Place · Town centre (Parkway and Livingstone Way)
Curio and craft market
A 45 to 60 minute browse of carvings, cloth and jewellery in the morning: compare three stalls before you buy, bargain politely, and skip the old banknotes.
- Bargain politely
- US dollars
- Morning
- Free entry
- Bring cash
- Crowded at peak
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…Town pavements are broken and there is no bus
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Zimbabwe ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Zimbabwean government sources; if you will cross to Zambia, ask about the KAZA UniVisa and whether it is available to you.
- Zimbabwe ↗Do not photograph government buildings, police, the military or border posts.
- Zimbabwe ↗Bring enough US dollars in small, clean notes; do not rely on ATMs or foreign cards outside Victoria Falls, Harare and lodges.
- Victoria Falls and Hwange ↗Prepay lodges and transfers; do not drive between Victoria Falls and Hwange after dark.
- Victoria Falls ↗After dark, elephants and other animals use the streets and hotel grounds: take a taxi between hotels and do not walk.
- Victoria Falls ↗Town pavements are broken and there is no bus: large bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 08:00 or 16:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Sat · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: free
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet at 08:30; tour groups at 10:00 to 12:00.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Sat.
Opening hours
- Note
- Open-air stalls with no ticket; go in daylight.
- Hours note
- About 08:00 to 17:00 daily (check).
Which month is quietest
- Janlight
- Feblight
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junheavy
- Julpacked
- Augpacked
- Sepheavy
- Octbusy
- Novlight
- Decbusy
Quietest Jan–Feb · Nov · busiest Jul–Aug.
Estimate: desk reasoning from school-trip, weekend, season and holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk from the Parkway shops or take a taxi from your hotel
- Ticket
- free · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- none
- Shoes
- Shoes on; broken kerbs.
Accessibility
- Check firstStep-free entrance · none
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet
- PartialWheelchair · Rough surface; ask a driver.
- PartialStroller · Narrow aisles.
- YesPlaces to sit · None.
Sensory load
- Sensory load4/5 High
- Peak crowd4/5 High
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Cash · The ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
- A small bag · Keep bags in front.
- Shoes: Shoes on.
- Keep bags in front.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Ask before photographing people or their work.
- Not appropriate.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Café on Parkway
- rain: Covered walkway
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Parkway shops, covered walkway (shade, WC)
Problem
Red lines
- Never buy ivory, animal parts or items made from protected wood.
- Do not photograph vendors without asking.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Prices are quoted in US dollars; carry small notes.
- Expect to bargain; a fair price is often 50 to 70 percent of the first ask.
- Wood carvings may need an export permit above a certain size (check).
- Old Zimbabwe dollar notes are souvenirs, not money.
- Watch for pickpockets at busy stalls.
Best time of day
Plan 45–60 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and in peak season
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Entry: Market
- No entry fee; expect to be invited to look at each stall.
- Dress code
- Shoes: Shoes on.
- Bags & lockers
- Keep bags in front.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- Ask before photographing people or their work.
- Not appropriate.
- What's closed
- WeeklyMost stalls open daily (check).
- Sundays and holidayscheckSome stalls close.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | free | Market | Not applicable. |
How to do it well
- 1Walk the aisles once before buying; compare prices for the same item.
- 2Offer 50 to 60 percent of the first price and settle near 70 percent.
- 3Pay in US dollars in small notes; ask for change in dollars, not ZiG, if you can.
- 4Ask for a receipt for larger purchases and check export rules for wood.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
90min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (60 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
Carving stalls
20 minWood and stone animals, masks and bowls.
Cloth and basket stalls
15 minWoven baskets and printed cloth.
Jewellery and beadwork
10 minNecklaces and bracelets.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- light
- Leave by
- 09:009:00 AM
- Closing buffer
- 450′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 16:30. Most stalls close about 17:00 (check).
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: check · checknone
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: partly · partlyRough surface; ask a driver.
- Stroller: partly · partlyNarrow aisles.
- Places to sit: yes · yesNone.
Uneven ground and narrow aisles.
Step-free route
- 1Uneven ground; ask a driver to park close.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | limited | In nearby cafés and shops. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | limited | Cafés on Parkway. |
| Drinking water | limited | Buy water at a shop. |
| Seating | limited | None in the market. |
| Card payment | no | Cash (US dollars). |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul–Aug | Peak tourists | More vendors and busier aisles. | confirmed |
| Nov–Mar | Rains | Muddy ground; some stalls close. | confirmed |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Souvenir shoppers | good | The widest choice in town. |
| Families | ok | Short and lively. |
| Wheelchair users | caution | Rough surface. |
| Anyone who dislikes haggling | poor | Persistent vendors. |
Skip it if
- You dislike bargaining.
- You already bought at your hotel shop.
Rules on site
- food
- Fine.
With kids
- with kids
- Children enjoy bargaining and carvings; keep them close.
- child price
- free
Combine with
Combine with
- 4 minCafé breakfast · eat — Coffee and a bite.
- 6 minSadza and relish lunch · eat — A local lunch.
- 8 minFalls entrance — By taxi.
Walk the Town centre (Parkway and Livingstone Way) area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Rows of carvings | Morning | Ask first. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Can I pay by card?
Rarely; bring cash.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What should I buy?
Small carvings, cloth or baskets that fit your bag.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Do I bargain?
Yes, politely.
What currency?
US dollars; ZiG at some stalls.
Can I take wood carvings home?
Small pieces usually yes; check export and customs rules.
Are old banknotes valuable?
No, they are souvenirs.
Is it safe?
Yes by day; watch your pockets.
Photos
Deep dive
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage
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Add Curio and craft market to a day
Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.