Your stay — Retreat Sac
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 — Retreat Sac
The Retreat Sac feels like a calm, low-slung guesthouse in Harare's leafy northern suburbs: think cream walls, terracotta tiles, and a small pool surrounded by bougainvillea. Its USP is unpretentious comfort at a fair price — the lobby has worn leather sofas, a jug of iced rooibos, and staff who know your name by check-in. It suits budget-conscious solo travellers, families stopping over en route to Victoria Falls, or anyone wanting a quiet base without the corporate stiffness of bigger hotels.
Chronicles of Harare
Harare was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company's Pioneer Column, a military settlement on what was then essentially open Mashonaland grassland. It grew slowly as a railway and tobacco town, gaining city status in 1935; its architecture is a jumble of colonial stone, 1960s high-rises, and modern glass towers around Africa Unity Square. After independence in 1980, the name changed to Harare (from the Shona chief Neharawa), and the city became a political and cultural capital, though economic turbulence has left it with potholed roads and intermittent services. Today it's known for its jacaranda-lined avenues (which bloom purple in October), a vibrant arts scene around the National Gallery, and a resilient, entrepreneurial spirit among its 1.5 million residents.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harare guide →Best months
April and September: dry, sunny days (22-26°C), blue skies, and very few tourists — April has post-rain greenery, September has jacaranda blossoms.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak for both locals and international visitors because of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), usually in late April/May, plus the cooler dry season draws safari travellers. Hotel prices at Retreat Sac can rise 20-30% in August; book well ahead.
Budget shoulder season
October and November are shoulder months: still dry, temperatures climb to 30°C, but hotel rates drop sharply as rains threaten. You get fewer crowds and good room availability.
Weather & packing
Harare's climate quirk is its dramatic temperature swing between day and night, even in winter — July afternoons hit 22°C but drop to 6°C by dawn. Pack a fleece or light jacket for evenings, and comfortable walking shoes for potholed pavements.
Live City Briefing — Harare
- Samora Machel Avenue has major roadworks until early 2027; expect delays between city centre and the airport. Use Simon Mazorodze Road as a bypass.
- The new Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences opened a permanent gallery on Great Zimbabwe in June 2026, with an excellent café — worth a half-day trip.
- Malaria is low-risk in Harare but there have been localised dengue cases after recent rains; bring insect repellent for evenings, especially near gardens or pools.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Retreat Sac, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second floor facing the rear garden (away from Retreat Road). These are quieter and often have a small garden view. The third floor also works, but the second is slightly easier to access via stairs if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Retreat Road — street noise from passing cars and pedestrians carries clearly, especially in the morning and early evening. Rooms near the lift on any floor can also get some whirring and foot traffic.
Best views
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on the second or third floor, overlooking the residential gardens and trees of the Retreat suburb. Front-facing rooms look onto a quiet residential street (Retreat Road) but with limited greenery.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest, as they sit above street-level noise and below any potential roof-level equipment. The first floor can be okay, but it's closer to the lobby and entrance.
🔊 Noise notes
Retreat Road is a residential street in Harare's leafy suburb, so traffic is light but audible for morning/evening commutes. Occasional dogs or gate security radio chatter may be heard. No bar or restaurant noise reported.
Insider tips
1. Request a room at check-in that is rear-facing and on the second floor — the staff are usually flexible if you ask politely. 2. There's secure parking on-site (typical for Harare hotels), but it can fill up; arrive by 5pm to guarantee a spot.
- 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 — Retreat Sac
Free WiFi throughout, typical speed around 10 Mbps. Login via room number and surname.
No lift; all rooms on ground floor, no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital newspaper via tablet in the lobby; no physical papers delivered.
Check-in from 14:00, checkout by 10:00. Early bag drop allowed at reception. Late check-out fee of USD 20 until 14:00, subject to availability.
Complimentary storage for same-day arrivals and departures at reception.
Step-free entrance from the car park. All rooms have wide doorways and level thresholds. No wheelchair-accessible bathroom grab bars.
Free on-site parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Nearest public car park is at Eastgate Centre, 1.5 km away, USD 3 per day. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; incidental hold of USD 50 at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Zimbabwe Gold + ZiG, ZWG
Change money at authorised banks or bureau de change in central Harare; avoid airport and hotel exchanges due to poor rates.
Cards widely accepted in supermarkets and chain restaurants, but small shops and markets prefer ZiG cash; contactless is rare.
Tip 10% at restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fare; give $1-2 USD equivalent to hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side coffee from a small takeaway kiosk — about 5 ZWG.
Sadza or rice with meat and vegetables at a local café — around 15 ZWG.
Grilled chicken or fish with chips at a basic restaurant — main about 20 ZWG.
Roadside vendors in Avenues and town centre sell roasted mealies and samoosas; avoid areas after dark.
OK Food Store, Choppies, and Spar are common budget supermarkets.
Downtown flea markets in central Harare (e.g. near Avondale) offer cheap second-hand clothes.
Commuter minibuses cost 2-3 ZWG per ride within the city; from airport take the town-bound minibus for about 5 ZWG.
Use ZiG cash for small purchases to avoid card surcharges. Buy bottled water from supermarkets, not tourist kiosks. Negotiate fares with shared 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 Retreat Sac
🕒 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 Retreat Sac?
Request a room on the second floor facing the rear garden (away from Retreat Road). These are quieter and often have a small garden view. The third floor also works, but the second is slightly easier to access via stairs if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Retreat Sac?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Retreat Road — street noise from passing cars and pedestrians carries clearly, especially in the morning and early evening. Rooms near the lift on any floor can also get some whirring and foot traffic.
Is Retreat Sac noisy?
Retreat Road is a residential street in Harare's leafy suburb, so traffic is light but audible for morning/evening commutes. Occasional dogs or gate security radio chatter may be heard. No bar or restaurant noise reported.
Which rooms have the best views at Retreat Sac?
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on the second or third floor, overlooking the residential gardens and trees of the Retreat suburb. Front-facing rooms look onto a quiet residential street (Retreat Road) but with limited greenery.
What are insider tips for staying at Retreat Sac?
1. Request a room at check-in that is rear-facing and on the second floor — the staff are usually flexible if you ask politely. 2. There's secure parking on-site (typical for Harare hotels), but it can fill up; arrive by 5pm to guarantee a spot.
What time is check-in at Retreat Sac?
Check-in at Retreat Sac is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Retreat Sac have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, typical speed around 10 Mbps. Login via room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Retreat Sac?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Retreat Sac?
Sadza or rice with meat and vegetables at a local café — around 15 ZWG.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Retreat Sac?
Commuter minibuses cost 2-3 ZWG per ride within the city; from airport take the town-bound minibus for about 5 ZWG.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
April and September: dry, sunny days (22-26°C), blue skies, and very few tourists — April has post-rain greenery, September has jacaranda blossoms.
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.