Each region of Africa has its own traditional style of handicrafts, and these are all brought together in the shops and markets of South Africa. Wooden carvings, such as figurines, animals and masks, are made throughout Africa, and Zimbabwe also specializes in soapstone carving. Mozambique craftsmen produce items made from shells, and the village women make hand-woven baskets. You can also purchase colorful "tinga tinga" artwork from Tanzania, and cowhide drums, which are a speciality of Uganda. You will probably pay a little more for craft items in South Africa than if you bought them in the country of origin, but they are still relatively inexpensive.
This style of folk art was set up in order to help South African AIDS and HIV sufferers earn a living. Trash, including aluminum cans, bottle tops, plastics, paper and even rubber tires, is recycled into works of art and sold as tourist gifts. Items available include photo frames, mirrors, handbags and wallets, candle holders and papier mache bowls, as well as purely decorative wall art and ornaments.
Brightly-colored Masai beads are a popular tourist gift item in South Africa. Although much of this jewelry is now produced for the tourism market, the designs are still authentic, grounded in local cultural traditions. Gift items include necklaces, anklets, belts and collars. However, if you are looking for a more expensive gift, city jewelers stock a wide variety of items manufactured from locally-mined gold and diamonds; or, for something slightly different, opt for tanzanite instead of diamonds. This blue gemstone is only found in Tanzania, where it is hand-mined.
South Africa is the world's largest miner of gold, and Krugerrands are 22-carat quality. These are collectible items, and can be purchased singly, mounted in a gift case, in coin sets of different denominations, or even in the form of jewellery such as a ring, necklace or bracelet charm.
Brightly-colored African fabrics, such as batiks and Masai blankets, make a memorable gift. Kikois and tangas are the South African male and female versions of a sarong. In Durban, where there is a large Indian population, you can also pick up authentic sari fabrics.
South Africa is the world's seventh-largest wine-producing country, thanks to the Mediterranean-style climate around the southern tip of the country. Most South African wine is white, produced from the Chenin grape, but production of reds and roses is on the increase. If you opt for a wine-tasting day or vineyard tour as part of your holiday experience, a bottle of local wine would make an ideal present to take home for friends.
