Souvenirs from South Africa
 

What are the BEST souvenirs to bring home from from South Africa? Where are the good places to purchase them? Thank you.

First - for where...I know others on here will have great ideas but I got most of my souvenirs either at the V&A waterfront in Cape Town or at one of the markets - I think it's called the "green market." I also happened to pick up some last minute stuff in the airport.

Oh..oh....and that other crafty place at the Waterfront. A name like "Red Roof" or something. (Help me out here guys!)

Ideas.....
- painted (or plain) ostrich eggs or ostrich eggs with "cutouts" to use with candles
- beaded items - jewelry, bookmarks, silverware, etc
- carved wooden items - bowls, figures, masks
- batique fabrics for sewing or made up as table linens

There is just so much. I'll have to go look around the house and see what other ideas I have!

the new jnb departure hall after passport control has a new outlet of one of the best south african ceramic artists.
you can buy extradordinary ceramic bowls, plates, vases. beautifully painted/animals as handles or decoration: zebras, cheetahs, elephant.
they are quite heavy but they wrap thoroughly.
it's something which catches an eye immediately and best displayed individually.
they don't come cheap ;-)

placemats
napkin rings
butterknifes with a cheetah handle (pewter)
jam spoons with cheetahs (pewter)

i ordered an elga rabe painting :-)

div

Hi bettyjane,
I concur with other about the V&A (Grcxx3- it's called the 'Red Shed' :)) and Green Market Square for a good range of souvenirs in Cape Town. Also check out Long Street in Cape Town.

OR Tambo has some good shops but are more pricey.

Of course wood carving is a specialty of Africa, but difficult to bring back with you sometimes because of quarantine concerns.

That said, I have never had any problem bringing back wood, hide, bones and feathers into Australia, which has some of the toughest quarantine laws in the world. Anything suspect just got packed off for Gamma ray treatment and I got it back in about 2 months in perfect order. Things I have had Gamma rayed are a couple of carved ostrich egg lamps (brought back in the middle of the bird Flu scare a few years ago), a rawhide bushman’s quiver complete with reed arrows and a string of carved birds which had borer holes.
I have not had to send off for treatment grass baskets, leather belts and pest free good quality wood carving (even containing bone).

Lodges will usually have a range of good quality souvenirs too.

South Africa is also famous for gold and diamonds if you’re into jewelry.

Local artists produce everything from beadwork to painting.

The best thing I ever bought was a recording of dawn choruses taken at various waterholes around southern Africa. It brings back so many happy memories (and was no problem at Customs! :)).

Careful with the excess baggage though. I 'over shopped' on my last trip and the excess was almost the cost of another ticket! :)
Happy Shopping
Kaye

Well, it's worth mentioning, but not exactly typical....on our last trip DH bought me a beautiful Tanzanite pendant!

That is probably my FAVORITE souvenir!! :)

Watch out for the mass produced wooden giraffes, elephants etc. purchased at the airport- a lot of it is made in China. At O.R Tambo I saw one of the workers at Out of Africa hauling out a bunch of boxes marked "Made in China"

If you're driving, you'll see sellers of baskets, wire sculpture, crocheted items, etc, etc, along the roads. I always bring home a couple of baskets (small ones that fit in my suitcase, or sometimes larger ones that act as my carry-on.) I am always entranced by the wire sculptures of cars, cell phones, animals, and more. Buying from the artists by the roadside is a lot of fun, I think.

I also like Out of Africa.

Celia

The best souvenirs were baskets that lodge staff had made. The money went directly to the maker of the basket. Even better were the baskets we received as gifts from a couple of staff members who have become friends over the years.

I was able to pick up some of beaded netting to throw over food bowls in Out of Africa - got them home a sure enough the Made in China sticker was attached.

You can visit the work studio of Streetwires at 77 Shortmarket Street and find some of the best beaded animals there, and an amazing selection of true SA artwork. For small souvenirs, they have a great selection of beaded keychains and magnets. It’s worth the visit just to see the life size beaded Mandela!

You might want to have a look at the book "Travel Guide to South African Craft Sites" available online from www.duesouthcraftroute.co.za. If you order it, make certain you get the newer (not the 2004) edition.

It is a great book, well organized by province, high quality - wonderful maps, fabulous pictures (not just of the crafts but also of people, places of interest, the crafters...), lists of places to stay, things to see, and of course, ... craft sites from all over SA. I would highly recommend the book.

We spent a sabbatical in SA in 2004 and 2005 and, thanks to that book, our house is full of wonderful SA crafts. Robin

Curios at the entrance to Cape Point will be an idea. They are always ready to bargain. The entire Cape Point route has masses of informal operators. V&A will be expensive.

Then again Cape Town will be much more expensive anyway.

Since the search function isn't up to snuff, I will resurrect an old thread with good info on souvenirs.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34991092

My suggestion...

If you will be in JNB on a Sunday, go to the Rosebank Market.

I spend quite a lot of time in JNB each year, but I never tire of going there and always make a point of trying to arrange my trips to get to Rosebank.

Huge selection, great prices.

James

Yes, I love the Rosebank market too. Lots of stuff there, and it's close to good places to eat lunch.

Celia

My best purchases are usually from the curio shop at the game lodges. Many items are made in the local area, and if you see something you love, buy it. It may be the only tme you ever find it again.

My best purchases are two in particular. Last year was the East African camel blanket made of leather. It flattened out nicely and fits in well with my vintage saddles. Now I need to find a camel saddle.

This year was a water color of a lioness and three cubs called "Cub Butts"-rolled up nicely and reminds me of the Eyrefield cubs.

I try to find one great "something" since I already got caught up with the wood animal frenzy. And still love all of them.

A nice African mask - lots around to choose from but for something special try the Pan African Market on Long St in downtown Cape Town...

http://capetown.gopassport.com/go/ca...african-market

I bought a wire basket like these, in black and white. I wish I had bought a few more!


http://www.indigoarts.com/store1_telephone_1.html

Nobody's mentioned verdite carvings. Verdite is the green stone that only occurs in southern Africa. I have several elephants, rhinos, and crocs carved from it, and also a pair of verdite earrings. You can also find Zulu "love letters" made of verdite. These are pendants given by young Zulu men to their sweethearts; the particular symbol carved has a specific meaning such as "be mine always" or some other sweet talk message.

Yes Celia, verdite is another exellent choice.

The best souvenir of all is perhaps the warm glowing feeling that the stunning beauty of Africa with all its living energy and its wild and beautiful places carves out in one own heart.

Mohammed

I'm chuckling because after luggage being broken into at JNB, I'm suggesting JNB for necklace souvenirs. There were a couple of "carts" that had the best choices and prices. I don't shop but my travel companion always shops, so it was remarkable that we found what she had purchased earlier was cheaper at JNB. I remember one "cart" was opposite the food court on an upper level. So, look around while you're waiting if you're going through JNB.