape.
Best Buys: Shona sculpture, Ndebele beadwork, woven baskets, local textiles, wood carvings, and safari-themed crafts are Zimbabwe’s signature items. Always buy from artisans directly when possible.

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What to Buy

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Shona Sculpture

World-Famous Stone Art

Zimbabwe’s Shona sculpture has gained international acclaim since the 1960s. These stunning pieces range from small tabletop works to massive installations.Types of Stone:
StoneColorNotes
SerpentineGreen, black, brownMost common, various grades
SpringstoneBlack, very hardHighly polished finish
Leopard rockSpotted patternDistinctive look
Opal stoneVaried, translucentRare, beautiful
VerditeGreenSoft to medium hardness
Butter jadeYellow-greenSmooth finish
Famous Artists to Know:
  • Nicholas Mukomberanwa
  • Dominic Benhura
  • Sylvester Mubayi
  • Bernard Matemera
  • Joram Mariga (pioneer)
Where to Buy:
  • Chapungu Sculpture Park (Harare) - Museum quality
  • National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Harare) - Quality assured
  • Tengenenge (Guruve) - Artist community, workshop visits
  • Victoria Falls curio markets - Range of quality
  • Airport shops - Convenient but higher prices
Buying Tips:
  • Size matters—larger pieces are expensive to ship
  • Ask about the stone type and artist
  • Negotiate at markets, fixed prices at galleries
  • Get a certificate of authenticity for major purchases
  • Consider shipping options for large pieces

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Baskets & Weaving

Traditional Baskets

Types:
  • Ilala palm baskets - Fine weaving, natural colors
  • Sisal baskets - Dyed in vibrant colors
  • Tonga baskets - From Lake Kariba area
  • Winnowing baskets - Traditional designs
Uses:
  • Wall decorations
  • Storage baskets
  • Serving bowls
  • Carry baskets
Where to Buy:
  • Markets throughout the country
  • Roadside stands (especially rural areas)
  • Craft centers in Victoria Falls
  • National Handicraft Centre (Harare)
Tips:
  • Check for tight, even weaving
  • Natural dyes last better than synthetic
  • Prices vary by size and complexity
  • Baskets are lightweight and packable

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Textiles & Fabrics

African Textiles

Products:
  • Chitenge/Ankara fabrics - Colorful African prints
  • Batik cloth - Hand-dyed patterns
  • Sadza cloth - Printed cotton
  • Table linens - With African motifs
  • Safari-themed items - Animal prints
Ready-Made Items:
  • Dresses and skirts
  • Shirts and dashikis
  • Bags and purses
  • Cushion covers
  • Wall hangings
Where to Buy:
  • Mbare Musika (Harare) - Huge fabric market
  • Clothing markets in cities
  • Craft markets
  • Hotel boutiques

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Wood Carvings

Carved Wooden Items

Popular Items:
  • Animal sculptures (Big Five)
  • Decorative bowls
  • Walking sticks
  • Masks
  • Headrests
  • Furniture
Woods Used:
  • Mukwa (African teak)
  • Rosewood
  • Ebony
  • Msasa
  • Mopane
Buying Tips:
  • Check for cracks (especially in dry season)
  • Heavier usually means better quality wood
  • Apply beeswax polish to maintain
  • Beware of ebony substitutes (dyed lighter wood)
  • Large pieces—consider shipping
Where to Buy:
  • Curio markets
  • Roadside carvers (negotiate)
  • Safari lodge shops
  • Artist cooperatives

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Beadwork & Jewelry

Beads & Adornment

Ndebele Beadwork:
  • Colorful geometric patterns
  • Traditional aprons and necklaces
  • Modern jewelry adaptations
  • Wall art
Other Jewelry:
  • Wire art jewelry
  • Semi-precious stone pieces
  • Safari-themed pendants
  • Silver with African motifs
Where to Find:
  • Craft markets
  • Matobo Hills area (Ndebele heartland)
  • Victoria Falls shops
  • Gallery shops

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Other Crafts

ItemDescriptionWhere to Find
Soapstone carvingsSmall sculptures, chess setsCraft markets
Wire artDecorative pieces from wireStreet vendors, markets
PotteryTraditional and contemporaryArt galleries, markets
Leather goodsBags, belts, accessoriesCraft shops
Recycled craftsArt from salvaged materialsMarkets, galleries
DrumsTraditional African drumsCurio markets
Musical instrumentsMbira, marimba, shakersSpecialist shops
PaintingsContemporary African artGalleries

