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Santa Clauses, ornaments, nativity sets, tribal masks….
I collect a lot of things.
And yes, I love my souvenirs. They don’t necessarily have to be expensive. I just love looking around my home at the things I have collected from my travels and remembering the good times and also, sometimes the bad.
So, when I am traveling and someone tells me that there is a nice market nearby…I am there!
The Masai Market in Arusha was a short walk away from our hotel and seemed like a great way to spend the afternoon. Since we were returning to the hotel at the end of our safari, we could purchase our mementos and gifts and leave them checked at the hotel in one of the spare bags that we had brought.
The market was found to be full of the kinds of items you would expect to find in Africa…masks, wood carvings, paintings, fabrics. Though I have spent considerable time in other markets in Senegal, Ghana and South Africa, my husband had not. A quick warning about letting me do the negotiations was in order. I didn’t have to worry about him too much, however, I had all the money!
Needless to say, shopping in an African market can be a daunting task as there are so many people continually asking you to come into their shop. “To look is free” they tell you, but once you’ve stepped inside, it’s quite hard to leave and get back on task.
Everything I needed was found in the Maasai Market…a mask for my collection, an elephant carving for my husband, t-shirts and a chess set for my sons, baskets for my mother and mother-in-law…but, I have to say, it was exhausting. The shops in the front of the property were easy to peruse and the salespeople were not pushy, however, entering each alleyway, named after safari destinations in Tanzania, was like entering the land of no return. The shops were many and the amount of merchandise immeasurable. You could spend hours lost among the commodities!
When visiting an African market, here are some things to keep in mind.
Before heading to the market…divide your money and place it in different compartments in your wallet, purse or even your pants or jacket pockets. Do not keep all of your money in one place. When bargaining later, it helps to say, “this is all I have left, while pulling out a five-dollar bill from a compartment where it is apparent that there is nothing else there. Believe me, they will watch.
Spend some time walking around the market getting a feel for what is available. Many of the same types of items are available from many different artisans and some have perfected the item’s quality more than others.
When you see something you like, casually ask for the price, but never ask for the cost of something unless you have made up your mind that you really want to bargain for it.
Tanzanians readily accept U.S. dollars for purchases, however, ask for the price in shillings first, being prepared with the exchange rate. Only then, ask for the cost in U.S. dollars if you plan to use dollars. If you have a local friend or guide, take them with you and have them negotiate on your behalf.
Be very matter of fact when you state, “oh, I only have…” Start with half of their price.
Act shocked at the price. You might say that it “is much too high for your budget”, but don’t insult the artisan saying that the product “is not worth that much”.
Be prepared to walk away. Chances are that once you are walking away, they will offer you a better price or the price you asked for. Remember, there are other vendors with similar or same products.
Speak with the artisan about the item you are purchasing. Find out what it is made from and how it was made. Many artisans love to talk about their work and find out what you plan to do with it. Once, in a woodworking village in Ghana, I was invited into many masks shops, offered tea and encouraged to watch the mask carvers progress with their works. These masks that I purchased mean more to me, knowing that in some cases, these men had learned their trade from family members, sometimes at the early age of six.
If you are approached by someone other than a vendor in the market, engaging you in small talk and then asking you what you are looking for, don’t fall for it. They may seem friendly and “willing to show you around”, however, be wary. They may be seeking a commission from the artisan or expecting a tip from you or worse, trying to con you. Be firm and insist that you are fine on your own.
Finally, enjoy yourself, try to enjoy the process and don’t beat yourself up too hard if you don’t get your price. Sometimes you have to pay a bit more if there is something your really love!
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Maasai Market
- Address: School Road, Arusha, Tanzania. Located about a quarter mile from The Arusha Hotel.
- Hours: No posted hours, but operates approximately from 0900 until 1800, daily.