Top Kenya hotels
Sponsored Links
Local traders love western clothing & try to trade t-shirts right off your back! Take some small items like colourful cartoon socks of souveniers particular to your own countries. They are great for trading & giving to children in return for photos. wood & stone carvings can't remember
On the Nairobi Highway cum High Street of Narok there are a few shops specializing in wood sculptures and carvings. Mainly animal sculptures, this being on the way to Masai mara; but also Makonde figures etc. Lots of good stuff, but beware of swindle (shoe polish "ebony") and inflated prices. Take your time buying here. Undoubtedly, some very nice pieces here. I noticed they do a fair amount of exporting. Wood sculptures of your favourite animals in the size and quality you can afford and can fit into you suitcase/hand baggage. The whole range. Starting price is maybe 2/3 more than a fair price.
Everywhere you go you can find souvenir shops and art shops, near national parks, along the main roads in the big cities, along the coastline, everywhere....In Kenya you can find many skilled artists, painters and carvers.But most of the articles are produced in mass production.
15ksh 300ml fanta in a glass bottle15ksh small packet of biscuits25ksh if you keep the bottle35ksh cake's36ksh 300ml milk32ksh 300ml orange juice55ksh snickers chocolate bar30ksh 250ml tin of fruittry the pies in the many bakerys scattered about Kenya, the goat ones are yummy.
All over town you can buy your stuff, cheap it is to. Always try to get the price down, the people like that, so they can talk longer to you and they also think it is fun. Cigarettes and drinks have a fixed price.It is also the best way to learn to deal with Kenyans in real life. If you are hunting for art or gifts, you should be outside the city. In the country you can make the real deals.In the National Museum you can buy a Masaai spear for Ksh. 3800,- in the country you buy it for less than Ksh. 1000,-In Turkana I could buy one for less than Ksh. 600,-. In the end they offered me one for free as a friend. The best deal ever!!! Little money.
In Nairobi you will find art galleries where you can buy real african art like Masks or sculptures. They bring it from different parts of Kenya, Tanzania and other parts of Africe - mainly west Africa. I got this mask some years ago and it is a mix of wood and hey. It is hanged in my saloon and i love it.
The handcraft cohoperative is the home of truly beautiful carved wooden objects. There are several cohoperatives in town - only one being state run. It's the one that sells carvings of much better quality than the others, and you can also see the artisans at work. The most beautiful things I saw were some little tables with carved elephants - and some really peculiar chairs in Lamu style: you can take them apart in two pieces so that they are easy to carry on the plane. Not too expensive, considering the quality. The price depends on your bargaining skills
All along Kenyan roads are small locally operated shops full of beautiful wood craft. Africans are used to bartering, so offer anything you have to trade: Kenyan money, American dollars, even the T-shirt off your back. Make sure to relax after shopping with a cold Tusker. It's Kenya's #1 beer (and my #1 favorite)! Stock up on these gorgeous carvings as souvenirs and gifts. Just be sure that they'll fit in the overhead bin for the flight home! Anywhere from an old pair of Nikes to $100.
There are many traditional Maasai markets throughout Kenya, so there is no problem in a choice of goods. The Maasai blankets are for sale pretty much everywhere, though they are pretty expensive by Kenyan standards. Local wood carvings are also a good bet, and there are quite a few craft shops around specialising in these. Pay around $10 for a blanket and as little or much as you think for the crafts.
A local craft shop with a workshop where craftsmen works sells wooden figures of african people or animals, batik paintings, local musical instruments, etc etc... A beautiful batik would be good because one will not be so obstacle in your room even years later.
Nairobi Serena Hotel Nairobi
5 Reviews and 206 Opinions Our partners in SA were having a business conference in Nairobi and needed a hotel with good...
Governors' IlMoran Camp Masai Mara Game Reserve
4 Reviews and 67 Opinions Little Governors Camp was built in 1976 in the Masai Mara in Kenya with its own independent...
Serena Beach Hotel & Spa Mombasa
1 Review and 211 Opinions Quite a long way out of Mombasa to the North, this is said to be one of the best hotels on the coast...
Reviews and photos of Kenya attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Kenya sightseeing.
More Cities in Kenya
More Regions in Kenya
Q: i want to go to kenya for 5 months with my 3 children and husbin im wondering what are so wonderful sites to see?
A: Hi Why don't you start by reading the many travel pages on Kenya that VT members have already compiled? As you're a new member, you may not yet be aware how to do this....
Read 2 Replies
Sponsored Links