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Where to Shop

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Victoria Falls

Vic Falls Shopping

Curio Markets:
  • Victoria Falls Craft Market - Large, covered market near falls entrance
  • Elephant’s Walk Shopping Village - Quality crafts, galleries
  • Trading Post - Upmarket souvenirs
What to Expect:
  • Bargaining expected and encouraged
  • Wide range of quality
  • Persistent vendors—stay polite but firm
  • Best for: quick souvenir shopping
Tips:
  • Compare prices before buying
  • Start at 40-50% of asking price
  • Walk away if price is too high
  • Smaller items easier to carry
  • Avoid anything that might be made from endangered species

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Harare

Capital City Shopping

Art & Sculpture:
  • Chapungu Sculpture Park (Msasa) - Premier gallery with garden setting
  • National Gallery of Zimbabwe - Museum shop with quality pieces
  • Doon Estate - Contemporary art space
  • Gallery Delta - Fine art and crafts
Markets:
  • Mbare Musika - Massive market, everything from produce to crafts (go with a local)
  • Avondale Flea Market (Saturdays) - Mix of crafts and goods
  • National Handicraft Centre - Government-supported artisan products
Shopping Centers:
  • Sam Levy’s Village (Borrowdale) - Upmarket boutiques
  • Eastgate Mall - General shopping
  • Joina City - Central Harare
Tips:
  • Galleries offer quality assurance and certificates
  • Markets require more negotiation skill
  • Mbare can be overwhelming—consider a guide

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Bulawayo

Bulawayo Shopping

Craft Shopping:
  • Bulawayo Gallery - Art and sculpture
  • Various curio shops around town
  • Hotel boutiques
Markets:
  • Renkini Market - Local goods
  • Roadside craft sellers on main roads
Specialty:
  • Ndebele beadwork and crafts
  • Traditional items from Matabeleland

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Safari Lodges

Most safari lodges have small shops selling:
  • Quality curios
  • Books and wildlife guides
  • Safari clothing
  • Jewelry and small crafts
  • Lodge-branded items
Advantages:
  • Convenient
  • Usually fair quality
  • No haggling
  • Often support community projects
Disadvantages:
  • Higher prices
  • Limited selection

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How to Shop

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Bargaining Tips

The Art of Negotiation

Where to Bargain:
  • Curio markets ✓
  • Street vendors ✓
  • Roadside sellers ✓
  • Local markets ✓
Where NOT to Bargain:
  • Established galleries ✗
  • Boutique shops ✗
  • Shopping malls ✗
  • Supermarkets ✗
How to Bargain:
  1. Browse first - Get a sense of prices
  2. Show interest casually - Don’t be too eager
  3. Ask the price - Seller states opening price
  4. Counter with 40-50% of their price
  5. Negotiate up gradually - Meet somewhere in middle
  6. Walk away if too expensive - They may call you back
  7. Agree on final price - Only then is the deal done
  8. Pay and thank them - Keep it friendly
Golden Rules:
  • Stay friendly and respectful
  • Don’t bargain unless you intend to buy
  • Once you agree on a price, honor it
  • Never insult the goods or the seller
  • Buying multiple items can get discounts

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Quality Checks

Spotting Quality

Stone Sculpture:
  • Ask about the stone type
  • Check for natural stone (vs. reconstituted)
  • Look for artist’s signature
  • Feel the weight (real stone is heavy)
  • Check polish quality
Wood Carvings:
  • Check for cracks
  • Solid vs. hollow (both can be quality)
  • Look for tool marks (hand-carved)
  • Ask about the wood type
Baskets:
  • Tight, even weaving
  • No loose strands
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Natural dyes preferred
Textiles:
  • Check stitching quality
  • Colorfast fabrics
  • Even patterns
  • Quality cotton
General:
  • If it seems too cheap, question quality
  • Compare similar items
  • Trust established sellers for major purchases

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Specialty Items

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Musical Instruments

Traditional Music

Mbira (Thumb Piano):
  • Zimbabwe’s national instrument
  • Various sizes and keys
  • Can be decorative or playable
  • Prices vary by quality
Marimba:
  • Wooden xylophone
  • Large—shipping required
  • Beautiful sound
Drums:
  • Various types and sizes
  • Traditional designs
  • Playable souvenirs
Where to Find:
  • Music shops in cities
  • Craft markets
  • Specialty artisans (ask at hotels)
Tip: If you want a playable instrument, test before buying and ask the seller to demonstrate.

