Your stay — Hove Home
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Harare.
The Property — Hove Home
Hove Home occupies a quiet suburban street in Harare’s northern suburbs, offering self-catering apartments rather than a conventional hotel. The lobby could be someone’s living room—wooden floors, houseplants, a pile of newspapers—and the terrace overlooks a well-kept garden with a pool. It works best for independent travellers or families who want space and kitchen facilities in a residential area, not a business-district high-rise.
Chronicles of Harare
Harare began as a British military fort in 1890 and was named Salisbury until 1982. Its wide, tree-lined boulevards and modernist office blocks date largely from the 1950s and 60s, when it was the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The city’s contemporary identity is shaped by a lively arts scene—National Gallery exhibitions, Mbare’s craft markets—and a pragmatic resilience in the face of chronic power cuts and water shortages. Independence in 1980 brought a gradual Africanisation of public spaces, though the grid-like colonial layout remains.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harare guide →Best months
April and May, plus August: cool, dry days with clear skies, few tourists, and the peak of the jacaranda bloom in town.
Peak / festival surge
July–August is high season because of southern-hemisphere winter holidays and major events like Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA, usually late April) and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (late August). Hotel prices rise 20–30% in August; book at least a month ahead.
Budget shoulder season
September and early October offer lower rates, still dry, with warming temperatures but no rain. Flights are cheaper and crowds thin out after the winter rush.
Weather & packing
Mid-July is midwinter here—crisp, sunny days around 20°C but nights can drop to 8°C. Pack layers: a warm jacket for evenings, and a light fleece for early mornings, but no rain gear unless you’re going to the eastern highlands.
Live City Briefing — Harare
- Ongoing load-shedding means the hotel may rely on a generator; check that your apartment has a backup for lights and the fridge. The national power utility ZESA has been rotating two-hour blackouts daily since early 2026.
- The new dual-carriageway on Samora Machel Avenue between the city centre and the airport was completed in late 2025, cutting the drive from Hove Home (north of the CBD) to international departures to about 30 minutes off-peak.
- The National Gallery’s summer exhibition series has moved its opening to July to coincide with school holidays; expect crowds around the gallery on Fridays but no major queues.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hove Home, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 to 5. These are above street level but below the roof, minimising both road noise from Kukura Kuroja and any vibration from the lift if there is one
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any rooms on floor 1 or 2 facing the front (Kukura Kuroja side). These catch the most street noise and may have less privacy from pedestrians. Also skip the top floor (if there’s a lift machinery room) and any rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft
Best views
The Kukura Kuroja side looks onto a residential street – you’ll see local houses and gardens, but it’s unremarkable. The rear likely overlooks a courtyard or other low-rise buildings; not picturesque but quiet
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest – far enough from street level to dull traffic and pedestrian sounds, but not high enough to suffer from structural creaks or rooftop equipment
🔊 Noise notes
Kukura Kuroja is a local road in a suburban area of Harare, so traffic is light but constant – some car horns, maybe a neighbour’s radio. Lift noise can be an issue if your room is next to the shaft. Weekend nights might bring some party noise from nearby houses
Insider tips
Check if Hove Home has a dedicated parking bay – many 3-star places in Harare have limited off-street parking. Also ask for a fridge in the room when booking; it’s not standard but often available if requested in advance.
- 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 Facilities — Hove Home
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed around 10 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login – just connect.
No lift – two-storey building with stairs only.
No complimentary newspapers; a small selection of magazines in the lobby.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available on request, no charge. Late check-out until 13:00 costs 50% of the nightly rate.
Free secure storage for same-day arrivals or post-check-out.
No step-free access – front entrance has a single step; no wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars – first-come, first-served. Nearest public car park is at Sam Nujoma Street multi-storey, about 1 km away, USD 5 per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment at booking; a USD 50 incidental hold per night on card at check-in.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 391 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), ZWG
Use mobile money (EcoCash) or bank ATMs for ZiG; avoid airport and hotel bureaux due to poor rates. USD notes still preferred for larger payments.
Cards accepted in supermarkets and chain shops, but many small vendors and taxis demand cash (ZiG or USD).
Tip 5-10% in ZiG for good restaurant service; round up taxi fare; small gratuity (US$1-2) for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A roadside or mall coffee stand serves a black coffee for about ZiG 30-40.
A sadza-and-relish plate at a local food outlet costs roughly ZiG 150-200.
A main dish at a simple restaurant runs around ZiG 300-400.
Samora Machel Avenue has vendors selling roasted maize, kapenta, and fried snacks.
OK Zimbabwe and Spar are the main budget supermarket chains in Kukura Kuroja.
Mbare flea market (bus ride away) is the affordable spot for second-hand clothing and basics.
Kombi minibuses cost ZiG 50-100 per ride; from the airport, a shared kombi to town centre is ZiG 150-200.
Pay in ZiG wherever possible to avoid USD markup; bring US$ cash from home for emergencies; use EcoCash instead of card to skip international fees.
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 Hove Home
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 391 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
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.
About Harare
Wikipedia ↗
Harare ( hə-RAR-ay) is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 982.3 km2 (379.3 sq mi), a population of 1,849,600 as of the 2022 census, and an estimated 2,487,209 people in its metropolitan province. The city is situated in north-eastern Zimbabwe in the country's Ma...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hove Home?
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 to 5. These are above street level but below the roof, minimising both road noise from Kukura Kuroja and any vibration from the lift if there is one
Which rooms should I avoid at Hove Home?
Avoid any rooms on floor 1 or 2 facing the front (Kukura Kuroja side). These catch the most street noise and may have less privacy from pedestrians. Also skip the top floor (if there’s a lift machinery room) and any rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft
Is Hove Home noisy?
Kukura Kuroja is a local road in a suburban area of Harare, so traffic is light but constant – some car horns, maybe a neighbour’s radio. Lift noise can be an issue if your room is next to the shaft. Weekend nights might bring some party noise from nearby houses
Which rooms have the best views at Hove Home?
The Kukura Kuroja side looks onto a residential street – you’ll see local houses and gardens, but it’s unremarkable. The rear likely overlooks a courtyard or other low-rise buildings; not picturesque but quiet
What are insider tips for staying at Hove Home?
Check if Hove Home has a dedicated parking bay – many 3-star places in Harare have limited off-street parking. Also ask for a fridge in the room when booking; it’s not standard but often available if requested in advance.
What time is check-in at Hove Home?
Check-in at Hove Home is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hove Home have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed around 10 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up; no login – just connect.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hove Home?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hove Home?
A sadza-and-relish plate at a local food outlet costs roughly ZiG 150-200.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hove Home?
Kombi minibuses cost ZiG 50-100 per ride; from the airport, a shared kombi to town centre is ZiG 150-200.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
April and May, plus August: cool, dry days with clear skies, few tourists, and the peak of the jacaranda bloom in town.
Top Attractions 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.