Last call for Zambian crafts in Terminal 1
Prices here run higher than Lusaka’s town markets, but Gifts and Crafts Store in Terminal 1 is the final stop for Zambian souvenirs before you clear your LUN departure gate. It sits airside in T1, so this is post-security shopping for outbound flights. Think carved wooden animals, small paintings, and patterned textiles aimed squarely at safari and Victoria Falls travelers flying out.
Most items are fixed-price, and you’ll see the same style of wooden giraffes and elephants that go for less at Kabwata Cultural Village or malls in town. Figure on paying a noticeable markup for anything larger than a fridge magnet or keyring. Stock leans on hand-carved pieces, small fabric items, and a few generic travel gifts, with most prices labeled in kwacha and sometimes in USD.
Regulars who pass through LUN a few times a year usually buy their big art and textiles in Lusaka, then use this shop only for last-minute gaps: an extra carved hippo, a couple of beaded bracelets, or a gift for someone they forgot. That approach lines up with guidebook advice that calls airport duty‑free and craft outlets “expensive” compared with town options, especially for big masks or large bowls.
Watch out for oversized carvings or bowls here; they cost more and are harder to pack into overhead bins on narrow‑body flights like the 737s and A319s that often run regional routes from LUN. If you want something small as a token gift, walk through once, pick one item under your mental price cap, then head to your gate rather than browsing until boarding is called.