Hotels in Harare

Harare: Zimbabwe's Capital on the Highveld Plateau

Harare sits at 1,483 metres above sea level on Zimbabwe's highveld, giving the city a mild, sunny climate year-round despite its tropical latitude. Founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company, the city was renamed Harare in 1982, two years after independence. The central business district clusters around First Street and Samora Machel Avenue, where colonial-era sandstone buildings stand beside modern towers. Harare Gardens, a 7-hectare park two blocks from the CBD, anchors the city's green core.

Where to Stay in Harare

Most hotels concentrate in the Avenues and Newlands neighbourhoods, within 3 km of the CBD, offering easy access to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe on Julius Nyerere Way and the Mbare Musika market, the country's largest fresh-produce trading hub. The suburb of Borrowdale hosts newer guesthouses and lodges popular with business travellers visiting the nearby Sam Levy's Village retail district.

Practical Tips

• Currency: The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) is the official currency; US dollars are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants.
• Climate: April through August brings cool, dry conditions — pack a light layer for evenings above 1,400 m.
• Airport transfer: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport lies 15 km south-east of the CBD; allow 30–45 minutes by road during peak hours.
• Arts calendar: The Hifa (Harare International Festival of the Arts) runs annually in late April or early May across multiple city venues.