When you are finally done with exploring the spectacular natural wonders of Kafue National Park, it's time for a little retail therapy in the many curio markets of Zambia. Woodcarvings, masks, hand-made souvenirs and furniture - there's all this and more. Zambia is particularly known for copper bracelets and hand woven and dyed fabric. Most visitors never fail to pick up a necklace or staff of Nyaminyami, the Zambezi river god.
Lusaka and Livingstone cities are where you should be heading if you are looking to go on a shopping spree while on your Kafue National Park holiday!
Our Kafue National Park Shopping Guide is here to guide you in the right direction to purchase a keepsake that will remind you of your holiday in Kafue National Park. Before heading out for your shopping tour, make sure you have enjoyed all the food and cuisine in Kafue National Park.
Kafue National Park Shopping Guide
Shopping in Lusaka
Handicrafts and souvenirs in Lusaka
Some reliable outlets for picking up handicrafts and souvenirs are Zambili in Luanshya Road, The Book House Shop at Manda Hills Shopping Centre, and Zintu Handicrafts at the Holiday Inn. For some exquisite ceramics, there's Moore Pottery, located on Kabalenga Road. Browse around Zintu Za Nyimba at the end of Panganani Road for local wooden furniture, batik textiles, hand-dyed fabric and bric-a-brac like candle holders, lampshades and carvings. At Luanshya Road, there's Hope House, a charitable institution that raises funds for AIDS sufferers by selling a variety of hand-made curios.
Authentic and reliable places to buy gems and finely crafted jewellery are Jagoda in Holiday Inn or Intercontinental Hotel.
Markets and shopping centres in Lusaka
If you happen to be visiting Lusaka on the last Saturday of a month, it would be worth your while to visit the craft market held at the Dutch Reform Church grounds in Kabulonga suburb. Northmead and Woodlands are two more suburban markets that visitors might like to check out for slightly more exclusive stuff. There are no malls here; rather, there are a number of shops selling a wide range of imported products from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Prices here are relatively higher.
On weekends, local craft sellers set up shop in the parking lot in front of the Arcades shopping mall. Look out for items like tribal masks, wood carvings and textiles; bargaining is mandatory!
To the west of Cairo Road lies Lusaka City Market, in the city centre. Under a sprawling, one-roof structure are more than 4000 stalls either selling a variety of products like clothes and CDs or offering food services.
Other local shopping centres are Soweto Market, located two streets to the west of Cairo Road, one in Independence Avenue (opposite Tazara Building) and a relatively new, smartly roofed market down Freedom Way. A visit to any of these markets is a must for the visitor who's keen on imbibing the local ambience. Like traditional markets around the world, these too are colourful, noisy and bustling, and allow for an opportunity to mingle with the common people.
To buy film or get photographs processed, visit Phoenix Photographs in the middle of Cairo Road. Some of Lusaka's good bookshops are Tower Books at the Castle in Makeni, the Book House Shop at Manda Hills and Mary's Bookshop on Leopards Hill Road.
Shopping in Livingstone
Livingstone has an abundance of shopping outlets that stock a diverse range of products. However, since they're stand-alone shops, visitors often have to explore several outlets before finding what they want. The only items hard to come by, besides being expensive, are imported gourmet products. Visitors are often overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of vendors. There are people hawking curios, young boys offering cold drinks and girls and women inviting you to examine their textiles and jewellery. It's easy enough to succumb to their persuasive ways, so do remember that this is a tourist centre and therefore, prices are slightly higher than in other areas. Bargaining is perfectly acceptable.
Souvenirs from Livingstone
Some interesting items to pick up in Livingstone are beautiful, hand-made baskets and wood carvings. You can also buy lengths of chitenges, the colourfully printed, local fabric. Visit the Arts & Crafts Village for a huge selection of animal carvings of giraffe, hippo, lion, rhino, elephant, bird carvings and figurines of tribal headmen. Wildlife paintings by local artists make for good souvenirs. A virtually limitless range of temptations await Kafue National Park shoppers by way of hand-crafted jewellery and gems, wall hangings, hand-painted candles, glassware, home furnishings and more.
