Harare
Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe.
Harare is home to some two million people, with most in central Harare but some 500,000 in the surrounding districts of Rural Harare, Chintungwiza and Epworth. Once a city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it suffered from increasing disrepair thanks to Zimbabwe's economic downward spiral. However, there has been improvement since the adoption the US dollar as Zimbabwe's currency has facilitated some investments.
Get in
By plane
Harare's airport is the major gateway for flights into the country. Air Zimbabwe also operated a small network of domestic flights before ceasing operations. However, an increasing number of foreign airlines are flying into Harare these days. They include South African Airways with direct flights from Johannesburg. Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways from Nairobi, TAAG Angola Airlines from Luanda and Egypt Air from Cairo via Dar es Salaam and KLM from Amsterdam.
Taxis from the airport to the main hotels cost $25. This exhorbitant fixed price, given the relatively short distance and great age of the taxis, is attributed by the drivers to the high fees that they have to pay to the airport authority.
By train
Bulawayo has departures three times a week at 20:00, arriving next morning around 08:00. $12 for a sleeper and $10 for a seat. Trains from Mutare, at the border with Mozambique, run three times a week departing Mutare also at 21:00, arrival time in Harare is early morning at 18:00. $7 for 1st class sleeper. $5 for 2nd class sleeper. There are no international trains to Harare except occasional cruise trains.
- 1 Harare railway station, Kenneth Kaunda Ave (Just south of the city centre.).
By car
The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe has deteriorated dramatically since the government has failed to maintain them. Most of the country is now without street lights. The main highways are still in a good state of repair outside of the cities: traffic is so light now that damage from trucks is minimal.
A good road from Johannesburg allows easy access. However, be careful of the sometimes frightening drops at the side of the roads, at the edge of the tarmac, particularly with oncoming trucks at night. Driving at is not advised.
You should be all right without a 4x4 unless you head into rural areas and game parks. If you enter from South Africa, ensure that your insurance waiver is valid for Zimbabwe.
By bus
Buses from Johannesburg are easily available ranging from Eagle Liner (for R330). Greyhound (for R450) and Intercape (R420). The bus takes between 16-24 hours. Delays at the border are very common and typically range 3-8 hr, but they can be as much as 20 hr at Christmas time. Intercape, which has the largest intercity network in southern Africa also have buses from Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, and Bulawayo.
Most ordinary long-distance bus services arrive at the Mbare Terminal, 3 km southwest of the Central district. The terminal itself is giant, hectic, confusing, and dangerous. There are several disconnected regions of the terminal, and finding something as simple as a taxi can require walking over 500 m through markets and alleys. Although minibuses to Mbare depart from the 4th Street Terminal in Central (at 4th and Mugabe), it may be worth taking a taxi, which will be able to find a bus to your destination for you.
"Luxury" buses (including Eagle Liner/Greyhound/Intercape) arrive and depart from the modern Roadport terminal at 5th & Mugabe.
Get around
Harare is very spread out. The best option to get around is by car, which is easier now that dollarization has made fuel shortages a thing of the past. Fuel is readily available at most outlets for cash or through a coupon system. Most operators now import fuel by themselves and prices are independently set. Most service stations close in the evening, while some offer 24-hour service.
Taxis: in 4+1 style taxis, it is very common to fit as many as 8 people inside. Rides around town should cost about $5 for the entire cab at night, typically $2 or $3 during the day, unless you are going to the suburbs. Make sure you negotiate the price before you get inside the car
Minibus taxis are readily available with frequent services between central and all suburbs. Ask around for the terminal for your destination. Typically the fare is about $0.50.
See
There is a strong appreciation for the city's cultural and historical heritage and a number of the older buildings have been preserved. The Mining Pension Fund Building at Central Avenue and Second Street is one example and many more are to be found along Robert Mugabe Road between Second Street and Julius Nyerere Way.
- 1 National Heroes Arc.
- 2 Harare City Library. Formerly the Queen Victoria Memorial Library.
- 3 The Kopje. A granite hill rising above the southwest corner of central Harare, is a great place to go for views of the city.
Museums
- 4 National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Houses not only a valuable and interesting national collection but also hosts travelling international exhibitions and has a permanent display of some outstanding Shona soft-stone carvings.
