Treat Yourself to Some Retail Therapy

The shops at the Zanzibar Collection are the perfect place to find unique gifts and quality keepsakes to take home. Guests from any of the hotels are welcome into the main Breezes and Baraza shops where you are bound to find an authentic piece to remember your wonderful holiday in Zanzibar.

Our shops are not your typical hotel souvenir outlet. A pleasant shopping experience awaits you in the spacious, well-lit and air-conditioned boutiques. Items are expertly arranged in uncluttered fashion for comfortable and leisurely browsing.

The extensive selection of carefully curated products range from traditional crafts to aesthetic pieces and functional objects with a modern twist. Shop manager Renata sources many of the products locally since the Zanzibar Collection is committed to supporting community artisans, especially female-run projects that boost women’s financial independence. Other items originate from around East Africa, many handmade by local craftspeople.

In the shops are the famous Zanzibar chests studded with brass decorations and wooden Bao boards, a game played throughout much of East Africa. There are beautifully carved wooden bowls, animal figurines, woven table mats and more. Beadwork is a centuries-old practice in the region. The shop stocks a variety of brightly coloured and finely made necklaces, bracelets, earrings and beaded belts. If metallics are your preference, browse through a collection of handmade silver jewellery with semi-precious stones.

A variety of knitted wool dolls and animal toys are produced by Kenana Knitters, a rural women’s collective that creates hand-dyed, handwoven and eco-friendly products. The Mama Africa gift cards with cultural and nature-themed pictures are made from recycled paper by a group of local women in Kenya. Pick up a jar of all-natural coconut body oil produced by local smallholder farmers.

If you've enjoyed the richly-flavoured Swahili cuisine served at the hotel you can purchase bunches of fresh, whole spices to take home. Buy up a packet of Tanzanian coffee beans or black tea, grown in the northern highlands of the country. Even in this age of social media, old-fashioned postcards never go out of fashion and we have a selection that captures the quintessential scenes in Zanzibar and Tanzania.

The Raguz family that owns and runs the Zanzibar Collection have a passion for interior design so the shops offers a variety of chic home accessories and decor items. You will find embroidered cushions, table runners, gorgeous jewellery boxes, animal-print charger plates, napkin rings, photo frames and other items that are easy to pack and carry home.

In the clothing section is light, weather-perfect attire and African kitenge fabric clothes designed by a locally-owned clothing brand. The bespoke Palacina clothing line by the Raguz family includes beachwear, leisure clothes, scarves, cocktail or evening dresses as well as the very popular Palacina silk Kaftans. In the Toto (children) section are kids’ beachwear and T-shirts designed with African images.

During the holiday season we bring out an assortment of striking African ornaments and Christmas decorations. Add to your inventory of adornments from our popular banana-leaf Santa figures, angels and beaded baubles which are authentic to East Africa.

And in case you forgot to pack some travel essentials, the shop stocks many commonly needed items including bathing suits, hats, sunscreen, sun lotions and a range of toiletries.

Welcome to a uniquely Zanzibari shopping experience!