From the wind-baked silhouettes of baobabs on the west coast to the wet fragrance of vanilla drying on racks in Sambava, Madagascar greets you with bold, immediate sensations.

In Antananarivo’s Analakely market the air is a chorus of bargaining voices, frying peanuts and clove smoke, while coastal stalls in Nosy Be display woven raffia bags beside piles of glossy spices; touch the fibres and you can almost feel the island’s seasons stitched into every thread.

Walk down a dusty highland lane and you’ll hear the soft twang of a kabosy being tuned, smell freshly split bamboo, and see lamba cloths folded like color-blocked landscapes.

For anyone hunting Madagascar souvenirs, those sensory details are the souvenirs themselves: layered, tactile, and utterly local. Here’s what to buy in Madagascar to bring a piece of its spirit back home.

1. Bourbon Vanilla Beans

Why pick this up:
Madagascar’s Sava region (Sambava, Antalaha) produces some of the world’s most aromatic Bourbon vanilla; the pods are perfumed, oily, and perfect for baking or steeping. Bringing home whole beans preserves that unmistakable floral, creamy scent that dried extracts can’t match.

What to look for:
Choose glossy, pliable pods with a strong perfume and oily sheen; avoid brittle or powdery beans which are past their prime. Ask vendors whether they’re “grade A” (thick, moist) and from Sambava or Antalaha for authenticity.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 20,000–120,000 per 50–100 g, depending on grade.

Where to find it:
Sambava and Antalaha markets in Sava, spice stalls in Nosy Be, and Marche Artisanal in Antananarivo.

2. Lamba (Traditional Wrap Cloth)

Why pick this up:
The lamba is a cultural emblem—worn at ceremonies, used as a baby sling, or hung as decoration—and comes in everything from simple cottons to handwoven silk blends. Its colors and patterns reflect regional identities and can feel like a wearable story of Madagascar.

What to look for:
Seek tightly woven cloth with vivid, naturally dyed patterns or hand-loomed textures labelled by region. For heirloom quality, look for silk or hand-loomed cotton from highland weavers in Fianarantsoa or Antananarivo.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 15,000–80,000 depending on material and complexity.

Where to find it:
Artisan stalls in Antananarivo’s Avenue de l’Indépendance, Fianarantsoa weaving shops, and regional markets.

3. Raffia Bags and Hats

Why pick this up:
Made from the island’s durable raffia palm, these lightweight bags and sun hats are both useful and beautifully textured, with patterns that echo coastal villages and Nosy Be’s beach stalls. They pack flat and age well with use.

What to look for:
Choose even, tight weaving and reinforced seams; look for natural dyes and traditional motifs that indicate handcrafting. Avoid perfectly uniform machine-made pieces—minor irregularities are signs of handmade quality.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 10,000–40,000 for small bags; larger totes Ar 30,000–80,000. Where to find it:
Coastal markets in Nosy Be and Toamasina, and craft sections of Analakely Market.

4. Zebu Horn Crafts

Why pick this up:
Zebu horn is turned into combs, bracelets, knife handles, and small bowls—each piece polished to a warm, marbled finish that feels ancient and modern at once. These objects reflect the zebu’s central role in Malagasy life.

What to look for:
Check for smooth finishing and secure fittings on items like jewelry or cutlery; ask if the horn is ethically sourced and finished with natural oils. Avoid items with uneven cracks or unstable mounts.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 8,000–60,000 depending on item size and craftsmanship.

Where to find it:
Antsirabe’s craft workshops, Ambatolampy markets, and artisan stalls across Antananarivo.

5. Kabosy (Miniature Malagasy Guitar)

Why pick this up:
The kabosy is a compact, boxy guitar integral to Malagasy music; its percussive, island-toned sound is a souvenir you can play. A small kabosy is both decorative and playable, evoking village music and seaside evenings.

What to look for:
Pick a kabosy with tight frets, a solid body and clear tuning pegs; short-scale travel versions are ideal for tourists. Ask the maker where the wood was sourced and listen briefly to its tone.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 120,000–600,000 for handmade instruments, depending on size and wood.

Where to find it:
Instrument makers in Antananarivo, boutique craft shops in Nosy Be, and artisan quarters in Antsirabe.

6. Cloves, Black Pepper, and Local Spices

Why pick this up:
Madagascar’s spice aromas—sharp cloves, fruity black pepper, and delicate cinnamon—are central to island cooking and make great gifts for home kitchens. They’re intensely fragrant and conjure memories of market stalls.

What to look for:
Buy whole spices in breathable paper or sealed packets; check for aroma and avoid damp, clumped goods. For pepper and cloves, ask for recent harvests from Toamasina or Sambava for the freshest flavour.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 5,000–25,000 per 50–200 g, depending on spice and grade.

Where to find it:
Spice stalls in Toamasina, Nosy Be markets, and the Marche Artisanal in Antananarivo.

7. Sapphires and Semi-Precious Stones

Why pick this up:
Ilakaka and the southern mines produce striking sapphires and colorful semi-precious stones, often in raw or cabochon form—perfect for bespoke jewelry or a geological keepsake. They tell the story of Madagascar’s mineral wealth and the boomtowns that grew around mining.

What to look for:
Buy from reputable dealers who provide provenance or a receipt; look for stones with even color and visible natural features. Avoid heavily heat-treated stones unless disclosed, and ask for a certificate for high-value purchases.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 50,000–1,500,000 depending on cut, carat and certification.