- 5 Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, Burnett Way. Formerly the Queen Victoria Museum.
- 6 National Archives. Houses a priceless collection of Rhodesiana and Africana in the form of diaries, notebooks and reports of various origins. Some of the original works of some of the greatest names in African exploration and missionary can be viewed.
- 7 Chapungu Sculpture Park. The vast number of rocks of black serpentine stone found around Zimbabwe, and noticeable even as you drive in from the airport, have encouraged the development of stone carvings by Zimbabwe's talented artists. This large area has exhibitions by numerous artists.
Churches
Parks
- 10 National Botanic Garden, Sandringham Dr. 68ha and hosts more than 900 species of wild trees and shrubs from all over the country.
- 11 Mukuvisi Woodlands, Hillside Rd, ☏ +263 4 747 111. 277 hectares of remarkably preserved natural woodland that straddles the banks of the small Mukuvisi stream. A variety of bird and of wild animal species such as giraffe, zebra, impala, tsessche, wildebeest, bushbuck, steenbuck, reed buck and eland can be viewed.
- 12 Harare Gardens (downtown next to Monomotapa Hotel), ☏ +263 779195967. This is a spacious park downtown with a swimming pool and outdoor theater, but it is rather unkempt and unsafe, sadly. (different than the botanical gardens).
- 13 Wild Is Life (out in Epworth just south of Robert Mugabe Airport), ☏ +263 779949821. 15:30-18:30. Wildlife orphanage and rehabilitation center with resident elephants, giraffes, pangolins, hyenas and lions, among other animals. Guided tours.
- 14 Haka Camp Game Park (about 13 km east of downtown via A5 and Mutare Rd), ☏ +263 773343310. 6:00-18:00. Game park with various indigenous wildlife represented, particularly ungulate-types, as well as horseback riding.
Do
- 1 Epworth Balancing Rocks, Chiremba Rd, Epworth (10 km southwest of Central; look for the signs on the left; 4th Street Terminal has frequent minibus services (the driver will know where to let you out)). 10:00-17:00. A famous balancing rocks formation is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southeast of Harare, off the Chiremba Road. These rocks achieved fame when they were featured prominently in the design of Zimbabwe's bank notes. Be careful of your personal safety inside the park. $2 to $10.
Buy
All purchases in larger stores are made with US dollars, which is the national currency.
Anything made locally is inexpensive. Packets of Zimbabwe cigarettes cost $0.50 (as of April 2010). Everything that is imported is relatively expensive compared to South Africa. Cans of Coca-cola typically cost $1, for example.
If you want to experience shopping the way it is traditionally done in many African countries, you could stroll around at the open flea-market at Mbare. Here tourists could feast their eyes on a colourful array of baskets, food, clothing and other items.
ATMs give US dollars. The ATMs at Ecobank, Stanbic, and Standard Chartered banks will accept most international Visa or Mastercards.
- 1 Eastgate Centre, Robert Mugabe Rd. One of the largest shopping malls in Harare, centrally located.
- 2 Joina City, ☏ +263 242772655. 07:00-22:00 daily. Harare's very modern shopping mall, capped with a skyscraper.
Supermarkets
- Spar Supermarkets. There are 64 Spar stores all over Zimbabwe.
- TM-Pick N Pay Supermarkers. There are over 50 TM-Pick N Pay stores all over Zimbabwe.
- OK Supermarkets. There are over 50 OK stores in Zimbabwe.
Eat
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Note: More than twenty people are dead due to a 2018 cholera outbreak; restrictions are being placed on the sale of meat and fish from vendors in affected areas. Avoid large gatherings and contaminated water supplies. |
Zimbabwe's staple food is Sadza: a thick white porridge (a bit like mashed potato), that's made from corn (maize) meal. It's eaten at every meal, accompanied by vegetables or meat in some form.
In Harare there are many westernised restaurants serving European or American style food, but far more exciting are the outdoor cafes:
- Cafe espresso on Cork Road, Avondale. Has a brilliantly landscaped garden, a wifi spot and excellent coffees
- 40 Cork Road, Avondale. An outdoor cafe, art gallery, and sculpture garden. Very much the place to be seen.
- 167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite. An old house converted into a restaurant with a huge garden with a pool, an art shop, gallery etc.
