Must-see shopping in Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Central Africana Bookshop

    Malawi

    This long-running bookshop on two levels has an excellent selection of Africana, ranging from dusty old tomes to coffee-table books, and from novels and…

  • Mandala House

    Malawi

    Situated in Mandala House, the oldest colonial dame in the city, this eclectic gallery features vividly coloured, contemporary work by local artists, as…

  • Wayawaya

    Livingstone

    A social enterprise founded by two Norwegian girls, Wayawaya sells quality, contemporary handmade bags put together by local women. Its principles are…

  • Katundu

    Malawi

    In this thatched workshop, single mothers and orphans handcraft a range of items using locally sourced materials, reflecting Likoma's colours and culture…

  • Mercado Mbanguia

    Pemba

    Pemba's most interesting market is in the Natite neighbourhood near where Avenida Marginal meets Avenida Eduardo Mondlane. It's a large, sprawling affair…

  • Salaula Clothing Market

    Lusaka

    For those with a love of secondhand clothes shopping, absolutely don't miss this market in downtown Lusaka. Known locally as the salaula trade (a local…

  • Mulberry Mongoose

    Zambia

    Mulberry Mongoose sells vibrant, funky jewellery made by local designers, but is best known for items made from snare wire recovered during anti-poaching…

  • Lightfoot Zambia

    Lusaka

    For high-quality leather goods, especially purses, travel bags and accessories, head to this spot, which shares an idyllic location with a highly…

  • Kabwata Cultural Village

    Lusaka

    A popular shopping stop for tourists, this open-air market comprises thatch-roofed huts and stalls selling carvings, baskets, masks, drums, fabrics and…

  • Sunday Market

    Lusaka

    This weekly market, held in the car park at the Arcades Shopping Centre, features Lusaka’s best range of handicrafts, especially wood carvings, curios…

  • Mumwa Craft Association

    Zambia

    A visit here is well worth your time. Proceeds from sales of expertly made basketry and woodcarvings – at low prices – are ploughed back into the local…

  • African Heritage

    Malawi

    Buy your souvenirs – including woodcarvings, mobiles, jewellery, baskets, soft toys, books, CDs, local coffee and even beaded crocodiles – in a hassle…

  • Craft Market

    Lilongwe

    At these stalls outside the Old Town post office, vendors sell everything from trinket woodcarvings, basketware and jewellery to traditional Malawian…

  • Makonde Collective

    Northern Mozambique

    The place to buy Makonde crafts – primarily the legendary woodcarvings – plus you can see the craftspeople at work. It's located in an open compound…

  • Ishq

    Lilongwe

    Selling a range of recycled mahogany and glass artworks, stylish natural-coloured linen chemises, bespoke jewellery, hand-woven throws, bags, pashminas…

  • Lilongwe City Mall

    Lilongwe

    The best mall around for shops, supermarkets, fast-food joints, banks and other services, with a central location in Old Town. It also has branches of the…

  • African Habitat

    Malawi

    For high-end craft hunters, this cavernous boutique is a good bet for everything from beadwork to bags.

  • Saakata

    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…

  • Craft Stalls

    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…

  • Project Luangwa

    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…

  • Old Town Mall

    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.

  • African Wild Track

    Lusaka

    A good store for all your last-minute safari needs, including GPS units, tents, camping equipment, sleeping bags and khaki clothing.

  • Central Bookshop

    Malawi

    A wide selection of fiction, kids' illustrated books, potboilers, biographies, guidebooks, maps and international magazines.

  • Central Africana

    Lilongwe

    Has a small selection of English-language novels, pictorial travel books and some very nice prints of Malawi for keepsakes.

  • Baobab Books

    Lilongwe

    Excellent secondhand bookshop with a wide range of novels, guidebooks, children's books and more. It also has a small cafe.

  • Casa Elefante

    Maputo

    A good place to buy capulanas (sarongs). It’s opposite the Municipal Market. There are many tailors nearby.

  • Mukuni Crafts

    Livingstone

    The craft stalls in the southern corner of Mukuni park are a pleasant, and hassle-free place to browse for souvenirs.

  • Missanga Craft Shop

    Northern Mozambique

    A great spot to examine and buy local Makonde woodcarvings as well as locally made basketry, shawls and cosmetics.

  • Craft Stalls

    Malawi

    Senga Bay has a few strips of craft stalls, but the longest is a few kilometres out of town on the Salima road.

  • Uta Waleza Centre

    Malawi

    With a few design shops and an excellent bookshop, Uta Waleza is a good place to buy presents and souvenirs.

  • African Habitat

    Lilongwe

    Excellent for sculpture, woodcarvings, sarongs, cards and jewellery, as well as T-shirts and bags.

  • La Galleria

    Lilongwe

    Pleasant boutique selling vivid African paintings, masks, bags and jewellery by local artists.

  • Chichiri Shopping Mall

    Malawi

    Has a pharmacy, an electronics retailer, a gift shop, a stationery store, a bookshop and branches of Game and Shoprite supermarkets.

  • Craft Coffee Shop

    Malawi

    The Craft Coffee Shop sells craftwork, woodcarvings, honey and soap made locally, as well as cups of the potent coffee grown nearby and processed in Mzuzu.

  • Hardware Market

    Malawi

    If you need to repair your vehicle, the many shopkeepers at this well-stocked Hardware Market can sell you all manner of parts and recommend mechanics.