Shopping · Victoria Falls · Zimbabwe
Shopping in Victoria Falls
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SpringbokSam, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Victoria Falls is known for Zimbabwean stone sculpture, woodcarving and baskets, sold in galleries and open craft markets in town and in Livingstone. Best souvenirs: Stone sculpture, Binga baskets and Wood carvings.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 2
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Stone sculpture
Where to shop
Elephant's Walk
A shopping village of galleries and craft shops with fixed prices and quality pieces.
Victoria Falls town centre
Craft and curio shops along Livingstone Way and Parkway Drive.
Markets
Victoria Falls craft market
Open stalls of wood carvings, stone sculptures, baskets and textiles near the town centre, where bargaining is expected.
Mukuni Park market, Livingstone
A busy curio market in Livingstone town on the Zambian side.
What to buy
Stone sculpture
Serpentine and springstone carvings in the Zimbabwean sculpture tradition, from small figures to large pieces.
Binga baskets
Woven baskets made by Tonga women from the Binga area on Lake Kariba.
Wood carvings
Carved animals, bowls and masks sold at the craft markets.
Old Zimbabwe dollar notes
Banknotes from the hyperinflation era, including 'trillion dollar' notes, sold as novelty souvenirs.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Victoria Falls town centre
Elephant's Walk and the craft market
Elephant's Walk is a shopping village of galleries and craft shops selling Zimbabwean stone sculpture, textiles and jewellery, while the open craft market nearby has stalls of wood carvings, baskets and soapstone pieces sold by the makers.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Mopane worms, Mazoe orange crush, Zambezi Lager and Maheu. The Boma, where trying one earns a certificate, and local markets. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls town centre | $$ | Compact grid of lodges, activity offices and craft shops along Livingstone Way |
| Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge | $$$$ | Edwardian grandeur on the edge of the gorge, steps from the bridge |
| Upper Zambezi riverfront | $$$ | Riverside lodges among trees upstream of the falls along Zambezi Drive |
| Livingstone (Zambia) | $$ | Larger Zambian town with colonial-era buildings, museums and backpacker lodges |
| Livingstone riverfront (Zambia) | $$$$ | Upmarket lodges on the Zambian bank upstream of the falls |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping in US dollars is customary: about 10% in restaurants, and tips for activity guides, rafting crews, drivers and lodge staff at the end of a stay, often through a shared staff tip box.
- Carry US dollars in small notes; change is often short and cards are not accepted everywhere.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- December: Victoria Falls Carnival — music festival (usually around New Year)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, solo travellers and shopping
Victoria Falls town centre
Compact grid of lodges, activity offices and craft shops along Livingstone Way
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Victoria Falls?
Stone sculpture, Binga baskets, Wood carvings and Old Zimbabwe dollar notes.
+Where is the best shopping in Victoria Falls?
Elephant's Walk: A shopping village of galleries and craft shops with fixed prices and quality pieces.
+What are the best markets in Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls craft market and Mukuni Park market, Livingstone.