Are you looking for traditional South African gifts for a friend or relative? Or are you looking for South African gift ideas for Christmas, a birthday, or a farewell party? Or maybe you just landed on this page for a completely different reason, but either way, you are going to find an amazing list of gifts for South Africa lovers. You know, those people obsessed with South Africa and who never stop talking about how much they love the culture, nature, food, and whatnot!
I’m sure you will find a gift that will make their hearts skip a few beats. Sol let’s have a look!
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Save these South Africa gifts ideas
Don’t forget to save these 25 South Africa gifts ideas for the next time you need some inspiration!
South African gifts for large budgets
#1 South African safari home decor
These stunning wooden animal prints are great home accessory gifts for people who love South Africa.
You can order various sizes and they come in a trio, so they will have the elephant, lion, ánd giraffe!
For more safari-themed gifts, check out these 25 awesome gift ideas for safari lovers.
#2 Traditional South African gifts
The African Crafts Market is an organization based in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa that ships stunning hand-made African crafts around the world.
You can choose from all sorts of crafts: pillows, jewelry, candleholders, chess sets, statues, or shoe wear. Check out the website for the complete collection of authentic handmade South African gifts.
#3 South African map
I don’t know what it is with maps, but almost all travelers have a thing for maps. Especially, for maps of the places they love. So this old map of South Africa will work great for South Africa lovers, plus it adds this cool vintage touch to the room.
#4 South African clothing brands
Any South Africa lover loves to support brands from their favorite country. So check out some of these awesome South African brands if you are looking for some gift inspiration. And you will have supported a great cause and you will have a great story to tell with this gift.
Some brands to check out are:
#5 South Africa gift ideas: food basket
If you are looking for South African gift ideas for someone who misses South Africa, and specifically South African food, terribly, this food basket is the perfect gift!
It combines all their favorite South African snacks, including the most popular Beef Biltong.
#6 Handmade bags
Another awesome South African brand is Mongoose. Mongoose is located in Pretoria and offers beautifully handmade bags. Check out their website for more designs and to place an order. Though for cheaper alternatives to South African bags (not as fashionable nor handmade though), check out #17 on this list.
#7 Language course
Give someone the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture, by giving a local language course. Speaking the language is the best way to learn about a country and truly experience the culture. So with this online isiXhosa for beginners course, they will arrive in South Africa all prepared for the best trip of their lives!
#8 South African map watch
This wristwatch with the map of South Africa is a South African gift idea for someone who also loves maps and accessories. (For map lovers also check out these 25 world map wall art items).
Every time they look at the time, they will be reminded of the country they love the most and of course of the person who gave them this awesome gift.
#9 South African shoes
These locally produced shoes are awesome gifts from South Africa for the fashionistas in your life. Veldskoen offers both men’s and women’s shoes.
Veldskoen is a South African brand that produces all its products in South Africa by South African craftsmen and women. It’s a sustainable brand that offers fair wages and takes the well-being of its craftspeople in mind. A great way to look good and feel good about the product you bought.
Fun and useless random fact: veldskoen literally means field shoe.
#10 South African gifts: beadwork crafts
If you have ever visited a handicraft market in South Africa, you may recognize this beautiful beads design, which is extremely popular in those markets. And for good reasons, it’s stunning and visitors love it.
So if you are looking for a cute South African-themed gift, this luggage tag is perfect.
South African gifts for mid budgets
#11 South Africa gift ideas: travel mug
If you are looking for South African gift ideas for someone who will leave for a trip soon, you have to think of a practical gift. Otherwise, they won’t take it with them on the road.
And that is exactly why this cool Djembe drum-shaped travel mug is such a great travel gift for South Africa lovers. It’s related to a place they love, it can keep their coffee warm, and it saves plastic cups!
Don’t worry if you are not convinced by this design, Redbubble offers many more fun South Africa-themed mugs.
Would rather look for gift ideas for a coffee-lover? Check out my coffee travel gifts.
#12 South African gift ideas: water bottle
Water bottles are another example of super practical South African gift ideas, for example, this South African flag. Travelers (and basically any human alive) need to stay hydrated, but buying plastic water bottles is not the most sustainable way and that is where this cool water bottle comes in.
Check out Redbubble for all the different South African designs they offer (and they offer a lot!).
