Mwenge Woodcarvers Market
Mwenge Woodcarvers Market
Mwenge Woodcarvers Market
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
99 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
47
Average
17
Poor
6
Terrible
3
mandyt20192019
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania17 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
I usually go there often since am a fan of culture arts. I usually like the crafting its varieties.... beautiful place to do study, observe African culture specifically Tanzanians. If you want wood craft, paintings, African vitenge, vikoi, design African tops, Earings, bungles, wall art, traditional self-made art here is the place. I would recommend more tourist to visit this place often. You can get presents for your loved ones.
Written 5 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cassandra Tesch
Berkeley, CA151 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
I have been to this market multiple times over the past decade and it is a must stop location when in the city and in need of souvenirs. Many of the stalls sell similar products. I like to go and see what each seller has that is uniquely their own. When you come here, you better bring your patience and bargaining skills, the people are friendly and I always leave with a beautiful piece of jewelry.
Written 1 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roger P
St. Asaph, UK61 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
The market comprises 60 or so stalls. They all sell the same collection of items. Wooden carvings from small animals (lions, elephants, etc), through variously sized carvings of Masaai heads and figures, to large complex carvings incorporating multiple people. What varies is the quality of the work. So it is worth having a look in several stalls before bargaining. There is also bead jewelry (bracelets, necklaces) and cotton clothes in local bold prints. The stall owners will entreat you to enter their shops, but don't let that put you off. As they say "It is free to look.". Be prepared for hard bargaining. They may ask a ridiculously high price to begin with. Don't pay more than you want to because there is always another stall selling the same.
Some stalls also sell tribal art (masks and ritual figures). Look at the rear of the stall. This is what I was especially interested in. The seller should be able to tell you the name of the tribe it comes from. And should issue you with an official receipt.
If you run out of money there is an ATM just around the corner, Ecobank. And this bank doesn't change for withdrawals.
Some stalls also sell tribal art (masks and ritual figures). Look at the rear of the stall. This is what I was especially interested in. The seller should be able to tell you the name of the tribe it comes from. And should issue you with an official receipt.
If you run out of money there is an ATM just around the corner, Ecobank. And this bank doesn't change for withdrawals.
Written 2 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrisVagueness
Brisbane, Australia58 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
As soon as we got our of our taxi we were descended upon by people who wanted us to go into particular stalls, and there was no let up in the hassle the entire time we spent there. The wood carvings seem good quality, and there is a variety of other tourist gifts, but there are probably better places to buy them. For example, there were lots of Tinga Tinga paintings, but these are better bought from the Tinga Tinga Arts Co-operative. I also recognised fabric with the same print as I'd bought in Rwanda, but the Rwandan fabric was better quality and better price.
Many of the tourist items are not traditionally from Tanzania - you'll also find West African style masks and Rwandan baskets. If you aren't going to any of those places but like the look of them, there's no reason not to buy them at Mwenge or any of the other souvenir markets in Dar, but if you are going elsewhere you might want to wait.
The stalls at Mwenge are cramped and dark, the traders are pushy. For the same goods in a nicer environment with less hassle, I'd go to the Slipway markets.
Many of the tourist items are not traditionally from Tanzania - you'll also find West African style masks and Rwandan baskets. If you aren't going to any of those places but like the look of them, there's no reason not to buy them at Mwenge or any of the other souvenir markets in Dar, but if you are going elsewhere you might want to wait.
The stalls at Mwenge are cramped and dark, the traders are pushy. For the same goods in a nicer environment with less hassle, I'd go to the Slipway markets.
Written 12 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Goran M
Stockholm, Sweden170 contributions
Oct 2018 • Business
Went here an afternoon and we were basically alone, which can be a bit of a hassle with all the shop owners trying to get you into their store. My advice is to just smile and walk around until you find an outlet that has something you like and start bargaining. A lot of beautiful wood carvings and other stuff on sale.
Written 24 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia J
Willis, TX79 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
My husband and I had a good time here. If possible have someone go with you to help with interpretation, our driver for the day went with us and was a great help.
It is a but overwhelming when you first step out, everyone wants you in their shop. My suggestion is if you find something you really want ask the price and give what your willing to pay chances are the won't accept it then just tell them you will come back if you don't find it at a better price. The first stall we went in I asked about a bowl, he told me $50 USD, later after walking around I found the SAME bowl for $5 USD. We found a lady (in my picture) along the street side she was booth #16, she had the best prices of anyone there. I spent $60 USD and walked away with everything I wanted.
Not really a place to take children, but most definitely worth going to!
It is a but overwhelming when you first step out, everyone wants you in their shop. My suggestion is if you find something you really want ask the price and give what your willing to pay chances are the won't accept it then just tell them you will come back if you don't find it at a better price. The first stall we went in I asked about a bowl, he told me $50 USD, later after walking around I found the SAME bowl for $5 USD. We found a lady (in my picture) along the street side she was booth #16, she had the best prices of anyone there. I spent $60 USD and walked away with everything I wanted.
Not really a place to take children, but most definitely worth going to!
Written 7 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abdulla Msabaha
Mbeya, Tanzania70 contributions
Mar 2019
here you get to see so many products which are hand made by the sellers there are painters,sandals makers,bracelet makers and so much more,the part i love most about this place there are so many women whom are entrepreneurs.
Written 17 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LAgirlinNY
Los Angeles, CA36 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Wish we knew in advance that this first day at Mwenge would have some of the best shopping of our trip! I got beautiful beaded necklaces, wood bowls, spoons, and table runners that couldn't be found anywhere else during our stay and for very reasonable prices! Also nicest shop owners around TZ.
Written 16 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel_lover_2010a
Saginaw, MI24 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
I spent 2hrs at this square of art sellers and wood Carver's. Compared to West African art markets, I found the shop owners here to be very relaxed and not aggressive. If you go behind the shops, you can see the wood carvers at work. Not everything in the shops is handmade, so I recommend bargaining directly with the carver himself. Other souvenirs are typical of what you find in most Tanzanian markets. Bargain aggressively, but don't ask a price unless you intend to buy.
Written 12 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hughesay
Dublin, Ireland49 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Really just the usual tat, that you get all over Tanzania and ZNZ. What annoyed me were the vendors following me and trying to force me into their shops and then the super hard sell....and i have been in Marrakesh and loved the haggling.
It really is not worth visiting and was a waste of time traveling so far to see it...cannot understand how lonely planet etc recommend it, but I suppose there is v little to do in Dar
It really is not worth visiting and was a waste of time traveling so far to see it...cannot understand how lonely planet etc recommend it, but I suppose there is v little to do in Dar
Written 20 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do I get there using public transportation?
Written 15 April 2016
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