In South Africa, it is quite easy to live up to the adage of “shop till you drop”!
Shopping is one of the favorite pastimes of South Africans and the wide range of shopping experiences the country has on offer guarantee a fun – if somewhat expensive - day out. From roadside stalls and traditional markets to world-class shopping malls, if you can't find it in South Africa it probably doesn't exist!
The major cities and centres of South Africa all have world class shopping centres and malls, where top brands of clothing, jewellery and accessories can be bought at large chain stores and smaller, specialized boutique outlets. Besides this, these shopping malls all have banking and ATM facilities, restaurants and activities for the kids. The urban centres of South Africa also have more informal trading including suburban high street shopping, and large flea markets with their quirky items on sale. A more and more common sight these days is the hawkers that try and peddle their wares at almost every traffic intersection!
But when travelling, usually the first choice for shopping is mementos and curios. South Africa is famous for its authentic traditional arts and crafts, and in many rural and out of the way places, real treasures can be bought. Wire sculptures, beadwork, pottery and carvings are but some of the crafts South Africans are proud of.
So with a first class choice and a favorable exchange rate, be careful to not let the South African shopping experiences melt your credit cards! |
