Food and drink

There is no shortage of grocers and shops in Livingstone and you can find most things, though you may have to visit several shops, and imported gourmet items are harder to come by and expensive.

Mini Market (tel: 03 320633) on MOT Road across from the post office stocks the best supply of fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to all the basics like eggs, milk, cheese, chickens, meats and dry goods. Shoprite on Kapondo Street is a large South African supermarket chain with a wider variety of goods, but at generally higher prices – and parking is a nightmare. They have a decent pre-packaged meat section, but their fruit and vegetables are not very fresh since most have travelled up from South Africa via Lusaka and down to Livingstone. Zambian open-air markets or wheelbarrow marketeers, positioned around town, have fresh tomatoes, onions and other basic fruits and vegetables, and are generally cheaper.

Otherwise try Fairway Market (tel: 03 323167 or 323168) at 113 MOT Road across from Liso House. Further down the road, by Nanoo's, is Tunya Meats & Deli with an excellent selection of meats, poultry and pork, and biltong. Shopper's Butchery on John Hunt Way (behind Supreme Furnishers) is also a good choice for meat, and the EatRite Snack Bar/Takeaway sells the staples.

For speciality and hard-to-find items, try the Sun International Warehouse (2652 Linda Road, off MOT Road in the industrial area, beyond Zig Zag, tel: 03 324290), which stocks a wide range of imported goods – from wines and spirits to meat and dairy produce and many canned goods – all highly priced in US$ and some only in bulk.

Souvenirs and curios

If you like bargaining and have lots of patience, try the Curio and Craft Market in Mukuni Park where local artisans, craftsmen and carvers sell their wares. They have a great selection of wooden carvings and crafts, but expect to be bombarded with vendors vying for your attention and business.

Similarly, there is the larger curio market at the Zambian side of the Falls (beside the Falls Museum) with a wider selection of items and even more aggressive salesmen. It can be fun if you have time and enjoy haggling over prices, but frustrating if you are in a hurry. Failing those, one of the following might suit you much better:

African Gifts
116d Mosi-oa-Tunya Rd (by Zulunet, opposite Finance Bank); tel: 03 321571; email: zulunet@zamnet.zm; www.geocities.com/zulunet_zambia. Attached to Zulunet's internet café is a small gift shop selling a range of Zambian and African souvenirs and crafts

African Visions
125 Mosi-oa-Tunya Rd, tel: 03 323668; email: katkalai@yahoo.uk. Two blocks down from Ocean Basket, opposite 217 in a historical railway house, you'll recognise this shop by its distinctive burglar bars of African faces at the entrance gate. Alongside a good selection of textiles, baskets, jewellery, artefacts, and many Zambian-produced souvenirs you'll find a well-stocked bookshop, selling new and secondhand books, and a small coffee shop that serves filter coffee, milkshakes, homemade cakes, vegetarian meals and light snacks. The playground in the garden provides a welcome diversion for children, giving parents a chance to relax or browse.

The Hammerkop's Nest
Mosi-oa-Tunya Rd; tel: 03 323466. Opposite Barclays Bank, this spacious shop has a wide range of good-quality crafts and curios, including textiles, hand-made stationery, jewellery, basketware, safari wear, hats and home accessories. Its central location, variety and good prices make it ideal for those without much time to spare

Kubu Crafts
133 Mosi-oa-Tunya Rd, P.O. Box 60748, Livingstone; tel: 03 324093; email: kubucrafts@zamnet.zm. The main shop is located in a renovated historical railway house in the 217 area; you can't miss the delightful flying hippo at the entrance. It is well stocked with everything from furniture, wrought-iron fittings and jewellery to textiles, paintings by local artists, glass and beautiful handmade cards. Kubu manufactures its own teak furniture (having outfitted many of the local lodges) and has seemingly endless stock, so allow plenty of time for browsing. Nice things don't come cheap here, but there is something for everyone and the friendly staff can arrange to ship your purchases back home. Throughout the day, Kubu serves tea/coffee and delicious homemade cakes in their pleasant garden; this alone is worth a visit. Kubu also has two smaller outlets, at the airport and Sun's activity centre, as well as a newly opened shop at Manda Hill in Lusaka.

Livingstone Museum
Although recently under renovation, it is likely that the museum will again have a small craft shop when it re-opens. Prices in the past for baskets, carvings and other curios have been the lowest in town, but stock has been a bit hit or miss

The Shop that Thunders
Email: theshopthatthunders@zamnet.zm. Situated between the curio market and field museum on the Zambian side of the Falls, this shop stocks the usual collection of souvenirs and memorabilia – wall hangings, basket ware, carvings, postcards and gifts. It's convenient if you are at the Falls and without the haggling required at the adjacent curio market. They also sell cool drinks and snacks.

The Whole in the Wall
217 Area next to Fawlty Towers; tel: 03 324189; email: tambao@zamnet.zm. This small but well-outfitted shop has a good variety of fun and innovative locally produced souvenirs, tending toward smaller and easy-to-carry items like wire animals, key chains, postcards, maps, T-shirts, handicrafts and gifts.

Zig Zag craft market
Industrial Rd; Tel: 03 322814; cell: 097 760071; email: zigzag@zamnet.sm. Within Zig Zag's multi-purpose complex is a dedicated shopping area selling a range of locally produced crafts, curios, textiles and souvenirs