Harare

Zimbabwe's jacaranda-lined capital, famous worldwide for Shona stone sculpture, with wildlife woodlands, Domboshava rock art and Lake Chivero on its outskirts.

Harare is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, set on the northeastern plateau at about 1,490 m above sea level; in colonial times it was called Salisbury. Thanks to its altitude it enjoys a mild climate all year and is nicknamed the "Sunshine City". Every September and October, thousands of jacaranda trees lining the streets bloom at once, turning the whole city purple. Harare itself doesn't have a dense cluster of sights, but it is renowned for Shona stone sculpture: the National Gallery, Chapungu Sculpture Park and the sculpture workshops on the city's edge showcase Zimbabwe's finest contemporary stone carving. In the city you can visit the National Gallery, Harare Gardens, the Kopje viewpoint, National Heroes' Acre and Mbare Market. East of the centre, Mukuvisi Woodlands and the Wild is Life sanctuary offer close encounters with giraffes, zebras and rescued wildlife; Domboshava, 30 km north, has ancient rock paintings and beautiful sunsets, and to the southwest Lake Chivero Recreational Park is good for self-drive viewing of rhinos and antelopes. April to October is the dry season and the best time to visit; from November to March the rainy season brings frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Getting there: Harare International Airport has flights to Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Dubai and elsewhere, with onward connections to Victoria Falls. Public transport in the city is mainly minibuses, so visitors are better off hiring a car with driver or using a ride-hailing app. Allow 2–3 days. Note: the economic situation is volatile; US dollar cash is widely accepted but carry small notes. Avoid walking at night, and photographing government buildings, soldiers or police can get you into trouble.

Top sights

• National Gallery of Zimbabwe – A national gallery showcasing modern Shona stone sculpture and contemporary African art. Its garden is filled with stone carvings, making i…
• Domboshava – A giant granite dome north of Harare. Climb the smooth summit for a sunset view, and see San rock paintings thousands of years old in the c…
• Chapungu Sculpture Park – An open-air art park in eastern Harare displaying hundreds of Shona stone sculptures, often with artists working on-site, where works can b…
• Mukuvisi Woodlands – A natural miombo woodland reserve on the edge of the city where you can walk or go horseback safaris to see giraffes, zebras and antelopes…
• Wild Is Life – A wildlife rescue centre near the airport that requires advance booking for an afternoon-tea visit, where you can meet rescued elephant orp…
• Lake Chivero Recreational Park – A reservoir lake and wildlife area about 35 km southwest of Harare, where you can drive in to see rhinos and giraffes, visit rock-art sites…
• Mbare Musika – Harare's largest and oldest market and long-distance bus station, lined with stalls selling produce, second-hand clothes, crafts and herbs…
• National Heroes' Acre – An independence war memorial designed and built with North Korean assistance, featuring a giant unknown soldier statue, relief walls and an…
• Epworth Balancing Rocks – A cluster of granite balancing boulders on the southeastern outskirts of Harare, where huge rocks are stacked in layers as if about to topp…
• Harare Gardens – The largest park in the city centre, next to the National Gallery. In September and October, jacaranda trees bloom and turn the park purple…
• Harare Kopje – A small rocky hill southwest of the city centre, where the city began. The summit offers views over the Harare skyline and is best at sunse…
• Eastgate Centre – A landmark building designed on the principles of termite mounds, requiring almost no air conditioning. It is a must-see for architecture e…
• National Botanic Garden – A botanical garden with plantings organised by Zimbabwean and southern African habitats. Its shaded paths are peaceful and it is a good spo…
• Lion and Cheetah Park – A private wildlife park on the way to Lake Chivero, where you can drive into the lion enclosure for close views and feeding sessions. There…
• Ewanrigg Botanical Garden – A dryland botanical garden about 40 km northeast of the city, known for its large stands of aloes and cycads, which turn a sea of orange-re…
• Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences – Formerly the Queen Victoria Museum, this institution displays archaeological, ethnographic and natural history collections. It is a good pl…
• Haka Game Park – A small municipal wildlife reserve about 15 km east of the city, where you can see zebras, giraffes and antelopes by car or bicycle. It is…
• Chinhoyi Caves – A limestone cave system about 115 km northwest of Harare, with an underground 'Sleeping Pool' of cobalt-blue water. It is a popular diving…

Where to eat

• Gavas Restaurant – One of Harare's most highly rated traditional Zimbabwean restaurants, with garden dining and live local bands on weeken…
• Garwe Restaurant – A long-established traditional restaurant in Eastlea where staff recite the menu. Try sadza, guinea fowl and mopane wor…
• Paula's Place – A Portuguese-style restaurant opened in 2011, with charcoal-grilled piri-piri chicken and Mozambican prawns as its sign…
• Amanzi Restaurant – A fusion restaurant in a four-acre tropical garden at Amanzi Lodge, ideal for formal dinners and celebrations.

Itineraries

• Zimbabwe Heritage & Wildlife Grand Loop – Head south from Harare to Great Zimbabwe and Matobo, fly to Victoria Falls, and enter Hwange to see elephant herds.
• Lake Kariba Houseboat & Matusadona – Head north from Harare to Kariba, spend three nights on a houseboat, and cruise along the lakeshore to spot elephant he…