Harare
Zimbabwe's capital on the highveld, close to 1,500 metres up, with jacaranda avenues, a national gallery of stone sculpture and an airport open day and night.
- Arrival
- Robert Gabriel Mugabe International · HRE
- To the city
- About 13 km south-south-east of the centre
- Private jets
- Into HRE, open 24 hours
- Best time
- April to October
The city
Jacarandas on the highveld.
The Pioneer Column raised Fort Salisbury here in September 1890; the city took the name Harare in April 1982, two years after independence. It stands close to 1,500 metres above the sea, high enough that even October, the hottest month, peaks at 29 °C. In the centre, the Meikles hotel has faced Africa Unity Square since 1915.
In October and November the jacarandas, planted street by street in the colonial era, turn whole avenues lilac. Come in the dry months, April to October; from November the afternoons bring heavy storms, close to 200 mm a month by midsummer.
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe The country's collection of Shona stone sculpture and painting, in the city centre.
- Mukuvisi Woodlands Some 263 hectares of msasa and miombo woodland inside the city, where zebra and giraffe graze.
- Domboshava A national monument of granite outcrops just outside Harare, popular for the view at the end of the day.
Arriving
Thirteen kilometres to the square.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International lies south-south-east of the city, thirteen kilometres from the centre. It is the long-haul gateway to Zimbabwe and the starting point for light aircraft to Kariba and the Zambezi valley.
- Johannesburg 1 h 35
- Kigali 2 h 40
- Cape Town 3 h 10
- Mauritius 4 h 00
- Frankfurt 10 h 25 long-range jet
When to go
April to October.
Altitude keeps Harare mild. The rains fall from November to March; from May to September hardly any rain falls, and June and July bring dry days of 21 to 22 °C. September and October warm up before the first storms.
- 26° J 209
- 26° F 181
- 26° M 116
- 25° A 44
- 23° M 8
- 22° J 2
- 21° J 2
- 24° A 2
- 27° S 6
- 29° O 38
- 28° N 100
- 26° D 179
Where to stay
Around Africa Unity Square.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Where to book in Harare.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Zimbabwe. These are two of the best rated upscale tables in Harare on Google and Tripadvisor.
- Victoria 22 Rated 4.5 on Google African and European $$$$ Newlands
- Khaya Nyama Wombles Rated 4.7 on Google Steakhouse Harare
Elsewhere in Zimbabwe
More reasons to come.
Flying to Harare?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.