Dein Aufenthalt — Mbare Hostels
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Das Eigentum — Mbare Hostels
Mbare Hostels sits in the heart of Harare's most historic and busiest township, offering no-frills beds at rock-bottom prices for budget travellers and backpackers. The lobby feels like a busy community hub: concrete floors, mismatched sofas, a loud TV, and staff who know every local bus route. It's not a place for quiet relaxation—you come here to save money and be right in the thick of Mbare's daily market chaos. Best suited to solo nomads, volunteers, or anyone wanting authentic, unfiltered Harare life.
Chroniken von Harare
Harare was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company's Pioneer Column, a fortified camp on the marshlands (the name 'Harare' comes from the Shona chief Neharawa). It grew as a colonial administrative hub, with wide boulevards and low-rise Art Deco and modernist buildings laid out in a grid. After Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, the city shed its Rhodesian name and became Harare, gradually developing a distinct African urban identity. Today it's a sprawling, car-heavy capital with a vibrant informal economy, faded colonial architecture, and a lively arts scene centred on galleries and live music venues. The stark contrast between leafy northern suburbs and the dense, bustling townships like Mbare defines its contemporary character.
Beste Zeit zu besuchen
Vollständiger Harare-Guide →Die besten Monate
May, August, September – cool, dry weather (20–25°C days) with low humidity, clear skies, and fewer tourists. Ideal for exploring markets and outdoor spots.
Peak / Festival Surge
July (Zimbabwe International Trade Fair month) and late August/September (spring blooms and pre-harvest season). Business travellers and diaspora visitors fill hotels; prices at Mbare Hostels stay low but double-occupancy rooms may sell out.
Budget Schulter Saison
April and October – mild temperatures, lighter crowds than peak, and lower hostel rates. April offers post-rain greenery; October warms up ahead of summer rains.
Wetter & Verpackung
Harare sits at 1,500 metres altitude, meaning cool nights even in the dry season—bring a fleece or light jacket for evenings. Pack a dust mask for Mbare's unpaved roads in the dry months.
Live City Briefing veröffentlicht — Harare
- The Harare City Council is repairing major potholes on Samora Machel Avenue and Simon Mazorodze Road, causing daytime delays on routes from Mbare to the city centre.
- Mbare Musika market has extended its operating hours to 7pm on weekends, with new police patrols aimed at reducing petty theft.
- Water rationing continues in most southern suburbs due to low dam levels at Manyame and Harava; bring bottled water or a refillable bottle with purification tablets.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mbare Hostels, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from Harare's main roads. These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level street noise and low enough for reliable water pressure (common issue in older 3-star buildings).
Rooms to avoid
Steer clear of ground-floor rooms (noise from lobby and street) and any room near the lift shaft — lifts in 3-star hotels tend to rattle. If the building has a bar or restaurant, skip rooms directly above it; music and kitchen clatter carry up until late.
Best views
Harare's skyline is low-rise, so a room on floors 3–5 with a northern or eastern window offers a view over neighbourhood rooftops and possibly the kopjes (rocky hills) without direct road glare.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest — away from street-level bustle and less foot traffic than lower floors, but without the boiler/roof noise that can affect top floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Harare streets can be noisy with minibus taxis (kombis) and street vendors. The hotel's ad-hoc address suggests it sits on a secondary road rather than a major dual carriageway, but expect morning and late-afternoon traffic peaks. Weekends are quieter.
Insider tips
1) If arriving by car, ask reception at booking which side of the building has secure parking — some 3-star hostels in Harare lock the car park overnight behind a roller gate. 2) Request a room on a higher floor (3 or above) for better water pressure; many older buildings struggle with consistent flow on lower floors during peak hours.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Einrichtungen — Mbare Hostels
Free Wi-Fi throughout (shared bandwidth, typically 5–10 Mbps). No password required – just accept the splash page. Slower during peak evening hours (18:00–22:00).
No lift. Two-storey building with stairs only; no internal elevator.
No newspapers or digital newsstand. Common area has a small shelf of old magazines. No TV in common room; guests use personal devices.
Check-in from 14:00; early check-in available from 10:00 if room ready (free). Check-out by 11:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs $10 USD or equivalent in ZWL. Front desk open 06:00–22:00 daily; after-hours arrivals call ahead.
Free luggage storage on site during normal hours (06:00–22:00). No overnight storage.
No step-free access; two steps at main entrance. All rooms on upper floor (stairs only). No accessible bathroom. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Free on-site parking for 6 cars (first come, first served). No EV charging. Nearest public parking: Mbare Musika pay-to-park (approx 500 metres, $2 USD per day).
Gebühren, Steuern & Einlagen
City / tourist tax: None (no tourist or city tax applies in Harare)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 50 USD cash hold for incidentals at check-in (returned upon inspection).
Faith & Diät in der Nähe
- Church: Methodist (798 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Lutheran Mbare (828 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: Presbeterian (1.8 km · ~22 min walk)
Lokaler Lebensstil & Erholung
ZBC Radio Zimbabwe — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
5 Minuten Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Mbare Musika Bus Terminal — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Geld & Währung
Get a travel card →Zimbabwe Gold, ZWG
Use bank ATMs for the official rate; avoid bureau de change and airport counters, which offer poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in supermarkets and hotels; smaller shops and taxis prefer cash or mobile money (EcoCash).
