Harare is the capital and largest city in Zimbabwe. Harare has an excellent highland climate and well-planned garden suburbs that are very pleasant to walk around in. It has an extensive collection of public museums, institutions and many of the nation's most important historic monuments and memorials.
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Harare is home to over two and a half million people, with most in central Harare but some 500,000 in the surrounding districts of Norton, Chintungwiza and Epworth. Though a city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it suffered from increasing neglect thanks to Zimbabwe's economic crisis, however in the 2010s there has finally been some new investments in infrastructure. Despite this, Harare is still one of Africa's most pleasant cities to visit with plenty of attractions and friendly locals.
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 readily 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 in the evening, while some offer 24-hour service. inDrive is popular in Harare and probably the best app to book a taxi. Hwindi is another option. 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.
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. 1 National Heroes Acre. National monument commemorating Zimbabweans who died during the liberation war. The monument itself is 1km passed the ticket office $10 entree fee per person. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Harare City Library. Formerly the Queen Victoria Memorial Library. 3 The Kopje.
Cricket: 1 Harare Sports Club, 3 Lanark Rd, ☏ +263 73 446 8874. The country's main cricket ground, established in 1900. With a capacity of 10,000, it hosts Test matches, and Mashonaland Eagles in the domestic league. (updated Oct 2023) 2 Epworth Balancing Rocks, Chiremba Rd, Epworth (10 km southwest of Central; look for the signs on the left; 4th Street Terminal has frequent minibus services (the driver will know where to let you out)). 10:00-17:00. A famous balancing rocks formation is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southeast of Harare, off the Chiremba Road. These rocks achieved fame when they were featured prominently in the design of Zimbabwe's bank notes.
Zimbabwe's staple food is sadza: a thick white porridge (a bit like mashed potato), that's made from corn (maize) meal, seen throughout Southeastern Africa. It's eaten for lunch and dinner, accompanied by vegetables or meat in some form. In Harare there are many cafes and restaurants serving various cuisines, a good place to start are its numerous outdoor cafes: Cafe Espresso on Cork Road, Avondale. Has a brilliantly landscaped garden, a wifi spot and excellent coffees 40 Cork Road, Avondale. An outdoor cafe, art gallery, and sculpture garden. Very much the place to be seen. 167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite.
Try Chibuku, a popular local beer with the working class. It comes in "scuds", which are large 2 litre brown plastic containers. The beer is lumpy and opaque beige, but is good and very cheap.Shake-shake is prepackaged sorghum beer (brewed in the traditional African style) and is very thick and filling, and comes in milk cartons. The locally brewed Castle, Lion, Zambesi and Bohlingers are definitely worth trying and more popular with suburbanites. Wine consumption tends to be the preserve of the middle class, with most restaurants going for South African and to a lesser extent French and Australian wines.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Harare typically sees ~21°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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