Your stay — Mercy Home
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The Property — Mercy Home
Mercy Home is a tidy 3-star guesthouse in a quiet Harare suburb, offering clean en-suite rooms around a central garden courtyard. The lobby feels more like a friend’s sitting room than a hotel reception—sofas, a rack of local newspapers, and a receptionist who remembers your name. It suits self-sufficient travellers who want a solid, no-fuss base for exploring the city, not a resort experience.
Chronicles of Harare
Harare was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company, a colonial outpost on the Mashonaland plateau. Its wide, tree-lined avenues and low-rise centre still carry that 1900s settler-grid pattern, though high-density suburbs and modern malls now ring the core. The city was renamed Harare in 1982 after the Shona chief Neharawa, and today its cultural identity is a mix of formal colonial architecture, bustling informal markets, and a thriving contemporary arts scene. The National Gallery and galleries like the National Art Gallery and the Village Unhu showcase Zimbabwean sculpture and painting, while street vendors and craft stalls define the daily rhythm of the CBD.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harare guide →Best months
May to August: cool, dry winter days (20–25°C) with clear skies and low humidity, ideal for sightseeing and outdoor markets. Crowds are moderate because this is the southern African off-peak for safari-focused travellers.
Peak / festival surge
August–September: the peak coincides with the start of spring and the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), typically in late April/May, but August draws domestic tourism and conference traffic. Hotel prices can jump 30–50% above low-season rates, and advance booking is essential.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: April is still dry with mild temperatures (18–26°C) but fewer visitors; October can be hot (28–32°C) but offers lower room rates and emptier tourist sites. Both months give good value before and after the peak periods.
Weather & packing
July in Harare is dry and cool by night, with daytime temperatures around 22°C and nights dropping to 7°C—strong temperature swings are the norm. Pack layers: a warm jumper or fleece for evenings and a sun hat for midday, plus a light windbreaker if you plan an early game drive.
Live City Briefing — Harare
- Road construction on Samora Machel Avenue (the main east-west artery) is ongoing through mid-2026, causing delays between city centre and suburbs; plan extra transit time or use back roads via Enterprise Road.
- The renovated Zimbabwe National Sports Stadium in the Highfield suburb reopened in late 2025 with improved seating and security, hosting football matches and the annual international rugby sevens tournament in July—check if events coincide with your stay.
- The Harare City Council has introduced a new digital parking app for the CBD, replacing cash meters; download the 'Harare Park' app before arrival to avoid fines.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mercy Home, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the property, away from Borrowdale Road. These floors tend to have less street noise and better air circulation, and the building's lift doesn't cause disturbance at this height.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Borrowdale Road — traffic noise from this main arterial route is constant from early morning to late evening. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor; the lift is older and rattles.
Best views
Rooms at the back face the garden and pool area — green and quiet. Frontal rooms look onto Borrowdale Road, which is just a busy dual carriageway with no real view, just traffic and a petrol station opposite.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are the quietest — street noise is muffled, and the lift has less impact than on lower floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Borrowdale Road is a main route to the city centre and business parks. Morning rush hour (7–9am) and evening (4–6pm) are loud on the road side. Occasional loud vehicles like kombis and trucks pass. The bar can carry sound up the stairwell on weekends.
Insider tips
1. Park in the secured rear car park rather than the small front lot — it's safer and closer to the garden entrance. 2. Ask for a room away from the lift when booking; the hotel's website or phone booking staff are usually happy to note a 'quiet room' request.
- 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 — Mercy Home
Free WiFi for all guests. Speed approx. 25 Mbps download. Requires room number and surname login on captive portal. No paid tiers.
One lift serves all three floors. No stairs-only sections.
Digital newsstand via PressReader available on lobby tablet. No physical newspapers delivered. Building has no heritage listing; modern low-rise with thatched lobby roof.
Standard check-in 14:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00 (free if room not ready). Late check-out until 12:00 free; 12:00-18:00 costs $30 USD; after 18:00 charged a full night.
Complimentary luggage storage at reception for day-use guests. No secure lockers; items held behind desk.
Step-free access via ramped front entrance. One ground-floor accessible room available by request. Lift serves all floors; door widths standard. Narrow turning space in bathrooms.
Free on-site parking for 40 cars (20 uncovered, 20 under shade netting). No valet. No EV charging. Nearest public car park is at Borrowdale Race Course, 800m walk, $5 USD per day.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking. At check-in, a $100 USD incidental hold is taken on credit or debit card.
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), ZWG
Use local banks or reputable bureau de change in town; avoid airport or street changers offering rates too good to be true.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in larger shops and restaurants; smaller vendors and taxis prefer cash in ZiG or US dollars.
Leave 5-10% in restaurants if service charge not already added; small cash tip for hotel porters and taxi drivers.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Roadside café or bakery espresso — about 10-15 ZiG.
Sadza and stew at a local food outlet — around 40-60 ZiG.
Affordable main course at a modest sit-down restaurant — roughly 80-120 ZiG.
Vendors near the Avondale roundabout or market areas selling grilled corn, roasted peanuts, and packaged snacks.
OK Zimbabwe and Spar are common budget supermarkets in the area.
Second-hand clothing stalls at Mbare Musika market are common for cheap clothes; high-street chains are on Samora Machel Avenue.
Combis (shared minibuses) cost about 5-10 ZiG per ride; from the airport take a combi to city centre and then connect.
Always carry small denominations of ZiG for small purchases; eat at local food outlets rather than tourist-facing restaurants; negotiate fares with unlicensed taxis before getting in.
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 Mercy Home
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Mercy Home?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the property, away from Borrowdale Road. These floors tend to have less street noise and better air circulation, and the building's lift doesn't cause disturbance at this height.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mercy Home?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Borrowdale Road — traffic noise from this main arterial route is constant from early morning to late evening. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor; the lift is older and rattles.
Is Mercy Home noisy?
Borrowdale Road is a main route to the city centre and business parks. Morning rush hour (7–9am) and evening (4–6pm) are loud on the road side. Occasional loud vehicles like kombis and trucks pass. The bar can carry sound up the stairwell on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Mercy Home?
Rooms at the back face the garden and pool area — green and quiet. Frontal rooms look onto Borrowdale Road, which is just a busy dual carriageway with no real view, just traffic and a petrol station opposite.
What are insider tips for staying at Mercy Home?
1. Park in the secured rear car park rather than the small front lot — it's safer and closer to the garden entrance. 2. Ask for a room away from the lift when booking; the hotel's website or phone booking staff are usually happy to note a 'quiet room' request.
What time is check-in at Mercy Home?
Check-in at Mercy Home is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mercy Home have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests. Speed approx. 25 Mbps download. Requires room number and surname login on captive portal. No paid tiers.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mercy Home?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Mercy Home?
Sadza and stew at a local food outlet — around 40-60 ZiG.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mercy Home?
Combis (shared minibuses) cost about 5-10 ZiG per ride; from the airport take a combi to city centre and then connect.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
May to August: cool, dry winter days (20–25°C) with clear skies and low humidity, ideal for sightseeing and outdoor markets. Crowds are moderate because this is the southern African off-peak for safari-focused travellers.
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.