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Books & Maps

Bookshops:
  • Kingstons (Harare, Bulawayo)
  • Book Cafe (Harare)
  • National Gallery shops
  • Lodge boutiques
What to Find:
  • Wildlife guides
  • Bird books
  • History books on Zimbabwe
  • African literature
  • Maps and travel books
Tip: Local books are often cheaper in Zimbabwe than abroad.

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Food & Drink

Edible Souvenirs

Take Home:
  • Biltong - Dried meat (check import rules)
  • Droëwors - Dried sausage
  • Local honey - Zimbabwean specialty
  • Peanut butter - Local brands
  • Coffee - Chipinge coffee
  • Tea - Eastern Highlands grown
  • Dried mopane worms - If you’re adventurous
Note: Check your home country’s import regulations for food products. Fresh produce and meat may be restricted.

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Shipping & Export

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Getting Items Home

Shipping Options

Small Items:
  • Carry in luggage
  • Most crafts are lightweight
  • Bubble wrap fragile items
  • Check airline luggage limits
Large Items (Sculpture, Furniture):
  • Galleries often arrange shipping
  • Professional shipping companies
  • Expect 4-8 weeks for sea freight
  • Air freight faster but much more expensive
Shipping Companies:
  • Gallery recommendations
  • DHL for smaller packages
  • Sea freight forwarding companies
Costs:
  • Depends on size, weight, destination
  • Large sculpture can cost hundreds to ship
  • Get quotes before purchasing
Tips:
  • Get an export certificate for valuable art
  • Photograph items before shipping
  • Keep receipts
  • Insure valuable shipments

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Export Regulations

What You Can Export

Allowed:
  • Stone sculpture
  • Wood carvings
  • Baskets and textiles
  • Modern art
  • General crafts
Restricted:
  • Antiques require permits
  • National heritage items
  • Certain natural materials
Prohibited:
  • Ivory in any form
  • Rhino horn
  • Products from endangered species
  • Certain wildlife products
Important:
  • CITES regulations apply to wildlife products
  • When in doubt, ask or don’t buy
  • Legitimate sellers won’t offer prohibited items
  • Keep receipts for customs
Tip: If a seller claims something is legal ivory or rhino horn, walk away. The trade is banned, and you could face serious penalties at home.

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Souvenirs by Budget

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Under $10

  • Small baskets
  • Wire art pieces
  • Beaded jewelry
  • Postcards and prints
  • Small soapstone items
  • Wooden key rings
  • Fabric items
  • Chitenge fabric (per meter)

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$10-50

  • Medium baskets
  • Small wood carvings
  • Basic stone sculptures
  • Beaded bags
  • T-shirts and clothing
  • Books
  • Small mbira
  • Quality jewelry

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$50-200

  • Quality stone sculptures
  • Larger wood carvings
  • Fine baskets
  • Quality textiles
  • Musical instruments
  • Leather goods
  • Multiple craft items

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$200+

  • Gallery-quality sculpture
  • Named artist pieces
  • Large furniture items
  • Fine art paintings
  • Investment-quality works
  • Custom orders

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Responsible Shopping

Ethical Purchases

Do:
  • Buy directly from artisans when possible
  • Support community cooperatives
  • Pay fair prices (haggle fairly)
  • Ask about artist background
  • Support women’s craft groups
Don’t:
  • Buy wildlife products (ivory, shells, skins)
  • Purchase antiques without certificates
  • Support child labor
  • Buy from aggressive sellers who make you uncomfortable
Community Projects: Many lodges and galleries support:
  • Women’s weaving cooperatives
  • Youth art programs
  • Conservation-linked crafts
  • Rural community projects
Ask About:
  • Where the item was made
  • Who benefits from your purchase
  • Community projects supported

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Quick Reference by City

Shopping Summary

CityBest ForWhere
Victoria FallsQuick souvenir shoppingCraft Market, Elephant’s Walk
HarareQuality art, galleriesChapungu, National Gallery
BulawayoNdebele craftsGalleries, markets
TengenengeStone sculptureArtist village
MasvingoLocal craftsNear Great Zimbabwe
Top Tips:
  • Set a budget and stick to it
  • Carry small USD bills (1,1, 5, $10)
  • Compare prices before committing
  • Buy from artisans directly when you can
  • If you love it and can afford it, buy it—you may not see it again
  • Leave room in your luggage for purchases
  • Get business cards from good sellers (for repeat purchases or recommendations)
Last updated: January 2025