Stores, Malls or Markets in Namibia

In case you plan a self drive safari trip to Namibia, just be aware that most if not all food, drinks and such stuff you can buy in Namibia and surely in Windhoek when arrive here and no need to carry it all the way from where ever you come from. The supermarket in Windhoek had everything we just needed.

What to buy: These are the 2 best flavoured waters in the world. Really. I found them at the BP fuel station in Windhoek. The pictured flavours, MARULA and NAARTJIE are amazing and beyond compare. Combined with that, they were ice cold! It gets hot in Namibia so why have just any cold water when you can have heaven in a plastic bottle. Makers NESTLÉ has a full range of waters : Litchi, Lemon & Lime, Marula, Strawberry and Naartjie. Other manufacturers make some of these flavours as well, but I prefer this brand.

Enjoy! Also available at other retail outlets.

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What to buy: To have a real authentic African Braai you need a few things: Wood! Yes wood. You also need meat; preferably Texas steak which is a huge steak already marinated in tasty spices and feeds about 4 people. Also you will want some Boerwoers. This is a thick tasty sausage that has no comparison anywhere in the world. Preferably from the butchers counter. You also need some cheap firelighters and matches, and possibly some dishes and utensils. Finally you need 2 other key ingredients. Cold beer and friends. Shoprite here has EVERYTHING you need for a Braai except friends. A one-stop shop for the complete Braai experience!

Please note they also sell fresh prepared salads, pastas and canned mushrooms with sauces (pepper, cheese, mushroom). I recommend them all, especially mushrooms with pepper sauce for your boerwoers.

There are plenty of shops in Swakopmund selling art and craft objects, both Namibian and from other parts of Africa. The price usually reflects the quality and if you want a special souvenir you’ll find something I’m sure in one of these shops.

However we found that there were plenty of reasonably priced items available at the craft market too, although you need to be aware (if it matters to you) that most of these are from Zimbabwe. We liked the wooden masks that we’d seen in quite a lot of places and bought this one from one of the stalls. It now hangs in our hallway, where we like to display pictures and other items from our travels – great reminders, and inspiration for future trips too!

What to buy: In addition to the masks you'll find other wooden objects (bowls, carved figures, walking sticks etc) and textiles.

What to pay: Prices at the market are very reasonable, and you're expected to haggle - but remember that these people rely on tourist dollars so don't push them too far for the sake of just a small saving to yourself.

Everywhere you go in Namibia you’ll see carved Malakani nuts for sale. The carvings are usually of local wildlife and in the craft shops they’re often made into key rings, light pulls etc. Whenever we parked in a town and got out of the car, several men would approach and ask our names, or maybe our mothers’ names, and after a while we realised that this was so they could quickly carve the name on the surface of one of these nuts in order to persuade us to buy it as a souvenir or gift. Mostly we resisted, but at the Petrified Forest we succumbed. I’ve told this story on my tip about the Forest, but I’ll repeat it here as I think it’s a good story and will offer a sense of the lengths people will go to in order to sell you one of these nuts:

Our guide at the Petrified Forest told us about his life looking after elderly relatives on a farm a couple of miles away. He pointed out the farm and the rough walk he had to take to and from the house several times a day. As we walked and talked he carved a nut - this one was very well done, with a number of animals and my name, so we agreed to buy it in addition to giving him a good tip. When we returned to the car park he took us aside to pay for the nut, away from the view of the official souvenir stall. And the spot he chose to complete the transaction was ...

... beside his very good car. So much for the long daily walks in the hot sun! But it made a good story, and as I said, it was a beautifully carved nut, which was worth the price asked, and it still hangs in my kitchen to remind me of Namibia.

I did wonder whether to include this as a Tourist Trap tip – it can certainly feel a bit like that when you’re being pestered to buy the nuts. But if it was such a trap then it seems we fell into it, and with such a lovely little memento, I don’t regret that at all!

Ah Namibia, the wide open spaces, the lack of people....

But of course, there is always 1 entrepreneur and here he is. This was in the middle of nowhere driving from Etosha to the Waterberg plateau. Not exactly Tesco or Walmart but amazing to see nevertheless!

Do visit the likes of curio shops, souvenier shops etc while in Africa and take home some local craft.

What to buy: In Namibia one can find wooden masks and other carvings, as well as some nice jewelry, especially where gems, crystal and precious stones are concerned.

This is a popular clothes shop, with good quality clothes at bargain prices compared to what we pay in England. Always a stop off to top up the wardrobe or buy gear for any male in your life.

What to buy: Shirts, t-shirts, trousers, kids clothes as well as ladies too.

What to pay: £3 for a round neck t-shirt, £6 for a short sleeved shirt and maybe £13 for chino style trousers.