Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe, once known as Salisbury. Harare is home to some two million people, with most in central Harare but some 1 million in the surrounding districts of Rural Harare, Chintungwiza and Epworth. Here is the Basics guide of Harare.
A city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it suffered from increasing disrepair as a result of Zimbabwe's economic downward spiral.
However, there have recently been a few signs of improvement as the decision of the country to adopt the US dollar as its currency has begun to facilitate some investments.
UNDERSTANDING HARARE
Harare is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. Situated in the north-east of the country in the heart of historic Mashonaland, the city has an estimated population of 1,606,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area.
Harare boast of plenty numbers of skyscrapers around the city. Skyscrapers are just damn too much! It's simply one of the most beautiful African countries you just have to visit.
The City is know for its charming beauty culture and and tourism from all over the world. Harere is simply a Great African city!
QUICK FACTS
Nick Names: Sun Shine, H Town. It is also formely called 'Salisbury'
Language: English (Official) Shona and Sindebele are the most common languages spoken in Harare.
Currency: Zimbabwean Dollar, American Dollar
Population: 1,619,000 people (2013 est)
Electricity: 20-22 hours per day. Not up to that and may be bad in other regions of Zimbabwe
HARARE in words: Elegant, Modern, Urban, Metropolitan, Cultural, Foreign, Work, CLEAN AND NEAT!
GETTIN IN
By plane
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| Harare International Airport |
Luanda and Egypt Air from Cairo via
Dar es Salaam.
Book flights here
Taxis from the airport to the main hotels cost $25.
This exhorbitant fixed price, given the relatively short distance and great age of the taxis, is caused by the drivers' high fees required to the airport authority.
By train
Train services have been badly hit by the economic troubles in Zimbabwe during recent years but most domestic trains are now running daily once agian.
Bulawayo sees departures every night at 9 p.m, arriving next morning around 8 a.m.
Trains from Mutare at the border with Mozambique runs three times a week departing Mutare also at 9 p.m, the arrivial time in Harare being 5:20 a.m.
There are currently no international trains to Harare except occasional cruise trains.
By car
A good road from Johannesburg allows easy access. However, be careful of the sometimes frightening drops at the side of the roads, at the edge of the tarmac, particularly with oncoming trucks at night. In fact, night driving is not advised.
By bus
Buses from Johannesburg are easily available ranging from Greyhound and Intercape to the local ones. The bus takes 16-24 h. Delays at the border are very common and typically range 3-8 h, but they can be as much as 20 h at Christmas time.
Most ordinary long-distance bus services arrive at the Mbare Terminal, located 3 km southwest of the Central district.
The terminal itself is giant, hectic, confusing, and dangerous. There are several disconnected regions of the terminal, and finding something as simple as a taxi can require walking over 500 m through markets and alleys.
Although minibuses to Mbare depart from the 4th Street Terminal in Central (located at 4th and Mugabe), it may be worth taking a taxi, which will be able to find a bus to your destination for you.
"Luxury" buses (including Greyhound/Intercape) to Johannesburg and most other international destinations arrive and depart from the modern Roadport terminal at 5th and Mugabe.
GETTING AROUND
By car
Harare is very spread out. The best option to get around is by car, which is easier now that dollarization has made fuel shortages a thing of the past.
Fuel is freely available at most outlets for cash or through a coupon system. Most operators now import fuel by themselves and prices are independently set.
Most service stations close early, but a few offer 24 hour service. Be prepared for frequent police roadblocks, in which the police will solicit a bribe for "something" that is wrong with your vehicle.
By taxi
In 4+1 style taxis, it is very common to fit as many as 8 people inside. Rides around town should cost about $5 for the entire cab at night, typically $2 or $3 during the day, unless you are going to the suburbs.
Make sure to negotiate the price before you get inside the car
By minibus
Minibus taxis are readily available with frequent services between central and all suburbs.
Ask around for the terminal for your destination. Typically, the fare is about $1.
SEE AROUND
There is a strong appreciation for the city's cultural and historical heritage and a number of the older buildings have been preserved.
The Mining Pension Fund Building at Central Avenue and Second Street is one example and many more are to be found along Robert Mugabe Road between Second Street and Julius Nyerere Way.
The National Gallery houses not only a valuable and interesting national collection but also hosts travelling international exhibitions and has a permanent display of some outstanding Shona soft-stone carvings.
The priceless collection of Rhodesiana and Africana in the form of diaries, notebooks and reports of various origins, are housed in the National Archives . Some of the original works of some of the greatest names in African exploration and missionary can be viewed.
Other institutions which are well worth visiting include the Queen Victoria Museum and the Harare City Library (formerly the Queen Victoria Memorial Library), both at the Civic Centre in Rotten Row.
The city was laid out with large open spaces like the 68ha National Botanic Gardens, with more than 900 species of wild trees and shrubs from all over the country.
