Page 415 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

SHOPPING IN SOUTH AFRICA 413

and art studios. When shop-
keepers don’t have shops,
they take to the streets: large
flea markets are found in all
major centres, and hawkers
and craftspeople ply their
wares on pavements along
major thoroughfares, selling
everything from sweets and
fruit to souvenirs and home
furnishings. South Africa’s rural
areas are dotted with arts and
crafts markets and farm stalls
selling local produce.
Swaziland is a treasure trove of woven baskets and mats
Shipping Packages
Strictly South African
The post office (see pp434–5) and yellowwood chairs and
will send parcels of up to 30 kg In Johannesburg and other tables, door knobs and other
(66 lb) to the UK, Australia and large cities, you can buy almost unusual decor accessories.
New Zealand, and up to 20 kg anything. Johannes burg in Colourful woven mohair
(44 lb) to the United States. particular attracts consumers blankets, shawls, cushion
They may not be larger than from all over the subcontinent. covers and jackets are also
2.5 sq metres (8 sq feet). Surface It is the queen of mall culture, found in this region.
mail will take 6–8 weeks; airmail and the best place to find The label “Scarab Paper”
one week. The post office offers indigenous arts and crafts. How- represents a truly unique South
additional insurance and “track ever, much of the wood and African craft: handmade paper,
and trace” options and also stone carving is from West and notelets and cards in nation-
operates its own local and Central Africa and Zimbabwe. wide crafts and curio stores are
international courier service The crafts in Durban (see produced from (now fragrance-
known as EMS (Expedited pp286–9) and KwaZulu-Natal free) elephant dung!
Mail Service). (see pp262–3), on the other Swazi candles are also sold
Many upmarket stores will hand, are more likely to be local. countrywide: look out for the
arrange all packaging and Zulu baskets are usually of distinctive “stained-glass” effect
shipping. To organize your outstanding quality, as are the of these slow-burning bright
own exports, contact one of woven beer strainers, grass candles in animal, bird and
the courier companies, such as brooms, pots, shields and more traditional candle shapes.
DHL, or a shipper such as drums. Sometimes brightly Throughout the country,
Trans Global Cargo Pty Ltd. coloured baskets are made gift stores and jewellers offer
They will arrange customs from telephone wire. an unusual array of necklaces,
and pack aging, and will These wares, as well as many rings, earrings and bracelets,
deliver to your home or the charming and often brightly using local diamonds and
office of their local agent. painted wooden animal and semi-precious stones, often
There is no maximum or bird figures, can be bought on combined with South African
minimum size or weight, and the side of the N2 highway from gold and platinum.
prices are competitive. Durban to the game parks:
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and uMkhuze.
Gazankulu and Venda also have DIRECTORY
a reputation for crafts.
Clay pots with distinctive VAT
angular designs in gleaming
silver and ochre are popular, as Tax Refunds for Tourists
are the woodcarvings, Tel 011 979 0055.
tapestries, fabrics and batiks. ∑ taxrefunds.co.za
Ndebele bead blankets, belts, Shipping Packages
aprons and dolls are also worth
looking out for (see p324). They DHL
can be found at most of the Tel 011 921 3666.
crafts markets, especially in the ∑ dhl.co.za
northern parts of the country.
Knysna (see pp244–5) is yet Trans Global Cargo Pty Ltd
another craftwork “capital”. Tel 011 230 1620.
A major timber centre, this is ∑ trans-global.co.za
A bottle of wine to suit any taste the place to buy stinkwood