With the dollarisation of the economy, there has been a big increase in the number of restaurants and coffee shops in Harare. The Zimbabwe Tourism website has also been upgraded.
- 1 Amanzi Restaurant, 158 Enterprise Road, Highlands, ☏ +263 4 497768, +263 912 336 224, restaurant@amanzi.co.zw. Generally considered Harare's best restaurant, Amanzi is a long ($10-15 each way) drive out of town into the upmarket suburbs but worth it. A booking is essential, or you probably will not get past the gatekeeper.
- 2 Coimbra, 61 Selous Avenue, corner 7th St ($5 taxi ride from the main hotels), ☏ +263-4-700237, coimbra@zol.co.zw. This Portuguese restaurant has invested little in the decor but that is no problem. You go for the food, not the wall decorations, and the food is very good. Quick Service. Half a chicken and chips only $10. $25.
Drink
Try Chibuku, a popular local beer. It comes in "scuds", which are large 2 litre brown plastic containers. The beer is lumpy and opaque beige, but is good and very cheap.
Shake-shake is prepackaged sorghum beer (brewed in the traditional African style) and is very thick and filling, and comes in milk cartons.
The locally brewed Castle, Lion, Zambesi and Bohlingers are definitely worth trying.
Harare has a vibrant club scene that goes on until the early hours.
- 1 On The Roof Bar (3 blocks north of Harare Gardens on Mazowe Street). offers an open-air social environment for relaxing.
- Beverlino Restaurant, 100 Nelson Mandela Corner Fourth/Nelson Mandela (Opposite Quality International Hotel), ☏ +263 4 704741. Well known for its baskets, offer a wide range of food and beverages. Wherever, you are in town, the warm savoury food will be brought to your door.
Sleep
The city boasts an internationally recognized 5-star hotel (the Meikles Hotel), but also has a significant number of three to four star hotels that offer affordable accommodation without compromising on quality. These include the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa, the Cresta Lodge and the Holiday Inn.
There is only one cheap backpackers lodge. Harare also has quite a number of bed and breakfast/guest houses, mostly set in former residential houses with extensive gardens.
Budget
- Small World Backpackers Lodge, Five avenue and Ninth street in down town Harare. and At the corner of Ridge and Argyle in Avondale. It costs $12 per person in the dorm and $7 per person camping. some private rooms are available. $7/$12.
Mid-range
- Bowood Lodge, est House, 8, ☏ +263 430 4613, info@bowoodlodge.net. Gu Bowood Road, Mount Pleasant, North Harare, has 4 double rooms. It is set in beautiful grounds and has internet and a pool. Very peaceful. Costs are around $75 per night for bed & breakfast. Evening meals are also available.
- Cresta Oasis, Nelson Mandela Way, ☏ +263 1 790861, fax: +263 1 790865. Three-star hotel just to the east of the Central Business District (walkable during the day, not advisable at night). Around $100.
- Simba Harare, est House, 522, ☏ +263 77 4647549, simbaharare@accomodation-harare.dk. Gu Westgate, New Adyllin, North Harare, has 8 double rooms, and a large swimming pool. Own water supply (borehole) and el (Solar energy). Internet. Safe. Costs are from $20 per night (cabin) to $50 (Main House) for bed & breakfast.Larger groups have been accommodated. Airport pickup arranged per request.
Splurge
- 1 Crowne Plaza Monomotapa, 54 Park Ln (Nnrthwest corner of the Central Business District), ☏ +263 4 70451230, fax: +263-4-791920. Backing onto the Harare Gardens park, this moon-shaped hotel provides comfortable accommodation. $120+.
- 2 Holiday Inn, Samora Machel Ave, ☏ +263 4 795611, fax: +263-4-738956. $120+.
- 3 Meikles Hotel, Jason Moyo Avenue (Next to Africa Unity Square), ☏ +263 4 7077219, marketing@meikles.com. Despite the problems experienced in Zimbabwe, Meikles has managed to maintain its standards as one of Africa's best hotels. All the usual amenities and excellent service. Prices start at $200 per night.
Connect
WiFi is available around the city provided by private from as little one as USD 1.
Cope
Harare is safe however walking around the town after dark should be avoided and especially in poorly light area. If you leave your hotel to visit restaurants, take a taxi if you think otherwise.
