🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

10 best places in Harare

Harare is Zimbabwe's leafy high-plateau capital, a city of wide jacaranda-lined avenues, world-famous Shona stone sculpture, and one of southern Africa's finest botanic gardens.

Museum

National Gallery of Zimbabwe

The country's leading art gallery, which helped bring Shona sculpture to global fame, with rotating exhibitions.

Museum

Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences

A natural history museum with collections spanning archaeology, ethnography, and the country's wildlife.

Park

Harare Gardens

The city's central park, with a rose garden, bandstand, and shaded walkways beloved by residents.

Park

National Botanic Garden

One of the region's richest botanic gardens, showcasing indigenous trees and southern African flora.

Market

Mbare Musika Market

The capital's largest, most colorful market, ranging from fresh produce to renowned Shona stone carvings.

District

First Street Mall

A pedestrian shopping street in the city center, lined with shops, street vendors, and cafés.

Sight

Epworth Balancing Rocks

Strange granite boulders on the city's outskirts, precariously stacked atop one another, a natural emblem of Zimbabwe.

Sight

Chapungu Sculpture Park

An open-air park displaying monumental Shona stone sculpture amid gardens and ponds.

Café

Cafe Nush

A popular central Harare café known for fresh pastries and good coffee, loved by locals and visitors alike.

Restaurant

Amanzi Restaurant

An elegant garden restaurant in Borrowdale, considered one of the city's best for open-air dining.

FAQ

Is Harare safe?

The centre and suburbs like Borrowdale are usually fine in daylight, but people do not walk after dark and do not display valuables. The main risk is street theft and scams rather than violence aimed at visitors. Give political rallies and any large gathering a wide berth.

What money should you bring to Zimbabwe?

US dollars in cash are the practical answer: they circulate widely, while the local currency has been reworked more than once in recent years. Card acceptance is limited and ATMs and exchange can be patchy, so bring clean notes in a mix of denominations. Zimbabwe's monetary situation shifts quickly, so check how things stand shortly before you travel.

How many days do you need in Harare?

One or two: the National Gallery, the Museum of Human Sciences, Harare Gardens, the National Botanic Garden and Mbare Musika market. More often Harare is a transit point on the way to Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe or the national parks. Power cuts can run long, so a hotel with a generator is not a luxury.

Should you move to Zimbabwe?

For most people, no. The economy is unstable, inflation is high, and there is no investment residency programme of the kind other countries offer. People who do move come for work, family or a farming or tourism business, almost always with local partners. Permit conditions change, so budget for advice from a local lawyer.