Harare Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Harare

Harare is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, located in the country's north-eastern Mashonaland region. Situated on the Highveld plateau at an elevation of 1,483 metres (4,865 feet), its highest point is the Harare Kopje, reaching 1,540 metres. The city experiences a subtropical highland climate. As the nation's primary hub for commerce, administration, finance, culture, and industry, the broader Harare Metropolitan Province incorporates the main city alongside surrounding municipal areas such as Chitungwiza, Epworth, Ruwa, Norton, and Mount Hampden.

The settlement was established in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the Pioneer Column, a military force organized by Cecil Rhodes for the British South Africa Company, and was named after British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury. It served as the seat of government for Southern Rhodesia and later functioned as the capital of the Central African Federation between 1953 and 1963. Following Zimbabwe's international recognition as an independent nation in 1980, the city was renamed Harare in 1982, taking its name from the Shona chief Neharawa.

Harare's downtown is characterized by wide streets displaying a mix of historic architecture, post-war developments, and modern skyscrapers. Prominent central landmarks include Africa Unity Square, Harare Gardens, the National Gallery, the National Archives, and tall structures like the Joina City Tower and the New Reserve Bank Tower. The Causeway sub-district houses key government ministries and the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, while functioning as a diplomatic center alongside the nearby neighborhood of Belgravia.

The city encompasses a wide range of districts, from high-density communities like Mbare and Highfield to northern and eastern suburbs such as Avondale, Mount Pleasant, Belgravia, and Borrowdale. The population is predominantly Shona-speaking, alongside Ndebele, Kalanga, white, and immigrant communities from across Africa and Europe. Harare has hosted major international events, including the 1995 All-Africa Games and matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and it is home to Dynamos FC, the most successful club in Zimbabwean football.