Harare

Harare

About Harare

Harare, the sunshine city and the capital of Zimbabwe is the best showcase of phenomenal art and craftwork. The magnificent landmarks make this city more famous among the masses.

Beautiful Harare Garden, the National Gallery, and the markets full of diverse cultures fascinate many travellers across the world. Harare also organizes several international sports, food festivals, and entertainment.

This incredible city is located so near to the natural world that visitors can explore its rich flora and fauna while on a Zimbabwe Safari.

harare TOURS AND SAFARIS

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Best time to visit

Best Time To Visit Harare includes the popular tourist seasons are either the spring (September- December) before the summer sets in, or in the summer (January-April) itself. Harare enjoys a steady climate throughout the year. Since it’s on an elevation, the months between June and August see some cold temperatures where it can drop to the single digits (Celsius).

Wildlife

Harare Wildlife, there are various places of interest to explore, such as the Botanical Gardens which have more than 900 species of trees and shrubs from all over the country.

What To Experience

Travel Guide For Harare

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Geographical Location

Harare lies in the northeast circuit of the country at an elevation of 1,483 meters (4,865 feet) and has a warm temperature climate. This is the largest city in Zimbabwe and also its administrative, commercial, and manufacturing centre.

Various suburbs surround the city retaining the same names colonial administrators gave them during the nineteenth century. Those are Warren Park "D," Borrowdale, Mount Pleasant, Marlborough, Tynwald, and Avondale.

Harare is the capital city of Zimbabwe, find here Harare Location on Zimbabwe Map along with know interesting facts about the city.

The weather and climate of Harare

Harare is situated on a highland plateau. High altitude and cool south-easterly airflow cause a climate that is cooler and drier than a tropical or subtropical climate.

The average annual temperature is 17.95 °C (64.3 °F). There are three main seasons recorded in the city.

  • The warm, wet summer runs between November and March/April.
  • A cool, dry winter that runs between May and August.
  • A warm, hot dry season that runs between September and October.

Source from Wikipedia

The average rainfall in Harare is about 825 mm (32.5 in) in the southwest and 855 mm (33.7 in) on the higher land of the northeast. From May to September, the rainfall rate slows down and you will see very little rain during this time.

The climate of Harare supports the natural vegetation. For example-

  • The most common tree, Msasa (Brachystegia Spiciformis) colours the city with a wine red colour with its new leaves in August.
  • The most famous and iconic tree Jacaranda distributes its purple colour everywhere on both sides of the street in October and November.
  • Another introduced species, Flamboyant, similarly decorates the city with its red colour blooms during October or November.

Best Time to Visit Harare

Harare is best visited during the month of April to August. The city experiences very little rain and most of the tourist sights get busy during this time of the year. Sightseeing is at its best and the temperature is quite comfortable.

During September and March, the temperature is quite warmer and there is frequent rain throughout the city. So, tourism is possible but not good like other months.

How To Get To Harare

By Air- The best way to get into Harare is the Harare Airport which is well-connected to domestic flights through Air Zimbabwe. Many international flights are also well-connected with this airport. They include-

  • South African Airways has direct flights from Johannesburg.
  • Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa.
  • Kenya Airways from Nairobi
  • TAAG Angola Airlines from Luanda.
  • Egypt Air from Cairo via Dar es Salaam.

Taxis are available to transport you to the hotel.

By Train- Transportation by train to Harare is also possible while on your Zimbabwe Safari Tours. Many domestic trains are running daily across the city.

Currently, there are no international trains available to Harare except occasional cruise trains.

By Road- Road transportation is also comfortable through buses, cars, and taxis. Buses are easily available from different cities to Harare.

  • The buses from Johannesburg are easily available and take around 16 to 24 hours. Some long-distance buses arrive at the Mbare Terminal, located 3 kilometres southwest of Central Harare.
  • The best option for travelling by road is taking an easier car. Fuel is easily available at most outlets through a coupon system.
  • You can also opt for a taxi to travel to Harare. At night, it costs around $5 for the entire cab while around $2 or $3 during the daytime.

Note: Remember that, you need to negotiate the price before you take a taxi in Harare.

Nature and Wildlife Areas in Harare

With rich culture and heritage, Harare is also a haven for its rewarding wildlife and scenic nature. The lush forests, off-the-beaten hills, and exotic wildlife make it a perfect place for safari and help to develop Zimbabwe Tourism. Here are the top most places to visit while on your trip to Harare.

1. Wild in Life Grand Zimbabwe:

The Wild is Life is a wildlife sanctuary it was established as an orphanage. It works to rescue wild animals and provide them with a place where they can move freely.

