Whether it is pictures, videos, or journals, we all love to record special moments and events in our lives. This isn’t particularly because we might forget them anytime soon but because we know that we might never have moments quite like them again.
We, therefore, make memoirs we can always go back to and have a glimpse of those fun times.
Souvenirs take these endearing moments a step further by helping to retain memories, the essence of the places you’ve been, and what makes them stand out from every other place or experience.
Hence, this article explores all the unique and lovely things you can buy in Tanzania when you go visiting.
Some of them are so unique that they are native to the beautiful country while some are so random that you might pass by them without even realizing what you are missing.
Best and Cheap Things to Buy in Tanzania
If you have enough money to spend on shopping, here are some awesome things to buy in the magical country.
1. Herbs and Spices
Among other things, Tanzania is renowned for its flavorful blend of spices. This is quite evident in their meals. A Tanzanian delicacy is not the type that you can easily forget; it is tasty, healthy, and memorable in every way.
These spices are also key ingredients in the chai (tea). In Tanzania, you will discover that the art of tea making is as exquisite as its enriching taste and nature.
Large farms are dedicated to the cultivation of these herbs and spices, and they vary widely in species. Almost any kind of herb or spice you seek can be found in Tanzania, except saffron.
Zanzibar, which is often called the Island of Spices, has wide varieties of spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, mace, lemongrass, among other enriching herbs and spices that you can choose from. You can also find great spices with exciting flavor and enriching aroma at local bazaars in Stone Town or Kizimbani and Kindaichi spice plantations.
You can buy some of these spices and incorporate them into your dishes back home. Whenever you feel nostalgic, draw up a special blend of herbs and spices, and let the steamy fragrance take you back to the calm and idyllic country you left behind.
2. Exotic Bath Treats
Bath salts, bath soaks, bath gems, body oils, bath candles, and everything that makes for a luxurious bath can be found in Tanzania. What makes them so special are their infamous spices.
Over the years, Tanzanian women have incorporated the country’s unique spices into body oils and aromatherapy candles. And they have come up with beautiful blends of herbs to make therapeutic and soothing natural body care products like soaps, bath salts, and bath gems.
They range from spicy to woody and floral and are available in most spice markets and natural body care shops at very affordable prices.
This is one of the random treats mentioned earlier. It is not something most people look out for. It is, however, what a body care enthusiast will appreciate. So, if you’re one or you know someone who is, make sure that you don’t miss out on buying them to enrich the skin.
3. Woven Clothing
Almost every store in Tanzania has a rich display of fashion items that are either woven or braided in the Tanzanian traditional way. Hats, sandals, tops, shorts, jackets, bags, and even necklaces are made of materials ranging from wool to cotton and tiny fibers.
More detailed ones have beads and colorful stones incorporated into their designs. They come in all shapes, sizes, and designs. And because they are so common, they are quite cheap as well.
They make for exquisite and practical souvenirs for your loved ones and colleagues at home because they are everyday fashion items. Also, all the designs are unique to Africa. Hence, they give your family and friends a taste of the rich culture you experienced in Tanzania.
You can find a lot of woven fabrics and items in Maasai Market Curios and Crafts in Arusha. It is a one-stop-shop for beautiful woven Maasai products.
4. Sparkly Treasures
Tanzania boasts of many colorful rocks and jewelry pieces. But one of the absolute favorites of most tourists is the Tanzanian gems, particularly the Tanzanite, which is exclusive to Tanzania.
It is a stunning royal blue gem acclaimed to be rarer than diamond. Although it is quite expensive, it is cheaper when you buy it directly at the mines where it is gotten in Tanzania. Arusha is the ideal place to get the gemstone at affordable prices because of its nearness to the mine.
The gems could be in the form of exquisite engagement rings, earrings, or bracelets, giving you diverse options to choose from. And the startling blue color on rings gives off a unique ambiance that makes a refreshing difference from the traditional white stones.
They can also be used for making necklaces and other forms of jewelry. This is sure to make quite the impression on someone dear to you. Besides, what better way to remember Tanzania than purchasing a gem that cannot be found anywhere else in the world?
