Harare Airport (HRE) Flights & Flight Status

Harare Airport, whose full name is Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, is the gateway to Zimbabwe’s capital. It’s also the base for the struggling national airline Air Zimbabwe, as well as for Fastjet Zimbabwe, an off-shoot of the popular African low-cost carrier. While it’s nothing too luxurious, Harare is compact, reasonably efficient, and close to town. Considering the reputation of Zimbabwe, the reality of the airport is likely to exceed your expectations. All the same, entering with a degree of patience is advised.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

Harare has two terminals: domestic and international. It’s all rather straightforward as they’re located just across from each other. At the time of writing however the domestic terminal has been undergoing renovations, meaning all travellers have been using the international side. The renovations are due to be completed very soon, and that’s good news. The domestic terminal was previously very run down, and now promises a more modern and traveller-friendly experience.

The international terminal offers a mostly good and relatively modern travel experience much as you can expect at other airports in southern Africa. It’s been expanded and modernised in recent years and this is certainly felt as you fly through. Overall it is a very simple airport to find one’s way around.

Tip: when you’re there, have a look at the design of the terminal buildings and control tower. Much of the airport was built in a postmodernist style with references to traditional Zimbabwean motifs and building styles. The tower itself is especially architecturally interesting, and quite unlike any other.

Dining & shopping

In the domestic terminal there’s very little space and there’s just one cafe-bar but it does its job with a selection of food, coffee and drinks that should be plenty for the limited time you’ll likely spend here before your flight.

On the international side there are many more options getting a bit of food and drink, as well as little shops for local souvenirs or basic necessities. Likely no one is coming to Harare Airport with shopping specifically in mind, but if you’re in need of some last-minute items, they will likely have them here.

Airlines & destinations

These days the list of airlines serving Harare is much diminished from years back, largely due to years of economic woes and unrest in Zimbabwe. However, there are some reasonably convenient ways to reach Harare from Europe (and indeed the rest of the world) as well as numerous connections around southern Africa. The limited service can make it a more expensive place to fly to, but there’ll be ways to get there without excessive time in transit at least.

On the long-haul side the top of the list are Qatar Airways and Emirates, which both serve Harare via Lusaka from their Persian Gulf hubs. The Lusaka stop takes a bit of extra time but there’s no need to deplane so it’s tolerable. Harare is also served by Kenya Airways and Ethiopian, which can both make for a good connection option from Europe However I prefer the Gulf airlines given the choice, mostly because I prefer their hubs to Nairobi and Addis.

Around the region there’s quite a bit of service at Harare from a number of South African carriers alongside Air Tanzania, Rwandair, and Air Botswana among a few others. If coming from South Africa I will always look first to Airlink, which I find to be the most reliable and premium option.

Lounges

The domestic terminal, somewhat surprisingly given its basic facilities and small size, has an executive lounge operated by HAC. Better yet, all domestic passengers can access it for a very reasonable price. It could be worthwhile even if only for the WiFi, which is nonexistent in the rest of the terminal (I once had to slip the check-in agents a few dollars to sign me into their staff network, in order to send an important email.) Complimentary coffee and water is an added bonus.

On the international side there are several lounges. For South African Airways passengers there is an SAA lounge, while for everyone else there is a handful of lounges all accessible with lounge memberships such as Priority Pass. They tend to be very similar, but they fulfill their purpose offering a quieter space away from the terminal with some complimentary food, drink and WiFi.

Tips for immigration

Zimbabwe does visas on arrival for a number of nationalities and it’s a relatively painless process. However it may take a bit longer than at other regional entry points because of the paperwork. The trick is to arrive in the country with US dollars and preferably in smaller denominations to pay the fee. It’s not possible to use a card here. And as you’ll pay for everything in Zimbabwe in USD, having plenty of dollars is helpful. Note that cards are accepted at the likes of hotels, etc.

WiFi

WiFi outside the lounges at Harare Airport has always been tricky in my experience, though I’ve heard this situation may be improving. If you’ve not got lounge access I recommend looking for an eSIM (or local physical SIM, depending on your hardware) for affordable data while in-country.

Getting to and from

Harare Airport is refreshingly close to town. It takes no more than 20 to 30 minutes by car along a mostly fast-flowing main road.

Taxi

Most arrivals here will make their way into the city in a taxi. There is an official taxi rank but queues can be long. If possible I’d always recommend booking a car in advance, and I find that this is best arranged through your hotel. Zimbabwe is expensive and the taxi prices are no exception, but they’re unlikely to break the bank either.

Tip: If you arrive without a taxi arranged, be careful of any unlicensed drivers and if you’re approached by someone offering a lift, politely decline and head to the official queue.

Public transport

Public transport from Harare Airport is sadly nonexistent at this time.

Hotel shuttle

Another option for travelling into town is to pick up a hotel shuttle bus. Some of the major hotels in the city centre do offer shuttles, so speak to your hotel front desk and see what the options are. This is likely to involve a bit more wait time but will also be a cheaper and more communal experience.

Things to do during a layover

The odds you’ll find yourself connecting at Harare are quite low as this is not a common hub for transit. That’s in part because home carrier Air Zimbabwe has a limited network. However they are currently adding aircraft and attempting to grow once more, so it’s not impossible to imagine that you might one day soon be able to connect here from Europe.

If that happens, Harare is well worth a look round. Especially as it’s not too far. My recommendation would be to hire a driver for the duration of your layover, and make your way around to see as much as you can during that time.

Quite close to the airport is Wild is Life & ZEN, a perhaps oddly-named but charming little wildlife reserve and rehabilitation centre doing good work. Stop by to see elephants, giraffes and more – all while supporting conservation.

Closer to the city is the Mukuvisi Woodlands, an unassuming reserve with a hiking path that takes you through bushland typical to this region. There’s a watering hole where you’ll likely spot a number of antelopes, zebras and more. When I visited, I was the only person there.

For a good meal during your Harare stay, head to Khaya Nyama Wombles, to the east of the city. And if you’re looking more for a bit of culture and to get a sense of downtown Harare, you could do worse than heading to the National Gallery, which has an intriguing collection in an architecturally interesting building. Just know that in downtown it’s best to have your wits about you and follow common sense principles for remaining safe. Inside the museum you’ll have no trouble, however.

Airport hotels

Harare Airport has no airport hotels in the vicinity. There are a few guesthouse style hotels to the south of the city and a bit closer to the airport, but none are especially to be recommended. So if you’re spending the night in Harare it’s best to make your way either to downtown or to some of the suburban lodges just outside the city.

Among downtown business hotels, the best is probably the Hyatt Regency “The Meikles”. However my personal favourite is York Lodge, a leafy suburban property that’s a real oasis and a sometimes-hectic city. The service is wonderful and the setting is relaxing. It’s also convenient to both the city and the airport.