This has also an elephant nursery in it. You can go on a guided Zimbabwe Safaris and witness the animals wandering happily in their natural habitat.

Name: Wild in Life Grand Zimbabwe

Location: Mazowe Road, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: https://www.wildislife.org/

2. National Botanic Garden:

The Botanical Garden is home to about 500,000 varieties of plants. You will also witness many native plants here in this garden. It is situated 4 kilometres distance from the main city and spread around 58 hectares of area.

Many tropical plants, several woodlands, and various tree species can be found in the garden.

Name: National Botanic Gardens

Location: PO Box CY140, Causeway, Mashonaland East, Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/location-display.php?location_id=21

3. Domboshawa

Domboshawa is also recognized as red Rock, one of the most popular landmarks of Harare. This is a granite rock situated in the suburb of the city but not that far from the mainland.

This is a great place to see the spectacular views of the sunset. The rick is designed with lovely paintings and you can also explore caves in it. This is a perfect tourist place that you can visit with your family on your Safari To Zimbabwe.

Name : Domboshawa

Location: Domboshawa, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domboshava

4. Mukuvisi Woodland

Mukuvisi woodland is a wildlife treasure of Zimbabwe and has a vast open landscape where one can sight much African wildlife. While travelling, you can see many animals including rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and kudus along with various bird species.

This game reserve is the first proposed green belt of the country and offers amazing wildlife spectacles in its small size.

Name: Mukuvisi Woodland

Location: Glenara Avenue, Queensdale, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: http://www.mukuvisiwoodland.co.zw/

5. Thetford Game Reserve

The Thetford Game Reserve is located in the Mazowe Valley which is situated between Nande and Dikitira Hills. It spreads over an area of around 3,300 hectares and is one of the best places for an amazing experience.

This is a natural habitat for various animals and bird species in Zimbabwe and also donate privately for tourism conservation.

You will see a fabulous mixture of rich flora and fauna including impala, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, duiker, and so on.

Name: Thetford Game Reserve

Location: Mazowe Road, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: https://www.facebook.com/ThetfordGameReserve/

6. Lion & Cheetah Park & Snake World

This park is suitable for family safari and is very famous among all. It is located around 30 minutes from Harare and offers some of the best wildlife sightings.

You can see lions, zebras, impalas, deadly snakes, and many other animals here in this park. It is also famous for its 250-year Galapagos tortoise.

Name:Lion & Cheetah Park & Snake World

Located: Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Sites: https://www.myguidezimbabwe.com/travel-articles/lion-and-cheetah-park-and-snake-world-visit

7. Haka Game Park

This park is situated at the Cleveland Dam and offers views of some Giraffes and zebras along with around 250 bird species. This park is managed by the Harare City Council and is an excellent place for a safari.

Name: Haka Game Park

Location: Chinamano, Harare, Zimbabwe

Related Site: https://hakagamepark.co.zw/

Things to Do in Harare

Seems like heaven for the wondrous wildlife, Harare binds its visitors for days with many attractive things to do.

Knockerball Adrenaline Junkie Games- This is very interesting to play and fun to watch. This is a game of Bubble Soccer that can be played with safe.

Cost: 9,152.9 per group (up to 11)

Mukuvisi Woodlands Afternoon Electric Bicycle Tour and Sunset Picnic- A cycling tour in Mukuvisi woodlands is a perfect way to explore the nature and history of Harare. Take a guided cycling tour, go where you want, and do what you want.

Cost: 8,320.87 for 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Encounter the orphan wildlife and elephant herds in Wild is Life Trust- It is allowed for adults and teenagers from Tuesday to Saturday. These tours take place in the afternoon time from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

Cost: &70 for the afternoon

Harare Full-Day City Tour- A full-day city tour is a great way to know more about Harare and its attractions. This tour includes a visit to the National Galleries of Zimbabwean and the historical building Harvest House

Cost: $175 per adult per day

Zip-Line Experience in Heritage Adventure Park- This is a fun-filled game and gives a chance to admire the spectacular beauty of the park. You can feel the adrenaline as you travel along a zip line.

Cost: $8 per adult

If you are excited now, you can make us know about your interest. We will be delighted to help you by planning your Zimbabwe Safari Packages.

Highlights of Harare

Harare is home to some rewarding places that one should visit while on a Safari In Zimbabwe. Take a brief look at those-

The Eastgate Center- The Eastgate Center is a shopping centre and office block located in central Harare. This large-scale project combined ancient Zimbabwe technology, local material, and bio-inspired cooling methods to cool a large building mass.

