Kenya is the most developed and most visited country in East Africa. Returning from this trip, of course, many tourists try to buy traditional gifts for the memory of themselves and their relatives. Consider the most common options for souvenirs from Kenya.
Popular souvenirs
- Products made of leather, soapstone and various materials for weaving . Among the things that you can bring from Kenya , it is worth noting various bags, baskets, drums, braids, masks and clothes for safaris. A very popular souvenir are baskets, called kiondo, which weave from sisal. Wear them to the local women behind the head, fastening the strap through the forehead. Kiyondo has a small size, nice colors, besides they are very functional. Currently, for tourists from different countries, they are made in a modern style, decorating with buckles, ornaments, beads.
- Products made of ebonite, teak and ebony . Masks and statuettes are in great demand among souvenirs from Kenya. Masks used to be the subject of a cult, so every pattern on them has a great symbolic meaning. If we talk about figurines, the most common variants are Dogons - statuettes made of hard wood, Senufo - statuettes of female silhouettes and barbara, representing sculptures of the bountiful goddess of fertility.
- Products with precious and semiprecious stones . It is worth paying close attention to products made of purple and blue tanzanite, tiger's eye and even very common in Kenya malachite.
- Keng and kika . These are the names of colored fabrics that are used for wrapping, respectively, by women and men of Kenya. You can also advise to buy a multifunctional cape kikoy. There are many options for using them - like a scarf, a pareo, a towel, a sling for a child, a litter or a blanket on the beach.
- Objects of painting . In Kenya, you can buy a picture of local masters. Kenyan painting is usually performed with a predominance of warm and bright shades, most often you can see black and red tones.
- Woodcarving . Also fairly common souvenirs from Kenya. Among them, you can find caskets, copies of sailing boats dhow in miniature, furniture, frames for paintings. For crafts most often use wood from old mango trees. If you want something special or to order, go to the island of Lamu or to the tribe of kamba in the eastern part of the country. Well-known in Tanzania, the carving of ebony, called Maconde, has received great recognition in Kenya, where many sculptors of this direction.
- Sweets and tea . Sweetmongers and gourmets are advised to purchase tea, honey and nuts in Kenya in chocolate glaze or honey.
- Safari boots . They are very strong, light and breathable suede shoes unisex. They are convenient not only to go on a safari, but also to take a walk in nature or work in the garden. Among the unusual souvenirs can be noted sandals from tires with leather lintels on top. Excellent for active life and hot weather, wear-resistant and original.
A few shopping tips in Kenya
- Choosing in the store what to bring from Kenya, you can bargain without hesitation, sellers are welcome and often inferior in price, especially if you take more than one thing.
- Look carefully at the labels on the purchased tissues. In the shops of the country they sell not only local fabrics, but also cheap Indian ones, there is no point in buying them, because they have nothing to do with the traditions of Kenya .
- Please pay close attention to the fact that it is strictly prohibited from Kenya to export products made with the use of bones or skin of wild animals, mainly ivory, crocodile skin, shells of turtles or tusks of rhinoceros. In addition, you will not be missed at the customs with the purchased gold products and diamonds. Therefore, it is better not to spend money on such purchases.
- Most souvenir shops are open from 8:30 to 17:00 with a lunch break from 12:30 to 14:00. On Saturday they have a reduced working day, and on Sunday - a day off. However, it should be noted that in Nairobi , for example, there are shops that work without interruptions and days off, which close at 19: 00-20: 00, as well as shopping centers in other major cities and resorts ( Mombasa , Malindi , Kisumu ), which can work until late evening or around the clock.
