The Sunshine City, dubbed to have the best sunshine in the world. At first glance, it is not your typical tourist travel destination, however, this buzzing city has a lot of hidden gems just waiting to be explored. From scenic drives to adventure travel and urban safaris, from the leafy suburbs to the dusty streets – it really is a city of many contrasts. Self-drives are a viable option when travelling, and GPS works like magic, however, for a personal touch and lived reality experience of the places you visit, guided tours are the best option. There are several tours, including cultural tours, historical tours, culinary tours among others for travel enthusiasts wanting to explore more than what they read online…
WHAT CAN HARARE OFFER YOU
See life in Zimbabwe’s oldest township: a visit to Mbare is very interesting as you get to experience cultural migratory dances and meet traditional healers at the healer’s shrine; allowing you to learn new things from the locals. You can also taste the local brew and traditional beer from the local shebeen and get to appreciate the difference with the ones from your home country.
Enjoy the delicacies of Harare: Tiritose culinary tours are exactly what you need to fulfil your food desires. This food-filled experience will be something to remember as you taste the local best. Cook together with a local chef and get the opportunity to make new friends who can help you with new recipes even when you go back home.
Uncover the mysteries of outdoor marketing: If you love shopping, then Harare will excite you. Tiritose Sustainable Travel’s fun guides make the whole experience enjoyable by guiding and showing you all the markets with unique items. You will definitely find sustainable souvenirs to purchase for your friends and family back home. Maasdorp Farmer’s Market, Avondale Flea Market, Zimbabwe Handcraft and Chapungu Sculpture Park are all markets of interest. Supermarkets such as OK, PicknPay have good prices, well-kept and friendly services if you are self-catering.
Twilight tours: a unique chance to discover the romance and mysteries of Harare. Harare never disappoints, it will meet all your needs and interests regardless of your taste. Tiritose Sustainable Travel customises your tour to fit either before dinner, as part of dinner or some after-hours FUN! Discover the heartbeat of the city that never sleeps with our enthusiastic Tiritose Sustainable Travel guides sipping some local lagers, craft beer and wine.
BEST TIME TO VISIT AND WEATHER TEMPERATURES
June and August experience some cold temperatures of between 6-18 Degrees Celsius. The usual tourist seasons are during spring (September-December) and during summer (January-April). The hottest months are October, November and December if you are looking for some sunshine. Jacarandas are an icon of Harare and to enjoy the view of the purple come visit between October –November.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) is hosted every last week of April annually. The event encompasses disciplines such as music, fine arts, dance, spoken word and theatre. If you want to enjoy the lively performance, then the end of April is the time to visit. The Harare International Carnival celebrates the heritage of Zimbabwe and is held in May. It gives you an opportunity to see and promote some of the local talent.
HIDDEN GEMS
The heart of all activities is worth a visit. The Dzikwa Activity Centre is situated in a local area only 30 minutes from the CBD. It is a place where children eat, learn, share and play. You can spend your day teaching students new games and subjects and help create a positive impact in their lives. Heritage Adventure Park located at Rainbow Towers, one of the luxurious hotels provides activities for adrenaline junkies. It offers activities such as zip-line, climbing, paintball, shooting and is open from Thursday to Sunday. For only US$5 you can enjoy the zip-line and make new friends right in the city centre.
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN HARARE
Travelling to Harare is safe but you need to be cautious of petty scams. Some areas are more risky than others and this is normal in every country. In the city centre you have to be more alert of your surroundings and the people next to you every time. Malaria is not present in Harare meaning you have no reason to worry. It is not safe to drink water from the tap unless you have been told that it is borehole or filtered water. You can easily buy mineral water from any local shops.
TRANSPORT IN HARARE
Using public transport when visiting a new place is always tricky. It may seem like the best way to mingle with the locals and get to know how they live daily but it is risky. Making use of prearranged transport from local car rentals or your tour guide is always the best option. It is hard to connect the different areas in Harare when using public transport. Car Rentals such as Impala Car Hire, Led Travel and Tours and Okey Car Rentals have good reliable services which you can use to reach any part of Zimbabwe from Harare.
PRACTICAL TIPS
WHERE TO STAY
Harare offers you a variety of accommodation options. The most exciting news is that a number of the guest houses and lodges are budget friendly allowing you to stay longer and explore the city.
From 1800 architecture, street food, street theatre and preachers, to carbon neutral buildings and railway stations, you definitely have something to look forward to. Book your tour with Tiritose Sustainable Travel and explore the city that never sleeps.
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