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.
What to Buy
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:
Famous Artists to Know:
- Nicholas Mukomberanwa
- Dominic Benhura
- Sylvester Mubayi
- Bernard Matemera
- Joram Mariga (pioneer)
- 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
- 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
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
- Wall decorations
- Storage baskets
- Serving bowls
- Carry baskets
- Markets throughout the country
- Roadside stands (especially rural areas)
- Craft centers in Victoria Falls
- National Handicraft Centre (Harare)
- Check for tight, even weaving
- Natural dyes last better than synthetic
- Prices vary by size and complexity
- Baskets are lightweight and packable
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
- Dresses and skirts
- Shirts and dashikis
- Bags and purses
- Cushion covers
- Wall hangings
- Mbare Musika (Harare) - Huge fabric market
- Clothing markets in cities
- Craft markets
- Hotel boutiques
Wood Carvings
Carved Wooden Items
Popular Items:
- Animal sculptures (Big Five)
- Decorative bowls
- Walking sticks
- Masks
- Headrests
- Furniture
- Mukwa (African teak)
- Rosewood
- Ebony
- Msasa
- Mopane
- 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
- Curio markets
- Roadside carvers (negotiate)
- Safari lodge shops
- Artist cooperatives
Beadwork & Jewelry
Beads & Adornment
Ndebele Beadwork:
- Colorful geometric patterns
- Traditional aprons and necklaces
- Modern jewelry adaptations
- Wall art
- Wire art jewelry
- Semi-precious stone pieces
- Safari-themed pendants
- Silver with African motifs
- Craft markets
- Matobo Hills area (Ndebele heartland)
- Victoria Falls shops
- Gallery shops
Other Crafts
Where to Shop
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
- Bargaining expected and encouraged
- Wide range of quality
- Persistent vendors—stay polite but firm
- Best for: quick souvenir shopping
- 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
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
- 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
- Sam Levy’s Village (Borrowdale) - Upmarket boutiques
- Eastgate Mall - General shopping
- Joina City - Central Harare
- Galleries offer quality assurance and certificates
- Markets require more negotiation skill
- Mbare can be overwhelming—consider a guide
Bulawayo
Bulawayo Shopping
Craft Shopping:
- Bulawayo Gallery - Art and sculpture
- Various curio shops around town
- Hotel boutiques
- Renkini Market - Local goods
- Roadside craft sellers on main roads
- Ndebele beadwork and crafts
- Traditional items from Matabeleland
Safari Lodges
Most safari lodges have small shops selling:
- Quality curios
- Books and wildlife guides
- Safari clothing
- Jewelry and small crafts
- Lodge-branded items
- Convenient
- Usually fair quality
- No haggling
- Often support community projects
- Higher prices
- Limited selection
How to Shop
Bargaining Tips
The Art of Negotiation
Where to Bargain:
- Curio markets ✓
- Street vendors ✓
- Roadside sellers ✓
- Local markets ✓
- Established galleries ✗
- Boutique shops ✗
- Shopping malls ✗
- Supermarkets ✗
- Browse first - Get a sense of prices
- Show interest casually - Don’t be too eager
- Ask the price - Seller states opening price
- Counter with 40-50% of their price
- Negotiate up gradually - Meet somewhere in middle
- Walk away if too expensive - They may call you back
- Agree on final price - Only then is the deal done
- Pay and thank them - Keep it friendly
- 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
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
- Check for cracks
- Solid vs. hollow (both can be quality)
- Look for tool marks (hand-carved)
- Ask about the wood type
- Tight, even weaving
- No loose strands
- Symmetrical shape
- Natural dyes preferred
- Check stitching quality
- Colorfast fabrics
- Even patterns
- Quality cotton
- If it seems too cheap, question quality
- Compare similar items
- Trust established sellers for major purchases
Specialty Items
Musical Instruments
Traditional Music
Mbira (Thumb Piano):
- Zimbabwe’s national instrument
- Various sizes and keys
- Can be decorative or playable
- Prices vary by quality
- Wooden xylophone
- Large—shipping required
- Beautiful sound
- Various types and sizes
- Traditional designs
- Playable souvenirs
- Music shops in cities
- Craft markets
- Specialty artisans (ask at hotels)
Books & Maps
Bookshops:
- Kingstons (Harare, Bulawayo)
- Book Cafe (Harare)
- National Gallery shops
- Lodge boutiques
- Wildlife guides
- Bird books
- History books on Zimbabwe
- African literature
- Maps and travel books
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
Shipping & Export
Getting Items Home
Shipping Options
Small Items:
- Carry in luggage
- Most crafts are lightweight
- Bubble wrap fragile items
- Check airline luggage limits
- Galleries often arrange shipping
- Professional shipping companies
- Expect 4-8 weeks for sea freight
- Air freight faster but much more expensive
- Gallery recommendations
- DHL for smaller packages
- Sea freight forwarding companies
- Depends on size, weight, destination
- Large sculpture can cost hundreds to ship
- Get quotes before purchasing
- Get an export certificate for valuable art
- Photograph items before shipping
- Keep receipts
- Insure valuable shipments
Export Regulations
What You Can Export
Allowed:
- Stone sculpture
- Wood carvings
- Baskets and textiles
- Modern art
- General crafts
- Antiques require permits
- National heritage items
- Certain natural materials
- Ivory in any form
- Rhino horn
- Products from endangered species
- Certain wildlife products
- 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
Souvenirs by Budget
Under $10
- Small baskets
- Wire art pieces
- Beaded jewelry
- Postcards and prints
- Small soapstone items
- Wooden key rings
- Fabric items
- Chitenge fabric (per meter)
$10-50
- Medium baskets
- Small wood carvings
- Basic stone sculptures
- Beaded bags
- T-shirts and clothing
- Books
- Small mbira
- Quality jewelry
$50-200
- Quality stone sculptures
- Larger wood carvings
- Fine baskets
- Quality textiles
- Musical instruments
- Leather goods
- Multiple craft items
$200+
- Gallery-quality sculpture
- Named artist pieces
- Large furniture items
- Fine art paintings
- Investment-quality works
- Custom orders
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
- Buy wildlife products (ivory, shells, skins)
- Purchase antiques without certificates
- Support child labor
- Buy from aggressive sellers who make you uncomfortable
- Women’s weaving cooperatives
- Youth art programs
- Conservation-linked crafts
- Rural community projects
- Where the item was made
- Who benefits from your purchase
- Community projects supported
Quick Reference by City
Shopping Summary
Last updated: January 2025