Kenya is a large state in East Africa. Tourism in this country is quite developed. Hundreds of thousands of travelers travel to the country to see exotic animals in their natural habitat: tigers, hippos, flamingos. Or climb to the top of an extinct volcano. You can always bring vivid memories with you from a trip, but you definitely won't give them to your friends and family. What to bring from Kenya as an original souvenir, read below.
Products from natural materials
Local markets and souvenir shops are always full of truly African souvenirs. Especially popular are teak or ebony products. The latter belongs to valuable types of wood and is valued for its hardness. African tribes attributed ebony wood and magical properties. Believing that it drives away evil spirits and protects from the invasion of otherworldly forces.
Most often, tourists buy small figurines of gods or animals, which are carved by craftsmen by hand. They are not very expensive. If you wish, you can always find an exclusive gift made of precious wood species. True, it will cost much more.
Wooden masks are in great demand among tourists - a very interesting and original gift. A distinctive feature of all African masks is the combination of animal and human traits in the craft. The patterns on the masks can be painted, simply carved or lined with beads and shells. Each ornament necessarily carries a semantic load. In souvenir shops or markets, there is a huge assortment of crafts made from exotic materials such as rhino tusks; Ivory; shell of a sea turtle. No matter how beautiful the products are, it is better to refuse to buy them. It is prohibited to export these materials from Kenya without special permission.
Local craftsmen in large quantities make for travelers not only souvenirs from wood, but also from other materials. Wicker kiondos are very interesting. These are baskets that local women wear on their heads, securing them to their foreheads with a leather strap.
These sisal baskets come in a variety of colors and sizes. Especially for tourists, kiondo is decorated with clasps decorated with ethnic ornaments or beads. As a keepsake, you can buy leather goods: bags, belts, jewelry. Elements of national clothing are in great demand: kanga is a bright fabric worn by women; kika is a fabric for men. Very often on sale you can see bright national bedspreads or vessels made of dried pumpkin fruits (calabash).
Original jewelry
Women are unlikely to be interested in the tools of African tribes brought from Kenya. Even if they are made of valuable ebony. But jewelry will always come in handy. In the markets and shops, you can buy inexpensive necklaces or bracelets made of leather or beads.
If desired and financially available, you can purchase more valuable jewelry. There are quite large deposits of precious stones in Kenya, for example, rubies. Very often on sale there are jewelry made of tiger's eye, tanzanite or malachite. You can safely buy such products. Export restrictions apply only to gold and diamonds.
What other gifts and souvenirs can you bring from Kenya?
The culture and traditions of the people of Kenya are fundamentally different from the European and Asian ways of life. Therefore, many things familiar to a Kenyan in everyday life may seem very unusual to a resident of another state.
Often, in memory of visiting this African country, tourists take with them paintings and batiks of local artists. Paintings of this style are always distinguished by bright and warm colors. The technique of drawing in red and black tones is very common. You can bring honey as a gift for lovers of sweets. Oddly enough, but beekeeping in this country is very developed. Another edible souvenir will be macadamia nuts in chocolate glaze. In order not to make a purchase in Kenya and not buy a fake, and even at an inflated price, you should heed the advice of seasoned travelers:
- In Kenya, you can and even need to bargain. Sellers often reduce the price of the product. Especially if you buy several things at once.
- Whether in stores or markets, you should always look at product labels. The fact is that often under the guise of Kenyan products they sell cheap and not the best quality products from other countries. For example, from India.
- There is no need to spend money on buying jewelry made of gold or diamonds, as well as souvenirs made of ivory, crocodile skin and some other materials that are prohibited from being exported from the country.
- It should be noted that most of the shops in Kenya are open with lunch breaks and weekends. It is better to find out their opening hours in advance so as not to go home without gifts.
Whatever souvenirs are bought, it is important to remember that the most important thing in a trip is not gifts, but vivid impressions and good mood.
