If you’ve visited any of the Cape Town Big 6 you’ll know that each take their shopping very seriously. Each destination has something unique to offer, whether you’re looking to stock up on supplies, or take home a memory of your time spent at one of Cape Town’s iconic attractions.

Kirstenbosch

The Kirstenbosch Shop, and its smaller Kirstenbosch Logo Store at Gate 2, offers a myriad of gifts, clothing, jewellery, home décor goods, cosmetics, and a number of other, generally botanically influenced, products. There’s a surprisingly large selection of items on offer across these two stores, and it’s the perfect place to pick up a gift to reflect your time in the gardens. If you’re looking for plant-related reading matter, pop into the Botanical Society Bookshop, which is located inside the main Kirstenbosch Shop.

Mambo Exports operates outside the Visitors’ Centre, and they create fascinating, one-of-a-kind Zimbabwean stone sculptures that’ll go perfectly in the home or garden.

If you’re looking for indigenous plants, the Kirstenbosch Garden Centre has you covered. They have a wide range of plants available for purchase, from fresh cut flowers to fynbos plants, and there are expert botanists on hand to provide advice or guidance if you’re not sure what you’re after.

Cape Point

There are 3 great stores at Cape Point that offer a range of goods to remember your trip, or to send home to loved-ones just to prove that you stood on the most South Western corner of Africa.

Outside the lower funicular station are two stores that offer two very distinct ranges, so be sure to visit both. The Cape Point Logo Shop has an unbeatable selection of Cape Point branded items and memorabilia, from kids’ clothing to genuine shark teeth and posters. The Parks Shop, next door, focuses primarily on African crafts and other related curios, and if you’re looking for a gift to take back home, you’ll want to pay this diverse store a visit.

At the top funicular station is the large LH5 store, which focuses primarily on maritime gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia. Be sure to pick up a Cape Point certificate to prove you visited the point, and look through the cutest Cape Point pirate shirts for the mini-pirates to go along with it.

Table Mountain

Just because you’re a thousand metres above sea level, it doesn’t mean you can’t stock up on great gifts and memorabilia to celebrate your trip to the top of our African wonder. The Shop at the Top is the main store on Table Mountain, and is located in the National Heritage stone building on the summit. There’s an impressive range of high quality products available at the Shop at the Top, and it’s hard not to leave without Table Mountain merchandise – you’ll find everything from mugs, t-shirts and postcards, through to more practical supplies such as sunblock and walking sticks. The satellite store, the Little Shop at the Top, offers a similar but smaller collection of goods, and is located in the main Upper Cable Station.

If you get carried away with sightseeing and forget to visit the larger stores at the top of Table Mountain, pop into the Exit Shop located in the Lower Cable Station, where you can pick up a smaller but an equally engaging range of gifts.

Groot Constantia

Unsurprisingly, the main thing you should be looking to purchase at Groot Constantia is wine. They stock all commercially available Groot Constantia wines, including a few hard-to-find bottles. With the option to taste the wines on a Groot Constantia Tasting and Cellar Tour next door, you’ll know exactly what to take home with you. If you’re looking for something that will last a bit longer than an award-winning bottle of wine, there are also branded clothing items and great wine-related gifts available for purchase.

Robben Island

Robben Island offers visitors the opportunity to explore the Robben Island Museum Shop, which contains a range of high quality memorabilia relating primarily to the island and the political history of South Africa. It’s a great shop in which to reflect on your time on Robben Island, and leave with a poignant reminder of South Africa’s troubled past.

V&A Waterfront

With over 450 stores to choose from, there’s not much that you can’t find at the V&A Waterfront. Find everything from fashion and curios right through to the latest electronic goods and sporting equipment. The diverse range of both local and international brands will satisfy the shopaholic in everyone, and with a range of new stores having just opened their doors, there’s always something new to discover.

The V&A Waterfront is a great place to do your Christmas shopping – the decorations and an impressive outdoor Christmas tree are now up, shopping hours will be extended from 9am to 10pm from 12 to 24 December, and stores are overflowing with superb gifts. You can also have gifts wrapped at three gift wrapping stations located throughout the centre.

For gift inspiration, visit the On the Waterfront digimag.