Zanzibar is a haven for those seeking local crafts and traditional markets, with an array of products that spoil you for choice. From aromatic spices to handcrafted décor items, as well as traditional and bohemian clothing and jewellery, there is something for everyone. Swahili, Arabic, Indian and European influences all find a place in the products and souvenirs in Zanzibar. From the shops in Stone Town to the Darajani Market and boutique stores, they are chock-a-block with artisanal products, food, and clothes, so much so that you will run out of cash but not things to buy. When you shop in Zanzibar, you don’t just buy a souvenir, you bring a piece of its history, culture and heritage with you.
Things to Buy in Zanzibar
Zanzibar Spices
Zanzibar is known as the ‘Spice Island’ due to the diverse and abundant spices that grow there. Whole, powdered or blends of these fragrant, aromatic spices are sought after by tourists. The vendors sell palm leaf hampers in the shape of boats with assorted spices. You also get them in containers or plastic pouches. Who doesn’t want a dash of spice to make all things nice? The hotel where we stayed had coffee tables with niches decorated with spices—something you may want to try at home to elevate the style quotient.
Zanzibar Tea and Coffee
Arab Traders introduced coffee to Tanzania in the 16th century, and then there was no looking back. Kilimanjaro and Arusha coffee are very popular. We like Africafe instant coffee thanks to a cousin from East Africa who presented it to us. It was the Germans who introduced tea to Tanzania. Masala Chai, a blend of tea, cardamom, and cloves, with milk, is a popular beverage in Zanzibar. Carry packets of these as gifts. Everyone loves a brew of aromatic coffee or fragrant tea.
Miniature Zanzibar Doors
Stone Town is famous for its homes with beautiful doors in various styles, including Swahili, Omani, and Indian. You can pick miniatures, paintings or magnets featuring the Zanzibar doors.
Tanzanite Jewellery
Tanzanite is a rare, deep blue gemstone found only in Tanzania. I was told that so much of this precious stone has been mined over the ages that the supply of this precious gem is slowly dwindling, and it’s best to grab one if you have the money. We saw shops in Stone Town near Freddie Mercury’s Museum selling Tanzanite jewellery. Rings, bracelets, pendants, or brooches – choose what you like.
Handcrafted Wooden Products
The gifted Swahili and Makonde artisans create stunning wood-carved products, including masks, figurines, chests, and miniature doors. The craft has been passed down from one generation to the next. Spoiler alert-You will get overwhelmed trying to decide what to pick and what to skip.
Swahili Words Plaques
Hakuna Matata (No Worries), Pole Pole (Slowly, Slowly), Karibu (Welcome), Jambo (How are you?), Asante (Thank you), Poa (Cool or Fine) are commonly used Swahili words and phrases. In Zanzibar markets, you will see wooden plaques hand-painted with these Swahili phrases. They make perfect souvenirs to hang at home as a cheerful reminder of your time in Zanzibar, where the locals frequently spoke these words.
Handwoven Baskets, Bags and Hats
A must pick in Zanzibar is the collection of handwoven baskets, bags and hats crafted by artisans using palm leaves, sisal, straw and raffia. Whether you choose an elegant hat, a trendy beach tote or a basket to decorate your room, not only are they eco-friendly but also bohemian chic.
Traditional Zanzibar Clothing and Fabrics- Kanga, Kikoi, Kitenga
The people of Zanzibar wear colourful clothes, featuring vibrant prints that showcase animals, abstract shapes, and even proverbs. Pick a Kanga, a rectangular piece of fabric with a proverb, a Kikoi, a handwoven fabric with stripes or a Kitenga with bold abstract prints. You can use it as a shawl, sarong, skirt or stole. We were gifted a kikoi at the family wedding in Zanzibar, and I plan to carry it as a stole or shawl.
Boho Clothes
Not just traditional clothing, but we saw shops selling trendy bohemian outfits in Zanzibar. They are ideal for beachwear and parties. Our grown-up daughter chose a boho noodle strap dress, but you can also select skirts, trousers, and tunics.
Contemporary African Paintings and Tinga Tinga Paintings
Zanzibar artists create contemporary, colourful paintings depicting wildlife, portraits of African women, and scenes of their tribes and culture. Tinga Tinga paintings feature playful animals and village life, characterized by repetitive patterns. In Stone Town, you will even find artists at work and can customize paintings as per your choice if you have the time. So, if you fancy artwork and paintings, pick one.
Handmade Jewellery
Earrings, bracelets, necklaces in brass, beadwork, shells and wood are up for grabs. Our grown-up children picked beaded bracelets, while we were gifted personalised beaded bracelets with our names at the wedding. I think it’s a good idea to get an artisan to make bracelets with the names of your loved ones and gift them as Zanzibar souvenirs.
Zanzibar Attars
The Arabs, when they arrived in Zanzibar, brought with them attars – oil-based, concentrated fragrances made from flowers and spices. Unlike perfumes, they are not sprayed; instead, a drop or two is rubbed on the neck or wrists. We saw a shop in Darajani Market selling these.
Best Places to Shop in Zanzibar
1. Shopping in Stone Town for Souvenirs
The alleys in Stone Town are lined with shops selling an array of handcrafted products, clothes and paintings. (There is a separate travelogue on Stone Town, Zanzibar which you can read here.)
2. Darajani Market for Food Items
For spices, tea, coffee and attars, the Darajani Market is best.
3. Zanzibar Old Fort for Handcrafted Products
There are flea markets and shops in Old Fort where you will find Bohemian clothes, handwoven baskets, bags, hats, and other handcrafted products.
4. Zanzibar Spice Farms
If you plan to take a spice tour, then pick spices from there, as you will be assured of freshness and quality.
5. Boutique Shops in Zanzibar Hotels
Many hotels have a boutique shop which sells most of these items. The prices are on the higher side, but the items are specially curated and sometimes exclusive.
Tips for Shopping in Zanzibar
Bargaining is part of the shopping experience in Zanzibar and is encouraged. The shopkeepers will notice your ethnicity, recognize your accent, and know you are not a local, but a tourist, and will charge you higher prices. They usually settle for 50-70 per cent of the quoted price. One more thing, the shopkeepers will quote prices in both shillings and USD. Choose what suits you best. A point to note is that when buying from an artisan, don’t shortchange them and give them a fair price, as handcrafted items require considerable time and effort.
Getting There:
Nearest Airport to Zanzibar:
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar is the nearest airport.
Where to Stay in Zanzibar:
We stayed for a day at the Spice Tree by Turcao hotel in Stone Town, a beautifully restored historical building having a rooftop restaurant with ocean view. For the next three days we were at Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort in Nungwi. You can do a net search for options based on budget and comfort.