Shopping or ‘retail therapy’ is for many the ultimate way to relax and enjoy oneself. For many travelers going on holiday also means bringing back something for the folks at home, buying things which remind you of the country you’ve visited, or just buying something because you love shopping!

Regardless of what interests you, you will be sure to find something worth buying at most malls or shopping centers in South Africa.
The numerous top class shopping malls in South Africa make the country a shopper's heaven. The big malls provide a wide variety of services you’d need as a traveler and shopper: entertainment facilities, restrooms and banking facilities. Of course you’ll also be spoiled for choice, with countless eateries, clothing stores and numerous shops specializing in top quality local items such as jewellery, designer clothing and art.

BEST PLACES TO SHOP IN SOUTH AFRICA

CAPE TOWN: 
More than just a shoppers paradise, the V&A Waterfont offers practically everything for everyone, and is a must if you’re in Cape Town.
Victoria Wharf, at the V&A Waterfront, has restaurants overlooking the busy harbour, an art-house cinema and commercial cinema complex, a craft market, aquarium, gem stone factory and a number of stores offering top-quality South African art and objects.

Canal Walk is a shopping and entertainment complex with 400 shops, 18 cinemas and many restaurants. It’s slightly less exclusive than the Waterfont and Cavendish Square, and you can often find good bargains depending on the season. It’s also good place to find hand-made leather and hide furniture, plus gifts and curios of all description.
 
Cavendish Square is a smaller, up-market mall concentrating on high-end fashion. They also boast some really good eateries and have had fairly recent renovations.

Constantia Village is a Cape Dutch-style complex housing some top-end stores – including a store that supplies locally made fashionable shoes and bags, very popular with ladies in the Constantia and surrounds.

Green Point and De Waterkant, on the Atlantic seaboard, are also interesting shops to be found. Green Point has a few art galleries, furniture and décor stores, and De Waterkant is one of the city’s trendy spots. Also called the Cape Quarter, it is littered with innovative stores circling a cobbled courtyard. A great place for contemporary furniture, lampshades, and other design orientated home art.

DURBAN:
The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is Durban’s major retailcomplex, a huge, space-age leisure and shopping centre that offers the best the city has in fashion, food, technology and lifestyle. For adrenaline junkies there is a participative surf centre and skateboard park, as well as a rock climbing wall.

The Pavillion is situated I old but trendy Westville. A giant, multilevel shopping centre of lyrical design, you’re bound to find something here. Visiting all its up-market retail and leisure outlets can take an entire day, so wear comfortable shoes!
Also worth visiting for are the Workshop, the Musgrave Centre and the La Lucia Mall.

JOHANNESURG:
Sandton City, one of South Africa’s first malls set in one of South Africa’s trendiest suburbs, has had more facelifts than Cher! Popular with tourists and stylish locals, it boasts 300 shops, as well as Nelson Mandela Square, a piazza surrounded by foodie places and designer shops, complete in the Italian tradition with fountains and of course a statue of Madiba.

Rosebank Mall draws a young trendy crowd and combines indoor and outdoor shopping areas, offering a variety of clothing, electronic goods, books, music and esoterica.

Eastgate, Westgate, Southgate, Northgate, Cresta, East Rand Mall and Fourways Malls are similarly fashioned shopping centres in Johannesburg. So wherever you are, you won’t be left wonting when it comes to find the perfect gift, be it for your loved ones or yourself!

The Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg, near Johannesburg’s CBD, is a multi-level bazaar in the old oriental style, with the scent of spices and incense filing the air. If you’re looking for sari’s and silks and things exotic, this is the place. The place is adorned with lanterns and drapery, to finish the mood.

So no matter where you are in South Africa, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for in this shopper’s paradise.

Links:
Canal Walk  
Cape Quarter
Cavendish Square
Constantia Village