Shopping & Markets Guide to Zimbabwe 2026

1. Mbare Musika Market, Harare

Best for: The full Zimbabwean market experience — fruit and vegetables, second-hand clothing, household goods, live chickens, and a pulsating atmosphere.

Harare's oldest and largest market. Not touristy at all — this is where ordinary Zimbabweans shop. It is raw, authentic, and fascinating. The music section sells mbiras, drums, and marimbas.

• Location: Mbare suburb, south of Harare CBD
• Hours: 6am-5pm daily (busiest mornings)
• Bargaining: Expected — start at 40%
• Tip: Go with a local. Keep valuables secure in crowds

2. Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare

Best for: World-class Shona stone sculptures in a beautiful garden setting.

The premier gallery for Zimbabwean stone sculpture. Works by famous sculptors (Dominic Benhura, Nicholas Mukomberanwa school) are displayed alongside emerging artists. Pieces range from affordable to museum-grade.

• Location: Msasa, Harare
• Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Sat
• Bargaining: Prices somewhat negotiable. Gallery pieces have set prices

3. Doon Estate Craft Village, Harare

Best for: Diverse Zimbabwean crafts — crochet, baskets, wood carving, beadwork, textiles.

A collection of craft workshops in a leafy Harare suburb. Watch artisans work and buy directly. Great for basket weaving, crochet products, and carved wooden animals.

• Location: Borrowdale, Harare
• Hours: 8am-5pm Mon-Sat
• Bargaining: Gentle negotiation accepted

4. Victoria Falls Craft Market

Best for: Tourist souvenirs — carvings, paintings, beadwork, and Victoria Falls memorabilia.

Located near the entrance to the Falls. Dozens of stalls selling curios. Tourist prices but good variety. The carvers here can personalise items.

• Location: Near Victoria Falls entrance
• Hours: 7am-6pm daily
• Bargaining: Expected and vigorous — start at 30%

5. Avondale Market, Harare

Best for: Artisanal food, organic produce, crafts, and a relaxed weekend atmosphere.

A small but growing Saturday market in Harare's trendiest suburb. Organic vegetables, baked goods, coffee, and craft stalls. Popular with expats and middle-class Zimbabweans.

• Location: Avondale, Harare
• Hours: 8am-1pm Saturdays

6. Tengenenge Sculpture Community

Best for: Africa's largest sculpture community. 100+ artists working in serpentine, springstone, and verdite.

A remote artists' community 150km north of Harare. A pilgrimage for art lovers. Sculptures are sold at artist prices — a fraction of gallery costs. Truly unique experience.

• Location: Guruve, 150km north of Harare
• Hours: Daylight hours
• Tip: Arrange a day trip from Harare. The drive itself is scenic

• Ivory: Illegal under CITES. Zimbabwe has elephants but trade in ivory is prohibited. Heavy penalties
• Wildlife products: No animal skins, bones, horns, or products from protected species
• Unverified gemstones: Zimbabwe has some gemstones but also a lot of fakes. Only buy from trusted dealers
• Old Zimbabwe currency: Novelty trillion-dollar notes are sold as souvenirs (fine to buy), but do not accept old Zimbabwe dollars as actual currency
• National heritage items: Genuine archaeological artefacts cannot be exported. Buy clearly modern crafts

Zimbabweans are polite, educated bargainers. Negotiation is friendly and often accompanied by genuine conversation.

1. Greet warmly: "Makadii?" (How are you? in Shona) or "Hello, how are you?" — Zimbabweans value greetings
2. Ask the price: "Imarii?" (How much? in Shona)
3. Counter at 40-50%: Starting prices at tourist markets are usually inflated but less aggressively than in Kenya/Tanzania
4. Appreciate the craft: Ask about the process. Shona sculptors will explain their stone and technique — this builds rapport and can lead to better prices
5. Be fair: Zimbabwe's economy is tough. A fair price that feels good for both sides is better than squeezing the last dollar
6. Final target: 55-70% of asking at markets. Sculpture parks and galleries have less room for negotiation

Fixed prices at: Supermarkets (Pick n Pay, OK Zimbabwe), formal shops, and Avondale Market (mostly).

Shona stone sculpture is Zimbabwe's cultural crown jewel. Works by master sculptors are in major galleries worldwide (MoMA, British Museum). Here is how to buy:

• Stone types: Serpentine (green/black), springstone (dark grey, very hard), verdite (green), opal stone (white/cream). Each has different qualities
• Quality markers: Smooth finish, balanced composition, creative use of the stone's natural form, and the artist's name carved on the base
• Where to buy: Chapungu Sculpture Park for gallery-quality. Tengenenge for artist-direct prices. Doon Estate for mid-range. Victoria Falls market for souvenirs
• Shipping: Heavy sculptures require shipping. Chapungu and Tengenenge can arrange international freight. DHL handles smaller pieces (up to 30kg)
• Investment: Works by established sculptors (Mukomberanwa, Takawira, Benhura) appreciate in value. Get a certificate of authenticity

• Zimbabwe export: No ivory, no wildlife products, no national heritage items. Stone sculptures and crafts are fine
• UK allowance: £390 duty-free for personal goods. Sculptures, baskets, and instruments are fine
• US allowance: $800 personal exemption. Keep receipts
• Stone sculptures: No export restrictions on modern sculptures. Keep purchase receipts and artist certificates
• Airline weight: Stone sculptures are HEAVY. Check your airline's baggage weight limit. Consider shipping large pieces

• USD cash: Preferred everywhere. Bring clean, undamaged bills (post-2009 series). Small denominations ($1, $5, $10) essential for markets
• EcoCash: Zimbabwe's mobile money. Used by many vendors. Useful backup if you run out of cash
• Card: Growing acceptance at malls, hotels, and galleries. Visa more widely accepted than Mastercard
• ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold): The local currency. Some prices quoted in ZiG but USD is always preferred and accepted
• Tip: Bring enough USD cash from outside Zimbabwe. ATMs do not always dispense USD and may have low limits

• DHL: Office in Harare. Most reliable option. 5-10kg to UK/US: $70-150. Stone sculptures require proper packaging
• Gallery shipping: Chapungu Park and established galleries ship internationally. They have experience packaging stone safely
• Carry-on: Baskets, crochet, batik, and mbiras pack well in luggage. Small sculptures (under 5kg) can go in checked baggage — wrap heavily in clothing
• Victoria Falls shops: Some tourist shops near the Falls offer shipping services for purchases