Explore The Maasai Market

Explore The Maasai Market : The Maasai Market is the best place to visit for shopping of you are looking for affordable, beautiful and colorful souvenirs to take back home while on a safari in Kenya  and Nairobi city as well.

The Maasai Market is offers one of the greatest experiences for safari – goers in Kenya, the market is an open air-market with a large variety of products including African pots and pans, clothes, shoes, jewelry, shoes and bags among others. Travelers can also find paintings, drawings, curios, fabrics and clothes with East African prints, hand – made jewelry and wood carvings.

 As a traveler and just like any other shopping place in the city of Nairobi, you have to be aware of the you look, how you are dressed and how you talk are some of the determining factors on how much you will be charged for the items you intend to buy.

Bargaining

Also tourists / visitors are advised to practice their best bargaining tips, some of the tourists don’t know as they are not from Africa.

TIP – you have to bargain and act like you know what you want

You can purchase all the souvenirs in one but be prepared for some serious bargaining, if you want to avoid attention from sellers, wait until the market gets busy.

It is also important to note that too much bargaining can hurt the vendors most especially if they insist on not changing the price, in that case you should just pay the amount they are asking for to make sure that you are not killing their business for your benefit.

Opening Hours and Location

The Maasai Market is open from 08 am to 6 pm, however note that the market moves around the city on each day of the week.

Explore The Maasai Market
Explore The Maasai Market

Tuesday: it operates in Westgate Shopping Mall in Westlands (the upper car park) relocated to Kijabe Street opposite the Norfolk Hotel.

Wednesday: Capital Centre on Mombasa Road near the airport

Thursday: Nakumatt Junction Shopping Mall on Ngong Road

Friday: Village Market in Gigiri (the upper car park)

Saturday: The High Court parking lot in the city center (behind the Hilton)

Sunday: Yaya Centre in Hurlingham

What to Buy at the Maasai Market

  • Maasai Sandals

The iconic Maasai Sandals are one of the trade market possessions for the Maasai people, these Maasai leather and beaded sandals are found at most of the markets.

As a traveler/ tourist intending to buy them, do not rush and buy but rather take your time comparing different designs and prices across a few shops. Try them on before buying as the sizes can differ between vendors.

  • Jewelry

The Maasai people have some of beautiful and colorful jewelry pieces that are featured in most of the markets all over Kenya including The Maasai Market.

In these markets you can find really some cool items ranging from brass to beads, visitors usually buy bracelets beaded in the Kenyan national colors.

Note: Many of the best artisans do not display their best – quality works for fear of competitors copying them that is why they are not always on display.

As a customer it is ok to ask them “sellers” if they have other products other than the displayed ones, Explore The Maasai Market

  • Shukas

The Maasai Shukas are a cotton plaid fabric in form of a blanket of bright red and blue colors, these are traditional Kenyan fabric – cultural fabric belong to the Maasai people. The Maasai shukas were brought to the Maasai people by the Scottish missionaries during the colonial era.

Originally the Maasai people were wearing the calf hides and sheep skin which were replaced by the commercial cotton cloth in the 1960s.

The Maasai blankets “Shukas” are bought as gifts or souvenirs but most travelers, these shukas are worth buying for your friends and family members. The Maasai Shukas can be used in picnic or in chilly weather.

  • Kiondos

Kiondos are woven carryall bags available in natural or colorful striped varieties, these bags can be perfectly used to carry daily items. They are also beautifully colored and unique in design making them more appealing and worth buying,Explore The Maasai Market

  • Artwork

In Maasai Market there are many traders selling some of the beautiful artwork to hang on your walks without spending a fortune over them. The artwork’s budget is flexible and you can check for some of them in Nairobi’s art galleries like the Railway Museum or Kuona Trust.

You will also find a variety of wood carvings, bowls, baskets to add on your Kenyan decoration pieces in your home.

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