AFCON 2027 brings you to one of the world’s great shopping destinations. Tanzania produces the rarest gemstone on earth — Tanzanite, found nowhere else — and its markets overflow with Maasai beadwork, handcarved wooden sculptures, Tingatinga paintings, kikoi fabrics and Zanzibar spices. This guide covers what to buy, where to buy it and how to avoid the most common tourist traps.
The Five Things Every Fan Should Buy in Tanzania
1. Tanzanite — The World’s Rarest Gemstone
Tanzanite is found in only one place on earth — a small stretch of the Mererani Hills near Arusha, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is one of the world’s most exclusive gems, described as 1,000 times rarer than diamonds. Blue-violet in colour with a unique optical property called trichroism — it shows three different colours (blue, violet and burgundy) depending on the angle of light — Tanzanite is the single most significant purchase any AFCON 2027 visitor can make in Tanzania.
The best place to buy Tanzanite is Arusha, where it is mined and where prices are lower than anywhere else. The Tanzanite Experience on the 3rd floor of Blue Plaza on India Street in Arusha offers certified, ethically sourced Tanzanite directly from their own mine — the world’s largest Tanzanite supplier — with the chance to learn about the stone’s history and formation.
What to look for:
- Trichroism: rotate the stone under light — genuine Tanzanite shows blue, violet and burgundy at different angles
- Certification: always ask for a GIA, AGSL or TanzaniteOne certificate of authenticity
- Rich colour: genuine stones have deep colour; fakes appear dull or artificially bright
- Cut and clarity: quality Tanzanite is well-cut with minimal visible inclusions
Where to buy: The Tanzanite Experience (Arusha and Dar es Salaam), Arusha Gemstone Market, Afro Gems, Gems & Jewels Tanzania. In Zanzibar: Blue Gems Zanzibar, Tanzanie Gallery, Zenj Treasures, Johari Treasures in Stone Town.
What to avoid: Never buy Tanzanite from roadside stalls, unofficial agents or any seller who cannot provide proof of authenticity. Street sellers almost always sell synthetic or treated stones. Always buy from registered, certified gemstone dealers.
2. Maasai Beadwork and Jewellery
The Maasai are Tanzania’s most recognisable cultural community — and their beadwork is among the most beautiful handcraft in Africa. Intricate necklaces, bracelets, earrings and collars in bold geometric patterns using glass beads in red, blue, white and green. Each piece is handmade and no two are identical. Maasai beadwork makes the most meaningful souvenir from Tanzania — it is genuinely handmade by the community, genuinely Tanzanian and genuinely beautiful.
Where to buy: Maasai Market in Arusha (near the Clock Tower), Cultural Heritage Centre in Arusha, the Slipway in Dar es Salaam, Forodhani Night Market in Zanzibar Stone Town. Prices range from 5,000 TZS for simple bracelets to 100,000+ TZS for elaborate collars.
3. Tingatinga Paintings
Tingatinga is Tanzania’s most famous art form — invented in Dar es Salaam in the 1960s by Edward Said Tingatinga. Bold, flat, brightly coloured paintings of African wildlife and village life, painted in enamel on hardboard. Every serious Tingatinga artist learned from someone who learned from the original Tingatinga cooperative. These are genuine folk art pieces — not factory prints — and the cooperative system ensures artists receive fair payment.
Where to buy: The Tingatinga Arts Cooperative in Oyster Bay, Dar es Salaam — the original source, where you can watch artists painting before you buy. Also widely available at the Slipway and cultural centres throughout the city. Prices: 20,000–200,000+ TZS depending on size and detail.
4. Kanga and Kikoi Fabric
Kanga are brightly printed cotton wraps worn by Tanzanian women throughout their lives — for carrying babies, covering heads, wrapping around the waist and much more. Each kanga carries a Swahili proverb printed along the border. Buying a kanga that carries a meaningful proverb is one of the most thoughtful souvenirs from Tanzania. Kikoi is a similar striped cotton fabric with Swahili Coast origins — heavier, more textured, excellent as a beach wrap.
Where to buy: Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam is the best and cheapest source — the largest market in the city, prices are significantly lower than tourist shops. Also available at the Slipway and Stone Town in Zanzibar. Prices: 5,000–20,000 TZS per piece.
5. Zanzibar Spices
Zanzibar was the Spice Island of the Indian Ocean trade routes — cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and black pepper all grown on the island. Buying spices directly in Zanzibar’s Stone Town markets means taking home something genuinely produced where you are standing. The quality is extraordinary — Zanzibar cloves in particular are regarded as among the finest in the world.
Where to buy: Darajani Market (the main spice market) in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Also available at Forodhani Night Market. Buy whole spices rather than ground — they last longer and smell more authentic. Prices: 2,000–10,000 TZS per bag depending on spice and quantity.
Where to Shop — By City
Dar es Salaam
The Slipway — Msasani Peninsula
The most accessible shopping destination for AFCON 2027 fans — a pedestrianised waterfront complex with craft shops, galleries, boutiques and the Naipenda Tanzania store specialising in high-quality local crafts and souvenirs. Pleasant to browse, fixed prices at most outlets, no aggressive haggling. Naipenda Tanzania at the Slipway is an exquisite boutique for unique local crafts — one of the best curated souvenir shops in the city.
Kariakoo Market — City Centre
The largest and busiest market in Dar es Salaam — a major commercial hub where traders and buyers from across the country come to do business. The best place for kanga, kikoi, spices and everyday Tanzanian goods at local prices. Go in the morning when it is less crowded. Do not go alone on your first visit — go with a hotel-recommended guide or local contact. Kariakoo is not a tourist market — it is where Dar es Salaam shops. Prices are genuine and haggling is expected.
