Getting Around Harare
Harare is a very spread out city, so the way you move around it shapes how much of it you can comfortably see. The good news for visitors is that fuel shortages are largely a thing of the past, and several distinct transport options exist — from app-based taxis to shared minibuses. What follows is practical, qualitative guidance on each of them.
By Car
Because the city is so spread out, driving yourself is generally the best option for getting around. Fuel is readily available at most outlets, either for cash or through a coupon system, and most operators now import fuel themselves and set their own prices. Bear in mind that most service stations close in the evening, though some offer 24-hour service.
Road conditions around the country have deteriorated dramatically, and most of the country is now without street lights. The main highways outside the cities are still in good repair, largely because traffic is light enough that truck damage is minimal. If you are driving in from South Africa, the road from Johannesburg is good, but watch for frightening drops at the edge of the tarmac, especially with oncoming trucks at night — night driving is not advised. You should be fine without a 4x4 unless you head into rural areas and game parks, and if you enter from South Africa, make sure your insurance waiver is valid for Zimbabwe.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Harare has no metro or tram network for visitors to use. National Railways of Zimbabwe service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and remains suspended as of November 2025. In practice, this means rail is not an option for getting around the city or arriving from elsewhere.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Minibus taxis are the workhorse of everyday public transport in Harare. They are readily available, with frequent services running between the central city and all suburbs. Fares are very cheap. The catch is that there is no single central terminal for every route — you will need to ask around to find the terminal that serves your particular destination.
For longer-distance travel, most ordinary long-distance bus services arrive at and depart from the Mbare Terminal, southwest of the central district. Be aware that this terminal is giant, hectic, confusing and can be dangerous: its regions are disconnected, and simply finding a taxi can mean walking a long way through markets and alleys. Minibuses to Mbare leave from the 4th Street Terminal in Central (at 4th and Mugabe), but it may be worth taking a taxi instead, since a taxi driver will be able to find a bus to your destination for you. "Luxury" buses arrive and depart from the modern Roadport terminal in the city centre, at the corner of Fifth Street and Mugabe Street.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Ride-hailing is popular in Harare, and inDrive is probably the best app to book a taxi with; Hwindi is another option. Fares around town are modest — a ride across town typically costs a few dollars during the day, and somewhat more at night, unless you are heading out to the suburbs. If you do not use an app, always negotiate the price before you get inside the car.
Shared taxis are also part of the landscape. In the "4+1" style shared taxis, it is very common for as many as eight people to be fitted inside, so expect a tight squeeze if you take one.
Walkability
Harare is very spread out, which makes walking impractical as a primary way of getting around the city as a whole. Walking can work for short hops within a specific area, but for moving between the centre and the suburbs, or between distant parts of town, you will want a car, a taxi or a minibus.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Harare's airport is the major gateway for flights into the country, served by an increasing number of foreign airlines. These include South African Airways with direct flights from Johannesburg, Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways from Nairobi, TAAG Angola Airlines from Luanda, Egypt Air from Cairo via Dar es Salaam, and KLM from Amsterdam.
For the transfer into the city, taxis from the airport to the main hotels charge a fixed price of around $25. This is a high fixed price given the relatively short distance and the great age of the taxis, and drivers attribute it to the high fees they must pay to the airport authority. It is worth knowing this in advance so the fare does not come as a surprise, and so you can weigh it against arranging a ride-hailing pickup instead.