10% in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fares; hotel porters 1-2 USD or equivalent in ZWG.
Essen, Einkaufen und Reisen auf einem Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-vendor brewed coffee or tea, around 5 ZWG.
Sadza and stew from a local takeaway, about 15-20 ZWG.
Grilled meat and sadza at a food stall, main around 25-30 ZWG.
Roadside stalls near Mbare Musika or central rank areas sell roasted maize, fritters, and grilled meat.
OK Supermarket and TM Supermarket are common budget chains.
Mbare Market or the downtown flea markets for second-hand and low-cost clothing.
Combis (shared minibuses) cost 2-3 ZWG per ride; from airport take a combi to town for about 5 ZWG.
Pay with local mobile money (EcoCash) to avoid cash shortages; buy fresh produce at open markets not supermarkets; negotiate prices at markets as first price is inflated.
Emergency Contacts
HarareFrom a landline, dial 999. From a mobile, 112 works for all emergencies. For non-urgent police assistance, call 0242 700 914.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Harare, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mbare Hostels
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Umher zu kommen
Roadside stop near Udinge Residence (Samora Machel Ave or 4th Street) → Central Harare or Mbare
💡 Squeeze into a pale-blue kombi heading to 'Town' or 'Fourth Street' if you're on a budget. Flag it by raising one finger. Carry small notes — no change given. Not for first-time visitors new to hand-over cash etiquette.
Udinge Residence → Chitungwiza or surrounding suburbs
💡 ZUPCO buses are government-run and slightly more orderly than kombis. Route K serves central Harare from the bus rank near Mbare. Buy your ticket from the desk, not the tout. Expect long queues for popular routes.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) → Udinge Residence, Harare
💡 Pre-book via Udinge reception. Cheaper than hailing a cab at arrivals — drivers there often quote USD 40+ for the same ride.
Udinge Residence → Anywhere in central Harare
💡 Vaya is Zimbabwe's Uber equivalent — cash is king, but pay in local ZWL if you have it; drivers prefer USD for short trips. Hwindi is more reliable outside peak hours.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What are the best rooms at Mbare Hostels?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from Harare's main roads. These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level street noise and low enough for reliable water pressure (common issue in older 3-star buildings).
Which rooms should I avoid at Mbare Hostels?
Steer clear of ground-floor rooms (noise from lobby and street) and any room near the lift shaft — lifts in 3-star hotels tend to rattle. If the building has a bar or restaurant, skip rooms directly above it; music and kitchen clatter carry up until late.
Is Mbare Hostels noisy?
Harare streets can be noisy with minibus taxis (kombis) and street vendors. The hotel's ad-hoc address suggests it sits on a secondary road rather than a major dual carriageway, but expect morning and late-afternoon traffic peaks. Weekends are quieter.
Which rooms have the best views at Mbare Hostels?
Harare's skyline is low-rise, so a room on floors 3–5 with a northern or eastern window offers a view over neighbourhood rooftops and possibly the kopjes (rocky hills) without direct road glare.
What are insider tips for staying at Mbare Hostels?
1) If arriving by car, ask reception at booking which side of the building has secure parking — some 3-star hostels in Harare lock the car park overnight behind a roller gate. 2) Request a room on a higher floor (3 or above) for better water pressure; many older buildings struggle with consistent flow on lower floors during peak hours.
What time is check-in at Mbare Hostels?
Check-in at Mbare Hostels is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mbare Hostels have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout (shared bandwidth, typically 5–10 Mbps). No password required – just accept the splash page. Slower during peak evening hours (18:00–22:00).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mbare Hostels?
None (no tourist or city tax applies in Harare)
Where can I eat cheaply near Mbare Hostels?
Sadza and stew from a local takeaway, about 15-20 ZWG.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mbare Hostels?
Combis (shared minibuses) cost 2-3 ZWG per ride; from airport take a combi to town for about 5 ZWG.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
May, August, September – cool, dry weather (20–25°C days) with low humidity, clear skies, and fewer tourists. Ideal for exploring markets and outdoor spots.
Top-Attraktionen in Harare
💡 Avoid after dark—it empties out and can feel unsafe. Morning visits are calm, and you'll often see locals doing tai chi or yoga on the lawns.
💡 Go with a local or a guide—the area can feel isolated, and muggings have happened. Better to go on a weekend afternoon when other visitors are around, or join a walking tour group.
💡 Go early (7 am) for the best produce and less crowding. Keep your wallet hidden and camera discreet—it's safe but busy. Try a roasted maize cob from a vendor for 50 US cents.
💡 Get a kombi from Copacabana rank (cheap, frequent) or drive. Wear sturdy shoes—the rock can be slippery if there's been rain. No entrance fee, but a small levy for car parking.
💡 Go on a weekday morning to have the galleries almost to yourself. The sculpture garden out back is free to wander without a ticket.