#13 South African cookbook
What’s a better way to experience South Africa than through the stomach? If you can’t take them to South Africa, bring South Africa to them with a cookbook that will help them to prepare all those delicious meals at home.
The Complete South African Cookbook includes everything they need to know about the South African kitchen.
Or check out the next item on this Soth Africa gifts list!
#14 South Africa gift ideas: braai-related
Most people who love South Africa and South African food also love the classic South African braai( barbecue). So for those braai-lovers, this fun Braai Master shirt from Teeshirt is a great gift. Alternatively, you could look for other braai-related gifts such as a hoodie or a cookbook.
#15 South Africa gift ideas: sports-related
Sport is a big thing in South Africa and pretty much all South Africans love their Springboks (the national rugby team). So if you are looking for a gift for a sports fan, check out the Springbok merchandise for more inspiration. Or simply go for this Springbok Shirt.
#16 South African gifts: socks
Socks are the perfect travel gifts. They are practical, fun to give ánd fun to receive. And you can literally find them in any design! You name it, and I guarantee that you can get socks in that theme. Including the South African theme.
If you think these socks in the South African flag theme are a bit too colorful, check out these African print socks.
#17 South African gifts: tote bags
Of course, I couldn’t complete a list of South African gift ideas without including anything about one of the greatest South Africans in history, Nelson Mandela. So I picked a tote bag with a Nelson quote for the simple fact that tote bags are small, light, and super practical for travelers.
Or check out Redbubble for more tote bag South Africa designs.
South African gifts for small budgets
#18 South Africa gift ideas: books
I could probably write an entire post about all the cool books about South Africa that make great gifts, but for today I will just limit myself to these few. However, if you don’t feel like any of these books are a match, check out Amazon for more books about South Africa. Or shoot me a message and perhaps we can think of a book together!
- The Café de Move-on Blues. In Search of the New South Africa by Christopher Hope
- The Rise or Fall of South Africa by Frans Cronje
- Surfacing: On being black and feminist in South Africa by Desiree Lewis & Gabeba Baderoon
- The Wines of South Africa by Jim Clarke
#19 South Africa gift ideas: wall art
South African wall art makes great gifts for people who miss South Africa and who could use a little bit of the South African design and color in their homes. One example is this map of Cape town, but you can find all sorts of South African-themed wall art on Amazon.
#20 South Africa gift ideas for tea lovers
Are you looking for a gift for someone who loves tea and South Africa? This set of teas with fun South African images, patterns and slang is the perfect gift! With every cup of tea they make, they will think of their favorite country in the world!
For more tea-related gifts, check out this post!
#21 South Africa travel books
Travel books are great South Africa gifts (assuming that the books are covering South Africa, of course).
There are plenty of different guidebooks about South Africa, so I always suggest that you can find the best one by finding out what type of travel style they are interested in.
- Are they into backpacking? Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatiniis the best book for them!
- Are they bird lovers? The Sasol Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa is the book you are looking for.
- Are they into backpacking as well as some more luxury every once in a while? The Rough Guide To South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland offers the best information for all sorts of budgets.
- Do they already have a book that covers the basic travel information, or have they visited South Africa before? Check out The Greater Than A Tourist South Africa edition. It includes 300 travel tips from locals, for an even greater and more unique experience.
#22 Wine gifts from South Africa
What’s a better gift for someone who loves South Africa and wine than a South African wine bottle?
That’s right, I couldn’t think of a better gift either.
So check out Buy Wines Online to find their selection of South African wines to find the perfect, red or white in all sorts of price ranges.
#23 Beyers chocolate
Beyers is a local South African chocolate brand that produces delicious, guess what, chocolate!
So if you just want small and thoughtful gifts from South Africa, Beyers chocolate boxes are perfect.
#24 South African key ring
This small and cute keyring with the map of South Africa is a great gift for someone who is about to leave for a trip. Keyrings are easy to take along the road, they are relatively light and don’t take up much space, which is perfect for traveling.
#25 South African gifts: travel journal
Are you looking for South Africa gift ideas for someone who is leaving for a trip to South Africa soon? This travel journal is the perfect gift for them. It’s all about the best things to see and do in South Africa, but it also gives them the opportunity to write about their trip, so they won’t forget a single detail once they’ve returned.
For more journal inspiration, check out my post including 25 awesome travel journals.
Save these South African gifts ideas
