Information about flights to Harare
A bustling, leafy town bursting with colour from its proliferation of red and purple trees, Zimbabwe’s capital Harare is filled with parks, gardens, galleries and museums. Founded in 1890 by British colonialists and known as Salisbury until 1982, the city sits high on the Highveld plateau and enjoys a mild climate year-round. Flights to Harare take you into Harare International Airport on the outskirts of the city, about a 15-minute drive from the centre. Most flights run from other African destinations.
Sights
The Heroes' Acre monument commemorates Zimbabweans who died in the struggle for independence. The 57-acre site is also a burial ground for people judged to have shown extraordinary commitment to the nation. As well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an eternal flame, there are murals representing the history of Zimbabwe and a museum on the struggle for independence. You can also take a guided tour of the Parliament building, or sit in the public gallery when either of the chambers are sitting. Children under 10 are not allowed in the public gallery.
Parks
The city's largest park, Harare Gardens is an expanse of lawns and flowers with a pond, a restaurant, a playground and a miniature rainforest. Only visit in the daytime, and take care of your belongings. Just outside the city centre are the Mukuvisi Woodlands, a 263-hectare woodland reserve home to a variety of Zimbabwe’s indigenous flora and fauna. Look out for antelopes, zebras, giraffes and wildebeest, plus hundreds of birds. You can tour the park on horseback if you wish. The 58-hectare National Botanic Gardens contain more than 900 species of wild trees and shrubs from all over Zimbabwe, as well as plants from around the world.
Museums and galleries
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe houses around 6,000 examples of Zimbabwean art, from its early beginnings to the present day. There are also a myriad of other African artworks and objects, including carvings, baskets, jewellery and musical instruments. In the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences you can see fossils and archaeological displays, as well as craftwork, art and music by Zimbabwe’s Shona people and a model Shona village. The National Archives of Zimbabwe offer the chance to learn about Zimbabwe’s history. There are artefacts and photos from colonial times, accounts of early explorers, and a display about the Second Chimurenga, the war which led to Zimbabwe’s independence.
Eating and drinking
A former colonial house-turned-restaurant, Victoria 22 serves international food and is popular with locals. Coimbra is a Portuguese-themed restaurant whose star turn is the piri-piri or garlic half-chicken, but which is also popular for its seafood, salads, soups and desserts. Amanzi, in the hotel of the same name, serves international food and tapas and is decorated with African antiquities, greenery and contemporary art. Sit out on the terrace and admire the landscaped gardens and the water feature, stocked with koi carp and floodlit at night. All three are TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winners.
