Attractions in Harare & Central
Art, culture, and nature on the city's edge 🎨
Showing 30 attractions · Sorted by importance
Balancing Rocks
📍 Epworth
🏔 Scenic ViewIconic geological formations of massive granite boulders stacked precariously, famously featured on Zimbabwe's currency.
Chinhoyi Caves
📍 Chinhoyi
🧗 AdventureA stunning system of limestone caverns featuring the brilliantly clear, cobalt-blue 'Sleeping Pool' and technical diving opportunities.
National Botanic Garden
📍 Harare
🌿 GardenThis sprawling 58-hectare park offers a serene environment for families to explore diverse indigenous trees and enjoy outdoor picnics.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
📍 Harare
🖼 Art GalleryZimbabwe's premier art museum featuring a vast collection of contemporary African paintings and world-renowned Shona stone sculptures.
National Heroes' Acre
📍 Harare
🏛 LandmarkA striking national monument and burial ground built with North Korean assistance to commemorate the fighters of the Zimbabwe Liberation War.
Domboshava Rock Hike
📍 Domboshava
🥾 Hiking & Cycling4km moderate loop hike, typically taking 1.5 to 2 hours with 150m elevation gain. Features massive granite whaleback domes and ancient San rock art. Famous for sunset views over the highveld plateau.
The Eastern Highlands Corridor (Harare to Nyanga)
📍 Harare
🚗 Road Trip260km paved highway (4 hours) along the A3. This scenic journey travels from the highveld plateau through the agricultural center of Marondera, passing iconic balancing rock formations before ascending into the misty mountains and pine forests of the Nyanga region.
The Great North Road (Harare to Kariba)
📍 Harare
🚗 Road Trip365km paved highway (5.5 hours) heading northwest. This route features the subterranean 'Sleeping Pool' at Chinhoyi Caves and the dramatic, winding Makuti Escarpment, which offers panoramic views of the Zambezi Valley and the descent toward Lake Kariba.
Wild Is Life Trust and ZEN
📍 Harare
🐄 FarmAn internationally acclaimed sanctuary where visitors can experience intimate encounters with rescued elephants and giraffes in a beautiful garden setting.
Chapungu Sculpture Park
📍 Harare
🖼 Art GalleryA sprawling outdoor cultural center and park dedicated to the history and spiritual significance of the Shona stone sculpture movement.
Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences
📍 Harare
🏰 CastleA premier historic site housing the 'Ngoma Lungundu', an ancient wooden artifact of the Lemba people, alongside extensive ethnographic and archaeological exhibits.
Domboshava Rocks
📍 Domboshava
🧗 AdventureMassive granite domes that offer popular hiking trails to ancient San rock paintings and spectacular 360-degree sunset views.
Domboshava Rocks and Caves
📍 Domboshava
🏰 CastleA massive granite dome featuring ancient San rock paintings and offering spectacular panoramic views of the Zimbabwean highveld.
Ewanrigg Botanical Garden
📍 Harare
🌿 GardenFamous for its spectacular display of flowering aloes and ancient cycads, this peaceful garden is perfect for family walks and birdwatching.
Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA)
📍 Harare
🎭 EventTypically late April to early May, a 6-day multi-disciplinary arts festival celebrating music, theater, dance, and visual arts. It is one of the largest arts festivals in Africa, historically attracting over 50,000 visitors. The event is very family-friendly, featuring a dedicated 'Global Quarter' for crafts, children's workshops, and street performances.
Lion & Cheetah Park
📍 Harare
🐄 FarmA popular family destination featuring a drive-through lion enclosure and a petting zoo area with farm animals and giant tortoises.
Longcheng Plaza Amusement Park
📍 Harare
🐄 FarmA popular family-oriented water park featuring multiple colorful slides, splash pads, and large recreational pools situated within a major shopping complex.
Mukuvisi Woodlands
📍 Harare
🧗 AdventureAn essential outdoor destination in the city offering horse-back safaris, walking trails, and birdwatching through preserved miombo woodland.
Mukuvisi Woodlands MTB and Walking Trails
📍 Harare
🥾 Hiking & CyclingA network of easy 5km, 8km, and 10km trails within a 265-hectare urban woodland. Typical duration is 1 to 2 hours with minimal elevation gain (under 100m). Ideal for both walking and mountain biking to see zebras and giraffes within city limits. Bike access info: mukuvisiwoodland.org.zw
Ngomakurira Hill Trail
📍 Domboshava
🥾 Hiking & Cycling7km challenging loop hike with approximately 320m elevation gain, taking 3 to 4 hours. The trail involves steep granite slopes and rewards hikers with 360-degree views of the Chinamora communal lands. Popular for trail running and rock climbing.
The Shona Sculpture Gallery
📍 Harare
🖼 Art GalleryA beautifully curated garden gallery showcasing high-quality stone carvings from the country's most prominent contemporary artists.
Chiremba Balancing Rocks
📍 Epworth
🏔 Scenic ViewA nationally iconic historic site of precariously balanced granite boulders that serves as the symbolic motif for Zimbabwe's currency.
Lake Chivero Recreational Park
📍 Harare
🏔 Scenic ViewA scenic reservoir offering game drives, rhino sightings, and birdwatching in a serene lakeside setting.
Cleveland Dam Recreational Trail
📍 Harare
🥾 Hiking & Cycling8km easy loop trail around the Cleveland Dam reservoir. Typical duration 2 hours with approximately 80m elevation gain. Excellent for bird watching and light mountain biking on gravel and dirt paths. Located 15km east of Harare city center.
Greenwood Park
📍 Harare
🎢 Theme ParkA historic family-oriented park known for its vintage miniature steam train, chairplanes, and traditional amusement rides in a lush garden setting.
Kuimba Shiri Bird Park
📍 Harare
🧗 AdventureLocated at Lake Chivero, this activity center features the country's largest collection of indigenous birds and regular falconry displays.
Longcheng Plaza Amusement Park
📍 Harare
🎢 Theme ParkA modern family entertainment destination featuring a large Ferris wheel, spinning rides, and a variety of carnival-style attractions.
Ngoma Kurira
📍 Domboshava
🏔 Scenic ViewA high-altitude granite mountain offering a challenging hike with rewardingly panoramic views of the surrounding plateau.
The Domboshava Scenic Drive
📍 Harare
🚗 Road Trip30km paved route (45 minutes) via Borrowdale Road. This popular excursion leads from the city's northern suburbs into a stunning landscape of massive granite 'whaleback' monoliths, prehistoric cave paintings, and iconic sunset viewpoints across the central plateau.
