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Voykit pocket guide · Zimbabwe
Harare
Give Harare 1–2 nights as a gateway: galleries, markets and a garden-suburb meal, then move on to Victoria Falls or Hwange.
Harare is Zimbabwe's capital and its main international gateway, sitting at about 1,480 m on the highveld with a mild climate all year. It is a spread-out city of garden suburbs, museums and a growing gallery and food scene rather than a big-sight destination. Most travellers use it for a night or two at the start or end of a Zimbabwe trip, or as a base for a day trip to Chinhoyi Caves.
- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rains, hot and humid)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- US dollars are widely used; the local currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG, since April 2024), trades around 26–27 per US$ in 2026 and rules change often, so check before you travel.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$40–70 excl. bed · Mid US$70–140 excl. bed · High US$140+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Econet and NetOne sell SIMs with passport registration; Econet has wider coverage.
- Emergency
- Police 995 · Ambulance 994 · Fire 993
- Plugs
- Types D, G · 220–240 V · 50 Hz · UK-style G is common; power cuts happen, so carry a power bank.
- Tipping
- Safari guide: US$10–20 per guest per day.; Camp staff: US$10 per guest per day in the communal box.; Restaurant: 10%.; Transfer driver: US$5.
- Water
- Treated tap water in Victoria Falls hotels; elsewhere drink bottled or filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets at hotels and lodges; few public facilities on the road.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or soft drink | US$1–3 |
| Sadza and meat main | US$6–15 |
| Restaurant dinner, mid-range | US$15–30 |
| Local beer (Castle, Lion, Zambezi) | US$1–3 |
| App taxi across town | US$2–5 |
| Minibus fare | About US$0.50 |
| Museum or gallery entry | US$5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HRE · Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the centre; fixed taxi fare to town around US$25About 9.3 mi (15 km) south of the centre; fixed taxi fare to town around US$25
Typical fares
- Airport → city centre, taxi
- about US$25 fixed
- App taxi across town
- US$2–5
- Minibus fare
- about US$0.50
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Harare is spread out and a car or app taxi is the practical way to move. inDrive and Hwindi are the common apps; short daytime hops run about US$2–3 and night rides about US$5. Minibus taxis cost about US$0.50 but are crowded and confusing for a short visit. Fuel is widely available; most stations close in the evening.
See and do
Known for
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Shona stone sculpture
- Mbare Musika market
- Mukuvisi Woodlands
- Balancing Rocks at Epworth
- Sadza and braai food
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chinhoyi Caves | Drive the A1 northwest, about 115 km (71 mi)Drive the A1 northwest, about 71 mi (115 km) | About 1 h 30 min each way |
| Mukuvisi Woodlands | Car or taxi to Hillside Road, Glenara Avenue South | About 20 min |
| National Heroes Acre | Car or taxi on the Bulawayo road, southwest of the centre | About 30 min |
| Epworth Balancing Rocks | Car or taxi on Chiremba Road, about 10 km (6.2 mi) southeastCar or taxi on Chiremba Road, about 6.2 mi (10 km) southeast | About 25 min |
Sleep
- City centre (CBD)
- Walkable to the National Gallery, Eastgate and Joina City; quiet at night, use app taxis after dark.
- Avondale
- Cafés, the market and guesthouses in old gardens; 10–15 min by car from the centre.
- Borrowdale and Mount Pleasant
- Upmarket malls, lodges and restaurants; best if you have a car or driver.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Mhoromhoro |
| Thank you | Ndatendandatenda |
| How much is it? | Imarii?imarii |
| Where is the toilet? | Chimbuzi chiri kupi?chimbuzi chiri kupi |
| I would like this one | Ndinoda iyindinoda iyi |
| Can I pay by card? | Ndinogona kubhadhara nekadhi here?ndinogona kubhadhara nekadhi here |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet and ask about family before business; avoid: Rushing
- Elders: Lower your eyes slightly and use both hands to give or receive; avoid: Pointing at people
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Opinions on the government in public
- Dress: Modest dress in towns and villages; avoid: Camouflage prints
Scams and watch-outs
- Agree the taxi fare before you get in if you are not using an app.
- Keep bags out of sight and avoid walking in the CBD after dark.
- Carry small US dollar notes; change is often short.
- Police roadblocks are common on intercity roads: keep your licence and papers handy.
- Card payment is patchy outside big hotels and malls: carry cash.
Harare is generally calm by day, but street crime happens in busy areas. Use app taxis after dark, keep phones and bags out of sight, and carry small US dollar notes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Harare yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Shona stone sculpture
- Mbare Musika market
- Mukuvisi Woodlands
- Balancing Rocks at Epworth
- Sadza and braai food
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority: www.zimbabwetourism.net/
- Wikivoyage: Harare, revision 5310005 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5310005
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Harare
Kune iyi adhiresi, ndapota
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US embassy is in Harare; most other countries keep embassies here too. Check your own embassy's address and hours before you travel.
US dollars are used in practice; Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) is the local currency. Carry small notes.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/harare). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.