Madagascar Shopping Guide

Shoppers keen to take back local handicrafts should look out for lamba – cloth squares patched together using a variety of traditional patterns and designs; zafimaniny or marquetry done on furniture, chessboards and boxes; silver items such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; mats, baskets, bags and hats woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers and blouses, skirts and linen incorporating traditional styles of embroidery done by the local women. Any product or by product using native flora or fauna is on the restricted list and will require an export permit before it can be taken out of the country.

The enormous Zoma Market, off Araben ny Fahaleovantena in the capital Antananrivo is a great place to hunt out the unusual local crafts and is one of the best places to buy Malagasy crafts. The shops in the market are arranged as per what they sell facilitating shopping for those short of time. Pickpockets are common hazard, so don’t carry all your money on your person and be generally alert. Another good shopping centre is the Andravoahangy Market where masons, embroiderers, booksellers, carpenters and other professional craftspeople make and sell their wares. The fun lies in watching them at work as well as finding some choice items to take back as souvenirs.