Shopping in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls have many shops that sell chic handicrafts with African motifs. Tourists can watch the artisans in action as they create painted novelty items in wood, papier maché birds, candle stands, ceramics and animal lamps. This is also a good place to pick up cushion covers and table and bed linen in colourful and unusual designs.
While enjoying your Victoria Falls shopping trip, you can pick up fine mementoes and support the locals by purchasing work from local artisans such as wooden or stone sculpture and wickerwork!
It is very easy to miss out on some nice places where you can pick up a bargain or even find that special keepsake that reminds you of your trip while shopping in Victoria Falls. To help you find out where to shop, what to buy and also what time the shops are open we have provided you with our Victoria Falls Shopping Guide below. If you feel like a bite why not head to one of the Victoria Falls restaurants and try some of the foods that the locals eat.
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Some artefacts made from Zimbabwe copper, jewellery with semi precious stones, soapstone and wooden carvings, leather and game skin products, basketwork and pottery are highly recommended. All purchases attract a sales tax in the range of 10 - 22%, the latter being levied on luxury goods. No sales tax is levied on goods that are for the export markets.
Victoria Falls Shopping Guide
Shopping Hours
Shops in Victoria Falls are open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays the opening hours are from 8.00am to 1.00pm and the shops are closed on Sundays.
The Falls Crafts Village
The Crafts Village consists of huts modelled along those of five Zimbabwean tribes of the nineteenth century and recreates the culture and crafts of this region. There are many stalls and shops that sell unusual handicrafts and sculptures. In the evening, artists perform traditional African dances. You can have your future told by the 'nyanga' or witch doctor at the Village or by the fortune teller at Elephant's Walk, which is nearby.
Shops at the Crafts Village are open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm everyday.
Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre
This Centre, located in Bulawayo just off the Old Falls Road, was set up in 1953. It has evolved over the years and today has a commercially viable pottery unit which provides jobs for at least 70 people. The Centre is the place to pick up some interesting sculptures, woodwork and beadwork, or pottery and basketry made by the local craftsmen. These items make excellent mementoes to carry back home.
Soper's Curios
Soper's Curios, which is just a stone's throw from the Craft Village, was set up way back in 1911. This Victoria Falls shop trades in Zimbabwean artefacts and has the best soapstone and wood carvings. Soper's Curios is located at 269, Adam Stander Road and is open every day from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
An added attraction for tourists when they visit Soper's Curios is Creature World next door, where they can get close to lizards and snakes and a crocodile.
There is a thriving outdoor market in Victoria Falls where many craftsmen exhibit and sell their wooden carvings on the roadside or at the outdoor market at the Falls. This enables you to compare the work of various craftsmen as well as the prices while shopping in Victoria Falls. However, be aware - a high tourist turnout often makes the artisan churn out shoddy work in a hurry to grab customers. Often, the roadside vendors offer better quality and the alert tourist can pick up a good bargain.
There are several crafts and curio shops and the Elephant Walk Mall is just ahead of the Crafts Village. Trading Post is another good place for local crafts. The international shipping agent in this area arranges to ship out your purchases.
An upmarket shopping mall in Harare next to the Meikles Hotel is famous for some fine shoe shops and computer outlets. The Zimbabwe Tourism Association is located in this mall. Sam Levy's village in the suburb of Barrowdale offers quality goods. But to enjoy the shop of Victoria Falls like the local does, head for the open flea market at Mbare, where there is a wide range of colourful baskets and clothing, food items and other things.
