Kenya Shopping

Shopping

Kenya is famous for many handicrafts, which are often the 'signature' of a particular tribe or region. Look for Kisii stone (soap stone) carvings, Maasai jewelry, Mkonde wood carvings, Lamu chairs and batiks. The largest selection of handicrafts can probably be found at the Maasai Market in downtown Nairobi on Tuesdays, although expect plenty of hassling and hard bargaining.If one does not wish to go to the downtown Maasai market there is always the Village Market in Gigiri (Close to Unep Headquarters) where a small number of the vendors go once a week to sell their ware. This is usually at a higher price because Gigiri is a plush suburb so they price their goods accordingly. There is also a fine selection of stores selling craft goods in Mombasa, where the atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed. However the best prices can be found by buying direct from the artisans at their villages out in the countryside. Apart from the typical souvenirs like wood carvings it may be a good idea to buy one of the large books with photos of wildlife, nature, or culture. Do listen & buy some local Kenyan music. One of the most popular songs is "Jambo Bwana" by Teddy Kalanda Harrison, which almost all tourist will be exposed to at some point during their stay. Reggae is also quite a frequent feature of matatu journeys.