Flights to Harare

Zimbabwe is an African nation often overlooked by travellers; yet taking a flight to Harare brings you to a country blessed with beautiful places to visit and amazing views, sights and sounds. Think wildlife, waterfalls and nature at its very best.

Harare is the largest city in Zimbabwe and also the capital. The main attractions include Central Station, First Street and the Anglican cathedral...

Other sights include the National Botanical Gardens, the Mining Pension Fund building, the National Gallery, the National Archives, Queen Victoria Museum and the Chapungu Sculpture Park. If you wish to do some shopping while in the city, then the Mbane Masika Township markets are excellent places to get a feel for the local culture and lifestyle. It's a great way to experience the sights and smells of this city.

If you wish to venture further afield and see some of the surrounding countryside, then a visit to the Mukivis Woodlands is a must. This is a 650-acre area of woodland five miles outside of Harare that's an excellent place to relax and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. As it is a nature reserve, the woodland is home to many different species of plants along with many of the animals native to Zimbabwe. It's a great place to see crocodiles, wildebeest, giraffes, impala and zebras, all in their natural habitat.

And of course no visit would be complete without taking a trip north to Victoria Falls, on the border with Zambia. One of the largest waterfalls in the world, it never fails to deliver the wow factor when you get up close.

For flights to the Zimbabwean capital you will need to connect in the Middle East or Africa...

When you arrive in the country you will fly into Harare International Airport (HRE).

The average flight time from the UK to Zimbabwe is around 13 hours. From London, try Kenyan Airways, which flies to Harare via Nairobi. BA and South African Airways have connecting services via Johannesburg. Other options include Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa or Egyptair via Cairo.

An alternative for those flying from the regional airports of Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester and Glasgow is Emirates' service via Dubai, involving a change of plane and an additional touchdown in Luanda.

For a cheap flight to Harare use the TravelSupermarket search tool to compare your options.

On arrival at Harare, you're advised to have your onward travel pre-booked from the UK...

The easiest way to obtain transport to your hotel is by hiring your own car for pick up at the airport. As Harare is a spread out city, the easiest and safest way to get around will be to hire a car for the duration of your visit.

However, if you do not wish to rent a car then taxis are widely available at a reasonable price. You will find taxis for hire at the airport and outside the main hotels and the station in the city.

Hotels also offer transfer services from the airport, which can be arranged before you travel.

Zimbabwe's capital city lacks a huge choice of accommodation but there is something on offer for all budgets...

Hotels are spread across Harare and fall into three main types. The large chains, such as Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, have their standard offerings available to book. There are also smaller, locally owned hotels, such as the Bronte, in old colonial houses and with gardens and good service. Finally there are budget hotels where you will get a great price but may find the standards of service lacking in comparison with European hotels.