Sea Cliff Village — Msasani
An upscale open-air shopping village adjacent to the Sea Cliff Hotel — restaurants, boutiques, gemstone dealers and craft shops in a pleasant coastal setting. Higher prices than Kariakoo but more comfortable for first-time visitors and a good option for premium Tanzanite and jewellery.
City Mall / Quality Centre — Various
Western-style shopping malls with international and local brands, food courts, cinema and children’s entertainment. Good for practical purchases — phone accessories, clothing, toiletries. Not where you go for souvenirs but useful for everyday needs during a longer stay.
Arusha
The Tanzanite Experience — Blue Plaza, India Street
The definitive Tanzanite shopping destination — certified stones, ethical sourcing, educational tour and a vast collection at reasonable prices. The most reputable Tanzanite store in Arusha, often recommended by tour companies and guides. Prices are fixed but fair, and authenticity is guaranteed. Every fan attending Arusha matches should visit this at least once, even just to see the stones.
Maasai Market Curios and Crafts
Located in the heart of Arusha, this government-created marketplace brings together Maasai beadwork, gemstones, carvings, fabrics and crafts from across northern Tanzania. A wide range of gemstones from rough stones to polished and set pieces. Bargaining is common — be prepared to negotiate.
Cultural Heritage Centre
Tanzania’s largest art gallery and cultural complex — Makonde sculpture, Tingatinga paintings, gemstones, jewellery, fabrics and traditional arts across multiple floors. Also features a café and restaurant. Worth 2 hours on a non-match day. Located approximately 4km from Arusha city centre on Dodoma Road.
Zanzibar Stone Town
Stone Town is one of the great shopping destinations in East Africa — 400 years of Indian Ocean trade have left a market culture that runs deep. The main shopping streets around Gizenga Street, Hurumzi Street and the Old Fort are lined with spice merchants, fabric sellers, antique dealers, Tanzanite jewellery shops and craft stalls.
Forodhani Night Market — the waterfront night market running every evening from sunset. Food, spices, crafts, fabrics. One of the great evening experiences in Tanzania. A few hundred metres of stalls along the seafront, buzzing with locals and visitors. Prices are tourist prices but the experience is irreplaceable.
Darajani Market — Stone Town’s main daily market for spices, fresh produce, fish and local goods. The spice section is extraordinary — buy directly from traders at the source.
Bargaining — How It Works
Bargaining is expected and normal at markets, craft stalls and most independent shops throughout Tanzania. It is not rude — it is part of the transaction. A few simple rules:
- Start at around 50% of the first asking price — a reasonable opening offer that gives room to negotiate to a fair price for both sides
- Be friendly, not aggressive — the goal is a fair deal, not a victory. A smile goes a long way.
- Do not start bargaining if you do not intend to buy — it wastes the seller’s time and creates bad feeling
- Fixed price shops — malls, certified gemstone dealers and branded boutiques have fixed prices. Do not try to bargain here.
- TZS vs USD — pay in TZS where possible. Sellers quoting USD typically quote higher “tourist” prices. Knowing the TZS price puts you in a stronger position.
- Walk away — if the price does not come down to where you want it, politely walk away. The seller will often call you back at a lower price. If they do not, the price was fair.
Shopping Safety Tips
- Keep your phone in your pocket in busy markets — phone snatching is the most common crime in market areas
- Do not carry large amounts of cash to Kariakoo or street markets — withdraw what you need and leave the rest at your hotel
- Avoid “guides” who approach you near markets offering to take you to “the best shop” — they receive commission from specific stalls and will steer you away from better prices elsewhere
- Certified gemstones only — never buy Tanzanite or other precious gems without a certificate of authenticity. The risk of buying a synthetic or treated stone from uncertified sellers is real.
What to Expect to Spend
| Item | Price range (TZS) | Price range (USD) | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai bracelet | 5,000–15,000 | $1.50–5 | Arusha market, Slipway |
| Maasai beaded collar | 50,000–150,000 | $15–55 | Arusha market, Cultural Heritage |
| Kanga or kikoi fabric | 5,000–20,000 | $1.50–7 | Kariakoo, Stone Town |
| Tingatinga painting (small) | 20,000–60,000 | $7–22 | Tingatinga Cooperative, Slipway |
| Tingatinga painting (large) | 80,000–300,000+ | $29–110+ | Tingatinga Cooperative |
| Zanzibar spices (bag) | 2,000–10,000 | $0.70–3.70 | Darajani Market, Forodhani |
| Tanzanite (small, certified) | 50,000–500,000 | $18–185 | Tanzanite Experience, certified dealers |
| Tanzanite (investment piece) | 500,000–5,000,000+ | $185–1,850+ | Certified dealers only |
| Makonde wooden sculpture | 30,000–200,000 | $11–74 | Cultural Heritage, Slipway |
For the complete Tanzania travel guide see our safety guide, money guide and food guide. For Zanzibar shopping and Stone Town see our Zanzibar guide. For Arusha shopping see our Arusha fan guide.
Shopping information sourced from TripAdvisor (2025–2026), MyGuide Tanzania, UnitedRepublicofTanzania.com, Tango Gemstones and Kili Transfers (February 2026). Prices are approximate and subject to change. Tanzanite certification advice sourced from GIA guidelines and verified dealers. Always buy Tanzanite from certified registered dealers only.