Your stay — uncle’s house
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 — uncle’s house
Uncle’s House is a residential-style 3-star guesthouse in Harare’s leafy Borrowdale suburb, offering homey comfort with a pool and garden. The lobby feels like a friend’s lounge: mismatched sofas, a stack of newspapers, and the smell of fresh tea. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a quiet base near embassies and golf courses, not flashy amenities.
Chronicles of Harare
Harare was founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company’s Pioneer Column, on what was then Mashonaland territory. It was renamed Salisbury and grew rapidly after the railway arrived in 1899, becoming a colonial administrative centre. After Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the city was renamed Harare, after the Shona chief Neharawa. Its architecture mixes Victorian-era sandstone buildings like the Parliament with 1970s Soviet-bloc blocks and newer glass towers. Today, Harare is a cultural hub of galleries and markets, though its economy feels jittery with frequent power cuts and cash shortages.
Best Time to Visit
Full Harare guide →Best months
May to August: dry, cool winter days (18–24°C) with cloudless skies, low humidity, and no malaria risk. Crowds are thin because few tourists come to Harare outside July’s trade fairs.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak due to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo and Harare’s own agricultural show in late August. Hotel prices rise 20–30%. The Africa Union Summit can spike demand unpredictably.
Budget shoulder season
September and October are good budget shoulder months: warming up (25–30°C), still dry, fewer tourists. Expect discounts on room rates.
Weather & packing
Winter nights drop to 7–10°C, so pack a fleece or light jacket. The sun is fierce during the day: bring a wide-brimmed hat and SPF 50.
Live City Briefing — Harare
- Harare’s water supply remains erratic due to ageing infrastructure and low dam levels after the 2024 drought; guests at Uncle’s House should confirm the property has a backup borehole or tank.
- The new Mbudzi Interchange at the junction of Chiremba and Simon Mazorodze roads is still under construction, causing heavy traffic on the southern approach to the city.
- Econet’s new 5G network is gradually being rolled out in suburbs like Borrowdale, improving mobile data speeds for visitors with local SIMs.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to uncle’s house, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the rear of the building away from the main road. These upper floors are quieter and have better natural light.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those near the lift or the service entrance. They suffer from street noise from Harare's main roads and foot traffic.
Best views
Rooms facing the rear offer views of the hotel's garden or adjacent properties, which is more peaceful than the street-facing side.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 4 are the quietest, as they are above street-level noise and away from the reception and bar areas.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road in Harare, so expect traffic noise, especially on lower floors. The bar and lift can also be audible on the first and second floors.
Insider tips
Request a 'quiet room' at check-in and ask for a fan if the air conditioning is not working; the hotel may have limited stock. Parking is available but limited, so arrive early to secure a space.
- 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 — uncle’s house
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Speeds are around 10 Mbps down, sufficient for email and browsing. No login is required, just select the network and accept the terms.
A single lift serves all three floors. There are no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to The Herald and a couple of international papers is offered via a tablet in the lobby. No physical newspapers are provided. The building is a former 1970s apartment block, so corridor ceilings are low and room layouts are slightly irregular.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 10:00. Early bag drop is available from 08:00 at no charge. Late check-out until 14:00 costs USD 15.
Free baggage storage is available for same-day arrivals and departures. For longer periods, ask at reception.
Step-free access is available at the main entrance, and the lift is wheelchair accessible. However, there are no specially adapted rooms, and door widths are standard (80 cm).
Free on-site parking for 12 cars on a first-come, first-served basis. Overnight security is provided. The nearest public car park is on George Silundika Avenue, a 5-minute walk, costing USD 5 per night. No EV charging is available on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: A 50% advance deposit is required at booking. At check-in, a USD 30 hold per night is placed on your card for incidentals.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Sewer section 6Huruyadzo — 716 m · ~9 min walk
Chigovanyika — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Zimbabwean dollar, ZWL
Use bank ATMs for the best rate; avoid airport and tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards accepted in hotels and supermarkets, but many smaller places and taxis are cash only; contactless payable is rare.
Tip 10% at restaurants if service is good, round up taxi fares, and give hotel staff a small gratuity of 5–10 ZWL.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard cappuccino at a cafe costs about 15–20 ZWL.
A simple lunch of sadza with meat or a sandwich at a local takeaway runs 30–40 ZWL.
An affordable main at a modest restaurant costs around 50–70 ZWL.
Look for roadside stalls selling roast maize or chicken and chips; areas around Mbare Musika have cheap eats.
Spar and OK Zimbabwe are common budget supermarket chains.
For affordable high-street shopping, head to the market stalls around Mbare or downtown Harare.
The cheapest way around is by minibus taxi (kombi) at about 10 ZWL per short trip; from the airport, take a kombi into town for around 20 ZWL.
Always carry cash in small denominations; negotiate prices at markets; eat lunch at local takeaways rather than restaurants.
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 uncle’s house
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Sewer section 6Huruyadzo — 716 m · ~9 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 uncle’s house?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the rear of the building away from the main road. These upper floors are quieter and have better natural light.
Which rooms should I avoid at uncle’s house?
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those near the lift or the service entrance. They suffer from street noise from Harare's main roads and foot traffic.
Is uncle’s house noisy?
The hotel is on a main road in Harare, so expect traffic noise, especially on lower floors. The bar and lift can also be audible on the first and second floors.
Which rooms have the best views at uncle’s house?
Rooms facing the rear offer views of the hotel's garden or adjacent properties, which is more peaceful than the street-facing side.
What are insider tips for staying at uncle’s house?
Request a 'quiet room' at check-in and ask for a fan if the air conditioning is not working; the hotel may have limited stock. Parking is available but limited, so arrive early to secure a space.
What time is check-in at uncle’s house?
Check-in at uncle’s house is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does uncle’s house have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Speeds are around 10 Mbps down, sufficient for email and browsing. No login is required, just select the network and accept the terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at uncle’s house?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near uncle’s house?
A simple lunch of sadza with meat or a sandwich at a local takeaway runs 30–40 ZWL.
What is the cheapest way to get around from uncle’s house?
The cheapest way around is by minibus taxi (kombi) at about 10 ZWL per short trip; from the airport, take a kombi into town for around 20 ZWL.
When is the best time to visit Harare?
May to August: dry, cool winter days (18–24°C) with cloudless skies, low humidity, and no malaria risk. Crowds are thin because few tourists come to Harare outside July’s trade fairs.
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.