National Heroes Acre

Located on a scenic ridge seven kilometres from Harare toward Norton, National Heroes Acre is a 23-hectare national monument and burial ground built to honor Patriotic Front guerrillas from the Rhodesian Bush War and dedicated contemporary Zimbabweans. When you visit, you will encounter striking architecture designed by Zimbabwean and North Korean artists—the monument itself is uniquely modeled after two back-to-back AK-47 rifles, with graves shaped to resemble their magazines. As you explore the site, you can view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which features a bronze statue of three guerrillas, a flagpole, and an ornate artifice honoring unidentified fallen fighters.

Flanking the monument, two extensive wall murals trace Zimbabwe's rich history from pre-colonial times through the anti-colonial struggle and independence. At the site's highest point sits a forty-metre tower topped by the Eternal Flame, which has burned since 1982 and can be seen from Harare. Near the entrance, you can browse a museum showcasing war artifacts, historical photographs, and documents detailing the rise of African nationalism.

It offers a distinct, solemn look into the nation's struggle for independence.

What to see at National Heroes Acre

• Monument design modeled after two back-to-back AK-47 rifles built with Mutoko black granite
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier featuring a bronze statue of three guerrillas
• A 40-metre tower holding the Eternal Flame that can be seen from Harare
• Two large wall murals chronicling Zimbabwean history from pre-colonial times to independence
• An entrance museum displaying anti-colonial struggle artifacts, photos, and documents

Visiting tips

Start your visit at the entrance museum to examine war artifacts, historical photographs, and documents before viewing the main monument and hillside structures.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

National Heroes Acre is easy to reach on Harare’s public transport, and pairs naturally with National Gallery of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Harare travel guide.