Inspired by termite mounds, a ventilation system is incorporated that draws hot air through the chimney at the top of the structure.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe- This is a gallery located in Harare, Zimbabwe. It has a fabulous collection of European paintings along with traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean art.

The Gallery is officially opened in July 1957. It aims to conserve, research, and publish artwork collections for the education of present and future generations of Zimbabwe.

Love the Art? Then visit Zimbabwe with Our Guide And Responsibility and make sure you enjoy Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and heritage.

Mushandirapamwe Hotel- This is a hotel at Machipisa Shopping Center in the Highfield district. This is directed by the Tawengwa family. This is the first black-owned hotel built in 1972. This is a place with great liberation struggle memories.

Harvest House- This is a six-story building in Harare, located at 44 Nelson Mandela Ave and Angwa Street. It also works as the National Headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change party.

Rufaro Stadium- This is a multi-use stadium, generally used for football matches, and has a capacity of 35,000 people to gather in.

Now it’s time to Visit Harare!

Hopefully, you have got significant information about our colourful city Harare!

Whether you are a nature worshiper or a culture vulture, Harare has the best to offer you in its alluring gardens and museums. To feast your eyes with its charm, you have to fly to this beautiful country Zimbabwe.

We feel pleasure to provide our guests with safe and exciting adventures by organizing a memorable Zimbabwe Safaris. We are here to welcome you grandly!

best month to Visit Harare

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Peak

Low

Mixed

Harare in January

January is a rainy month and some camps and lodges are closed. The landscape is green and lush and with abundant water around, making animals hard to spot as they are dispersed in the bush. Birding is excellent during January, as well as the other rainy months, with all of the migratory species present.

Harare in February

February is low season in Zimbabwe – it’s rainy and wet, and it’s difficult to see wildlife because of the thick bush and abundance of natural water sources, but it is a perfect time for birdwatching. Some camps, lodges and park roads are closed. The water level in Zambezi is high, and so while Victoria Falls are in full dramatic flow, the amount of mist and spray can obscure the view.

Harare in March

March is hot, humid and rainy in Zimbabwe, with frequent afternoon thundershowers. It’s not an ideal time to see Zimbabwe Wildlife because of the thick foliage and abundant water for animals to drink, but it is a good month for birdwatching, as many migratory species are present in the country. The Zambezi River is in full flow, so Victoria Falls is at its most dramatic, although there’s a lot of spray which can make visibility difficult.

Harare in April

The rains are coming to an end and skies turn blue in April, a month when the lodges and camps that have been closed for the rainy season usually re-open. Mana Pools National Park also re-opens after closure since the end of November. This is the last month of summer for excellent birdwatching.

Harare in May

Mild weathered May is the first of Zimbabwe’s dry winter months and by the middle of the month, the visibility in the bush starts to improve as the grass begins to thin. Natural pans have not yet dried up which means animals can still be hard to spot.

Harare in June

Temperatures drop in June, so pack warm clothes for early mornings and night game drives as the evenings can be very chilly. As the landscape dries, animals start to move to waterholes to drink, which makes wildlife viewing easier.

Harare in July

July is the first month of Zimbabwe’s peak season. Daytime temperatures are mild (although nights in some places can be freezing), wildlife viewing is excellent, and it’s a great time to do white-water rafting and canoe safaris.

Harare in August

August is an excellent time to travel to Zimbabwe, as days are sunny, daytime temperatures are mild (dropping down to below 10C at night), and wildlife viewing is at its prime. It’s one of the busiest months of the year so be sure to book all your accommodation in advance.

Harare in September

Temperatures start to warm up in September, another dry month and an excellent time to go on a wildlife safari. This month the annual game count in Hwange National Park takes place, and for a totally different wildlife experience you can volunteer to take part in the census, helping the park rangers to count animals in the reserve.

Harare in October

Nicknamed “Suicide Month” for its brutally hot temperatures, October is the hottest month of the year, with day time temperatures sometimes peaking above 40C. It’s the last month of the dry season, so wildlife viewing is at its best, and it’s the ideal time to see huge herds of elephant in Hwange National Park.

Harare in November

This month usually sees the start of the rains, which come as sudden thundershowers in the afternoons – a welcome relief from the intense heat. It’s a good month for birdwatching as the migratory species arrive with the rains.

Harare in December

December means summer rain in Zimbabwe. It’s not an ideal time to visit for wildlife viewing, and Mana Pools National Park as well as roads in some other parks are closed. However, if you’re a birdwatcher, it’s a fantastic time to visit to see hundreds of migratory species.

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