Our guide to Christmas presents
When it comes to giving the perfect gift it can be difficult to know where to start? Sentimental and homemade or lavish and expensive? Will it end up in a cupboard or re-gifted or will the recipient love it and think you are the best EVER! Here in the office we have our favourites! The marketing girls are fond of a tipple and you know that never ends up in a cupboard for long, so let’s start there!
Dreaming of your African sundowners and safaris long gone, look no further than adding a few stocking fillers with some of our favourite tipples. From Malawi Gin, which now comes in a special export bottle featuring an elephant logo and corked bottle it looks a lot more expensive than the $8 it costs and it tastes great too! To Amarula perfect for a sneaky spiked coffee or hot chocolate (the kids will never know) for the days when coffee alone just isn’t cutting it!
Secret santa swaps can be challenging, here are a few ideas that can help animal conservation whilst helping you conserve your opinions on Susan at the office!;
Pangolin Gin
Pangolin Gin made by the guys at Pangolin Safaris is a collaboration with Save Pangolins to spread awareness and raise funds for pangolin conservation. Through coastal heritage, this gin boasts an Australian focused seaside palette. Engineered for a classic martini, we find it best served dry with a twist and a throw.
Tribal Textiles
Of course is there anything more African than the colourful textiles the locals produce? With a few greats having clocked onto international shopping you can now buy anything from bed linen to special prints, napkins to table runners from the exquisite Tribal Textiles, displaying local talent and employment the company aims to empower the community with a workspace and gender equality. With health benefits to the workers and certain lines generating additional income to wildlife conservation projects everything bought here has a story behind it.
Mulberry Mongoose
Mulberry Mongoose is another special gift, for those looking to purchase jewellery look no further than the beautiful locally sourced and made designs by Mulberry Mongoose. From guinea fowl feathered earrings to local vegetable ivory bracelets. The real stars are the snare wire designs which make beauty from brutality, hammering snare wire found within the South Luangwa National Park into stunning pieces which have international fame! A percentage of all profits is given to the anti-poaching patrols in the valley which provides the animals invaluable protection!
Katundu
Much like tribal textiles Katundu in Likoma Island specialises in home furnishings made by the locals however these are all made by using washed up materials such as glass and driftwood. The stunning chandeliers can be seen in several luxury hotels in Africa but of course could also adorn your home anywhere in the world. The key here is sustainability in terms of the materials they use, employment and gender equality. The pieces of art they produce are both functional and fashionable and will easily be the talking point of your home this Christmas!
