Shopping in Nairobi
Malls markets and more
Nairobi is a nirvana for market buffs, with at least 10 in the city centre, as well as stalls spilling over most pavements. Being Africa things work a little differently and haggling is the name of the game. It's an art that's difficult to master. The philanthropic will be read as the gullible, the hard nosed just plain tight(a few extra shillings won't break your bank) somewhere in the middle is safe ground, where the price is good, you have a laugh and make some friends en route.
Stretching over Nairobi River Gikomba Market is the capital's largest, most varied and colourful. Anything goes here - crafts and curios, a corner devoted to artefacts made from scrap metal and a beautiful Technicolor fabric section(one of Nairobi's untapped secrets is its number of quality cheap tailors - Tom Mboya street is a good place to start, but for the 'great white hunter' safari look, Colpro, in Kimathi Street is the place).
The City Market tends to be the most popular with tourists, though it owes this to its central location, rather than what it has to offer. For crafts the African Heritage Gallery is a safe bet. Magical Kenya outlines some of the city's better known markets, while shopaholics can fill in the blanks at the Tourist Office.
www.magicalkenya.com