5. Antiques
If you love unique decorative pieces for your work and home spaces, then you should keep your eyes open for antique pieces on your trip to Tanzania. Beautiful, rustic, and eclectic, each Tanzanian antique comes with a distinctive design of its own. They range from huge easily noticed pieces to tiny works of art.
Therefore, arm yourself with excellent bargaining skills so that you can cart off your fair share of antiquated goodies that would make any home seem effortlessly and aesthetically put together.
6. Tanzanian Traditional Prints
Every African country has fabrics that are unique to it. And Tanzania is equally no exception.
The Tanzanians have two main traditional fabrics that grace their wardrobes regardless of the tribe they hail from. They are called Kanga and Kitenge (Ki here is pronounced chi-tenge). While the Kanga is more native to Tanzania and is made of a lighter fabric of smaller size, the Kitenge is more widespread in East Africa and is heavier and of a bigger size.
They are, however, quite affordable and can be bought at every Tanzanian market. The fabrics are very colorful with distinct swirls and patterns, and some even carry the Tanzanian flag.
You can buy them as ready-made fabrics or yards of the fabrics, and have them made into clothing or fashion pieces that suit your clothing style.
7. Tanzania’s Tinga Tinga
The Tinga Tinga paintings are those of Tanzania’s wildlife and rich culture. This is for all art lovers, especially those who love art with deep historical background and meaning.
Tinga Tinga paintings were introduced in the 20th century as a means of providing a sustainable source of income to the locals while using recycled materials. Even though this art has seeped into the rest of East Africa, it is still proudly owned by Tanzania.
All the paintings revolve around the beauty of Tanzania, especially the parts that top every tourist’s list of sightings. This means that if the most favorite part of your trip is the infamous bird watching, the great wildlife crossing, or the sunny beaches of Zanzibar, you can get a Tinga Tinga painting that illustrates any of these sights.
This way, you will remember the lovely time you had whenever you set your eyes on the painting. It also makes for an excellent gift to your loved ones to share with them a glimpse of the beauty that lies in Tanzania.
Also, it makes for a lovely souvenir because of its affordable price and its small size for convenient transportation.
8. Wooden Delights
From heavy ornate furniture to lightweight handmade intricate wood carvings, Tanzania has so many lovely wood pieces to offer. Its little wood arts are made of ebony. Although small in size, they are inspired by Tanzania’s rich culture and history.
Some of them come as a collection that tells tales of a time far beyond ours or offer glimpses of vibrant wildlife adventures. Others are solo art pieces that can be anything you want – pre-ordered or gotten off their shelves.
The heavy pieces of furniture, on the other hand, are made of teak antique woods gotten from old boats that date far back into history. These woods are then carved and designed using patterns and methods native to the Tanzanian people.
A very distinct way to know the Tanzanian furniture is the use of brass plates of varying contours, shapes, and designs, giving you grand pieces that can be shipped off anywhere in the world to grace your space.
9. Palm Products
Palm leaves, commonly called Ukili by Tanzanians, are often used in Tanzania to weave just about anything you can imagine. The leaves are processed and dyed with various colors, then woven into unique pieces.
They are used to make items like sandals, bags, hats, table mats, tea coasters, mats, among others. They are mostly found on the coast and are readily accessible there. Also, they are inexpensive and come in various sizes, which tell greatly on their prices.
If you intend to get them for many people, you should consider opting for smaller pieces as souvenirs.
10. Tanzanian Woven Towels
Traditionally known as Kikoi, these towels are bright, colorful, and made with distinctive stripes. They are long pieces of clothes woven into thick and beautiful towels, which are used for varying purposes.
Tanzanian women mostly use them to wrap their babies as they cradle them, or use them as a support when they place their babies on their backs.
They are, however, not reserved for babies alone as some Tanzanian spas and hotels use them as towels. Therefore, if you want to be a bit more creative, you can incorporate them into your living space.
They will make a nice statement piece when they are draped over white, black, or nude furniture pieces. On warm days, they can also be used as wraps over your clothes.
Final Take Home
Aside from the aforementioned items, there are many other delightful things that you can buy while shopping in Tanzania. However, the ones discussed above are some of the most remarkable things you shouldn’t miss out on.
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