Shipping Costs and Delivery Times
At BaobabMart, we ship authentic African products to customers in over 100 countries, and we’ve rebuilt how we do it.
Instead of sending every single order out of Africa as an individual express parcel, we now consolidate goods and move them in bulk into our regional warehouses.
From there, your order is dispatched locally by the carrier best suited to your address. The result is faster delivery on most in-stock items, lower shipping costs, and fewer customs surprises.
This guide explains our warehouses, our carriers, and the delivery time frames on BaobabMart, so you know exactly what to expect from the moment you place an order
How your order gets to you
Every BaobabMart order follows one of two routes:
1. Warehouse dispatch (most in-stock items): The product is already sitting in one of our regional warehouses. We pick, pack, and hand it to a local carrier, and it travels only domestically or regionally to reach you. This is the fastest and cheapest route.
2. Direct dispatch from origin (made-to-order and specialist items): Handcrafted pieces, custom-sized apparel, fresh-harvest foods, and bulk orders ship directly from our Douala facility in Cameroon.
The route that applies to your order is shown at checkout, along with the live price and estimated delivery date for your address.
Our warehouses
| Warehouse | Serves | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (HQ & UK hub) | United Kingdom, Ireland | UK orders ship domestically with Royal Mail and our express partners; no import formalities, no duty on arrival. |
| Belgium and Germany (EU hub) | European Union, Switzerland, and Norway | Goods are imported and cleared in bulk, so your parcel usually travels as a domestic or intra-EU delivery. No per-parcel import handling for EU addresses. |
| United States (US hub) | United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and all of South America. | Orders ship domestically within the US on USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Canadian orders cross one border instead of two continents. |
| Douala, Cameroon (origin facility) | The rest of the worldwide direct dispatch | Source facility where products are received from our farmers, artisans, and suppliers, quality-checked, and consolidated for export. |
Because we import in bulk rather than parcel by parcel, we absorb a large share of the freight cost that used to be passed on to customers. That is why our shipping rates dropped significantly compared with our early express-only days.
Our Shipping provider
We are no longer a single-carrier store. Depending on your destination, service level, and parcel size, your order may travel with any of the following:
| Carrier | Typically used for |
|---|---|
| DHL Express | International express worldwide, direct dispatch from Cameroon, time-critical and high-value orders |
| FedEx | International express and US domestic delivery, larger and heavier parcels |
| UPS | US and Canada domestic, EU cross-border delivery, tracked ground and express services |
| USPS | US domestic standard delivery, smaller and lighter parcels, PO Box and APO/FPO addresses |
| Royal Mail | United Kingdom final-mile delivery, tracked standard and next-day UK services |
We select the carrier that gives you the best combination of speed, price and reliability for your address. The carrier assigned to your order is confirmed in your dispatch email together with your tracking number.
Available services, prices and delivery estimates are always shown at checkout before you pay.
Processing time vs. delivery time
Your total wait = processing time + transit time. They are not the same thing.
- Processing time (warehouse stock): 1–2 working days
- Processing time (direct from Cameroon): 2–10 working days
- Processing time (handcrafted, custom-sized or made-to-order items): 3–14 working days, stated on the product page
Orders placed on weekends or public holidays begin processing on the next working day.
Delivery time frames on BaobabMart
Transit times below are working days after dispatch, and exclude weekends, public holidays and any delay at customs.
Shipped from our regional warehouses (in-stock items)
| Delivery destination | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1–3 working days | Next working day |
| Ireland | 2–4 working days | 1–2 working days |
| European Union | 2–5 working days | 1–3 working days |
| United States | 3–6 working days | 1–3 working days |
| Canada | 4–8 working days | 2–4 working days |
| Rest of Europe (non-EU) | 3–7 working days | 2–4 working days |
Shipped direct from Cameroon (made-to-order, bulk and specialist items)
| Delivery destination | Estimated delivery time |
|---|---|
| Cameroon | 1–2 working days |
| Other African countries | 3–7 working days |
| United Kingdom | 4–8 working days |
| Europe | 4–8 working days |
| United States | 5–9 working days |
| Canada | 5–10 working days |
| Asia | 6–12 working days |
| Australia & New Zealand | 6–12 working days |
| South America | 7–14 working days |
| Middle East | 5–10 working days |
Delivery Time Frames on BaobabMart
Oversized, heavy, and irregularly shaped shipments usually take longer than standard parcels because of the additional handling and freight arrangements involved.
Tracking your order
Every BaobabMart shipment is tracked, whichever carrier handles it.
- You receive a dispatch email with your carrier name and tracking number.
- Track directly on our Track My Order page, or in My Orders.
- You can also enter the number on the carrier’s own site: DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS or Royal Mail.
Tracking can take up to 24 hours to show its first scan after dispatch. If nothing appears after 48 hours, contact us.
Customs, duties and taxes
- Orders fulfilled from our UK, Belgium, Germany or US warehouse: goods have already been imported and cleared in bulk. Most customers pay no additional import duty on delivery, and UK customers pay none at all.
- Orders shipped direct from Cameroon: your country may charge customs duties, import VAT and/or carrier handling fees. These are set by your government, are not collected by BaobabMart, and are the responsibility of the recipient.
If you are unsure what applies to your country, contact us before ordering, and we will advise you on the likely cost.
Maximum weight
Orders up to 49 kg can be placed directly on the website. For orders over 50 kg, or shipments that fall outside standard dimension limits, we quote freight individually and confirm the exact price by email before anything ships. See our Bulk Purchase page to start a request.
Cash on delivery
Cash on delivery is not available at BaobabMart. All orders are paid for in full before dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which carrier will deliver my order? It depends on your destination and the service you choose at checkout. We work with DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS and Royal Mail, and confirm the assigned carrier in your dispatch email.
Can I request a specific carrier? In most cases, yes. Add a note at checkout or contact support before your order is dispatched, and we will accommodate the request where the route allows it.
Why do some items arrive faster than others? Items held in our UK, Belgium, Germany, or US warehouse ship locally and arrive in days. Handcrafted, custom, and fresh items ship directly from Cameroon and cross international borders first.
Will my order arrive in one parcel? Not always. If your order mixes warehouse stock with direct-dispatch items, it may ship in separate parcels with different tracking numbers and different arrival dates. You are only charged shipping once.
What if my package is delayed? Check your tracking first; most delays are short customs or carrier-scan gaps. If tracking has not updated for more than five working days, or your estimated delivery date has passed, contact our support team, and we will open an enquiry with the carrier on your behalf.
Are shipping costs refundable? Shipping costs are non-refundable unless you cancel before the order is dispatched, or the fault is ours. Full details are in our Refund and Returns Policy.
Do you deliver to PO Boxes? Yes, for USPS and Royal Mail services. Express carriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS require a physical street address and a contact phone number.
Contacting customer support
For any questions about shipping, tracking, or delivery:
- Ticket: open one on our support page
- Live chat: available on our website
- Phone: +237 651 598 005 / +44 7418 370155, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm
Choosing the right delivery option on BaobabMart comes down to where you are and how quickly you need your order. With regional warehouses and five carrier partners behind every shipment, you now get more choice, better prices, and delivery estimates you can plan around.
Thank you for shopping with BaobabMart. We hope you enjoy your purchase!