Where to find it:
Ilakaka gemstone markets, Antsirabe jewelers, and selected gemstone dealers in Antananarivo.

8. Hand-Carved Wooden Figurines (Sustainably Sourced)

Why pick this up:
Skilled carvers produce whimsical lemurs, zebu, and village scenes in locally available woods and coconut timber; these tactile sculptures capture Malagasy wildlife and daily life. They’re compact, story-rich souvenirs that work as mantelpiece conversation starters.

What to look for:
Prefer pieces labelled as made from sustainable timber or coconut wood and inspect joinery and hand-tool marks for authenticity. Avoid red or fragrant woods that may be illegally harvested—ask the seller about the wood’s origin.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 8,000–70,000 depending on size and detail.

Where to find it:
Craft markets in Nosy Be, the Marche Artisanal in Antananarivo, and artisan cooperatives in Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa.

9. Silver Filigree Jewelry

Why pick this up:
Delicate silver filigree work—necklaces, rings and earrings—echoes Malagasy motifs and is often set with local stones or seeds. These pieces balance everyday wearability with artisanal flair, making elegant gifts.

What to look for:
Look for hallmarks or fine soldering, and choose pieces with tight filigree work and secure settings for stones. Antsirabe is known for jewelry workshops; ask about sterling content if you care about purity.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 25,000–200,000 depending on weight and design.

Where to find it:
Antsirabe jewelers, artisan lanes in Antananarivo, and museum shops featuring craft cooperatives.

10. Sodina (Bamboo Flute)

Why pick this up:
The sodina is a simple, soulful bamboo flute whose breathy tone is woven into traditional Malagasy music; it’s light, portable, and invites you to learn a few island melodies. Playing one is a direct way to bring home sound as a souvenir.

What to look for:
Choose flutes with smooth mouthpieces and evenly bored holes for better tuning; higher-quality sodina are tuned to Western pitches or traditional scales. Check for tight bindings or sealed ends to ensure longevity.

Price bracket (2025):
Ar 20,000–120,000 depending on craftsmanship and tuning.

Where to find it:
Village instrument makers, music shops in Antananarivo, and craft markets in coastal towns.

Tip: When buying food or plant products like vanilla, pack them in carry-on and carry receipts to help with customs—ask for clear labeling at the stall before you leave ✈️

Local Shopping Culture & Traditions

Markets are central to Malagasy daily life: weekly “fokontany” markets, the sprawling Analakely market in Antananarivo, and coastal bazaars in Nosy Be and Toamasina offer different local rhythms.

Bargaining is common but courteous, start lower and meet halfway and artisans often work in family-run ateliers or cooperative villages around Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa and Sambava. Weekend craft markets and the Marche Artisanal on Avenue de l’Indépendance are reliable places to find a curated range of locally made goods.

Craft traditions draw from diverse Malagasy ethnic groups: the Merina highlands produce woven lambas, the Sakalava and Betsimisaraka coasts work raffia and shells, and the south’s Ilakaka region is known for sapphires.

Many villages maintain generational techniques, handlooming, horn turning, and filigree silverwork, so look for cooperatives that support artisan wages and traditional know-how.

How to Spot Genuine Local Souvenirs

Handmade items show small irregularities: uneven stitching in a raffia bag, slight tool marks on a carved figure, or asymmetry in a lamba’s weave—these are signs of craft, not flaws.

Ask about materials: genuine vanilla will be oily and perfumed, real raffia has a firm, fibrous texture, and authentic zebu horn has natural marbling.

For gemstones and high-value silver, request provenance, receipts or certificates; for wood items, ask for the species and whether it’s sustainably sourced to avoid illegal timbers.

When buying food, check packaging for recent harvest dates and dry, sealed containers to ensure freshness through travel.

Where to Shop in Madagascar

• Analakely Market and the Marche Artisanal (Avenue de l’Indépendance), Antananarivo.
• Sambava and Antalaha spice markets (Sava region) for vanilla and cloves.
• Nosy Be Market and coastal bazaars for raffia and beach crafts.
• Ilakaka gemstone district and Antsirabe jewelers for sapphires and silver.
• Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa artisan quarters, plus museum shops and airport gift shops for curated craft selections.
• Weekend maker markets and village cooperatives around Tamatave and the highlands.

FAQs

Q: Are souvenirs in Madagascar expensive?
A: Prices vary widely—local markets offer budget-friendly items (small crafts for Ar 5,000–20,000), while instruments, certified gemstones, and high-grade vanilla can run much higher. Haggling is normal and can significantly lower costs for non-fixed-price stalls.

Q: Is bargaining common in Madagascar?
A: Yes, especially in street markets and with independent artisans—start about 20–30% below the asking price and stay polite; fixed-price shops and museum stores expect no haggling.

Q: How do I know if food or plant souvenirs are allowed through customs?
A: Pack spices and dried goods in sealed, labelled packaging and keep receipts; check your home country’s import rules before travel and be ready to declare agricultural products at customs.

Explore Madagascar’s markets, meet the makers, and let the island’s textures and scents guide your shopping—Madagascar souvenirs are waiting to tell their stories.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other top ‘what to buy’ ideas!

About the Author

Colin is the founder of SouvenirsIdeas.com and a passionate traveller with a soft spot for ceramics, markets, and food tours. He writes practical, first-hand guides to help you bring home souvenirs that actually mean something — not just more clutter!