The Mukuvisi Woodlands is 277 ha of remarkably preserved natural woodland that straddles the banks of the small Mukuvisi stream.
A variety of bird and of wild animal species such as giraffe, zebra, impala, tsessche, wildebeest, bushbuck, steenbuck, reed buck and eland can be viewed.
The Kopje , a granite hill rising above the southwest corner of central Harare, is a great place to go for views of the city.
Chapungu Sculpture Park. The vast number of rocks of black serpentine stone found around Zimbabwe, and noticeable even as you drive in from the airport, have encouraged the development of stone carvings by Zimbabwe's talented artists.
This large area has exhibitions by numerous artists..
Some interesting Places
- The Book Cafe has a wide variety of live music throughout the week (Mondays are for amateur musicians only), and there is another club that plays Afro-jazz right next door.
In Harare, there are many westernised restaurants serving European or American style food, but far more exciting are the outdoor cafes:
- Cafe espresso on Cork Road, Avondale, Harare has a brilliantly landscaped garden and a wifi spot with excellent coffees.
- 40 Cork Road, Avondale, Harare is an outdoor cafe, art gallery, and sculpture garden. Very much the place to be seen.
- 167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite, Harare, is an old house converted into a restaurant with a huge garden with a pool, an art shop, gallery, etc.
- Beverlino Restaurant, 100 Nelson Mandela Corner Fourth/Nelson Mandela (Opposite Quality International Hotel), ☎ 704741.
Beverlino Restaurant, well known for its baskets, offered a wide range of food and beverages prepared to your taste. Wherever, you are in town, the warm savoury food will be brought to your door step. Place an order for food now.
Accomodation
The city boasts an internationally recognized five-star hotel (The Meikles Hotel), but also has a signficant number of three-star to four-star hotels that offer affordable accommodation without compromising on quality.
These include The Crowne Plaza Monomotapa, The Cresta Lodge and The Holiday Inn. There are several cheap backpackers guesthouses, particularly in Selous Avenue (doubles with shared bathrooms in the $20 range).
But be wary when walking alone at night in the Selous Avenue area.
Harare also has quite a number of bed and breakfast/guest houses, mostly set in former residential houses with extensive gardens.
Imba Matombo (Imba Matombo ), 3 Albert Glen Close (Travel up Enterprise Rd to Glen Lorne ), ☎ +263782555123. Perfect for Business Travell - Upmarket Lodge - 5 Star for Lodges. $250 for Double
Palm Villa Lodge , 39 Selous Ave, dorms. Friendly and centrally located.
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| Hilton Hotel |
Guest House. Bowood Lodge.
Located at 8 Bowood Road, Mount Pleasant, North Harare, ☎ +263 430 4613 (info@bowoodlodge.net ) has 4 double rooms. It is set in beautiful grounds and has internet and a pool. Very peaceful. around $75 per night for bed and breakfast. Evening meals are also available.
Buy
Virtually all purchases in larger stores are made with US dollars, which is de facto the national currency. Rands are accepted, but you should check the exchange rate at the place first. Many accept rands (or give them in change) at a R7 or R8 to $1 ratio less favourable than the official rate.
Anything made locally is inexpensive. Everything imported is relatively expensive compared to South Africa. Cans of Coca-cola typically cost $1, for example.
If you wanted to experience shopping the way that it is traditionally done in many African countries, you could stroll around at the open flea market at Mbare.
Here tourists could feast their eyes on a colourful array of baskets, food, clothing and other items.
ATMs give US dollars. The ATMs at Barclays will accept most international Visa cards; other banks generally take only local cards.
TIPS
- Internet is available in hotels and at one or two internet cafes, but the service is slow and irregular.
- Cell phone coverage around Harare is good. SIM cards can be easily purchased at a low price. Problems can be experienced with international calls, however. International landline calls are also still unreliable.
DON'TS
Walking around the town after dark should be avoided. If you leave your hotel to visit restaurants, take a taxi. Also, it is illegal to walk on the sidewalks around the President's palace after 6 p.m. If you do so, you will be on the wrong end of a large gun and threatened with a large fine and/or imprisonment by the guards. If this happens, keep calm. You will probably have to pay a massive bribe.
GETTIN OUT
- Epworth Balacing Rock.
located on Chiremba Road, 10 km southwest of Central. Looks for the signs on the left. The 4th Street Terminal has frequent minibus services to the Balacing Rocks: the driver will know where to let you out. Be careful of your personal safety inside the park. The cost is $2-10 per person, depending on the situation.
- Victoria Falls.
The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe has deteriorated dramatically in recent years, as the government has failed to maintain them. Most of the country is now without street lights. The main highways are still in a good state of repair outside of the cities: traffic is so light now that damage from trucks is minimal.
DEAR READERS! PART TWO IS THE NIGHT LIFE AND COMING SOON. THANKS
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