Photograph Africa Unity Square, not official buildings

Water and electricity supplies in Harare are frequently disrupted, and the city's taps run dry or erratic even as bills rise, so a cheap room without backup can turn into a bucket wash and a dark evening. Before booking, ask whether the place has a borehole or storage tank and a generator or solar backup, and read…

Meikles Hotel has stood on Africa Unity Square since 1915 and remains the city's classic grand-hotel address, in the middle of the CBD. Central Harare is walkable by day because many locals are on the streets, so you can step out to the National Gallery and other sights on foot, then take a taxi or ride-hailing car…

Each late August Harare hosts the International Images Film Festival for Women, run by the ICAPA Trust with screenings, masterclasses and a closing ceremony. In recent editions the venues included the Alliance Française, the National Gallery and community halls such as Dzivarasekwa. Check the organiser's page for the…

Shoko Festival bills itself as Zimbabwe's longest-running festival of urban culture and fills Harare each September with comedy, hip hop and a big Mash Up Night at Harare Gardens. The 2025 edition closed with a free open-air show in Chitungwiza, which is the pick if you want a local crowd. Tickets for the main nights…

September is Mbira Month in Zimbabwe, and Bira ReMbira, a festival of mbira players in Harare, is its high point. It returns each year, so a late September visit is the best time to hear the instrument played live in front of a crowd that knows it well. Venue and date are announced shortly before, so check local press…

Behind Newlands Shopping Centre, along Enterprise Road, a roadside craft market sells carved stone, wood and wire pieces such as hippos, elephants and warthogs. Sellers do not pressure visitors, and haggling is fine as long as you still pay a fair price for the craftsmanship. Walk the whole line before buying, because…

The Old Stables Market at Borrowdale Racecourse is an outdoor bazaar where regional artists sell hand-painted pottery, wire and bead animals, jewellery and clothing, with food vendors and a gin bar on site. One local guide lists it as a Saturday market, so plan for late morning and stay for lunch. Check the market's…

Many locals book rides on the inDrive app, and travel guides name it as the best way to get a taxi in Harare, so set it up before you arrive and use it for evenings out. If you flag a taxi on the street, agree the fare before you get in because many drivers do not use meters. Kombis are cheaper but have no route maps…