Zanzibar Curio Shop, Nairobi

It is the oldest shop of curiosities in the city. The shop offers a great choice of local crafts. Africans have a very rich culture and are skilled craftsmen. You can take a look at their beautiful local clothes, wickers, soapstone figurines, local semi-precious stones, hand-made beads and many other nice things. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. Zanzibar Curio Shop is one the best places in the city with original artifacts, exclusive gifts and curiosities.

What to buy here: Soapstone carvings | Tribal Masks.

Carvings made from soapstone, or what the locals call Kisii stone, are available in a number of forms and designs, from vases and decorative art to dishes and other practical items you can use around the house. Kisii carvings are available all over the city, at markets, curio shops and souvenir shops. If you want something special, you can get yours from Undugu, a fair trade group that helps support street children and their families. Ungudu doesn’t have a set shop, but instead supports carvers who produce the figurines and art pieces in their own homes and yards and then sell them through the organization. If you contact Ungudu, they will direct you to the village of Tabaka, where workshops line up the streets and you can choose a piece before it’s even finished. If you don’t want to get out of the city, the Zanzibar Curio Shop on the ground floor of the York House in Moi Avenue sells all types of soapstone carvings, as well as copper-ware and semi-precious stones. Prices vary widely depending on what you want to take home. A small basic figure of 10 inches or less can sell for as little as U$25, while more intricate pieces can sell for hundreds of dollars. Keep in mind that soapstone is heavy, so you might end up paying for extra weight in your luggage.