Situated in the suburbs of Harare, five miles from the city centre
Situated on Ridgeway North in the picturesque suburb of Highlands, Highlands House is a privately owned, fourteen bedroom boutique hotel. It is very well positioned for easy access to the city of Harare and many of the local amenities and attractions.
Highland House offers private, quality facilities away from the bustle of Harare and is set in a lovely garden with lots of lawn and plenty of trees where guests can relax around a sparkling swimming pool or engage in a spot of tennis.
Highlands House is only ten minutes from the city and 5 minutes from the popular Borrowdale Village which has plenty of shops and restaurants. It is also in easy reach of a number of other local attractions, shopping centres and churches.
Lindsay and her team pride themselves on their service and attention to detail and place a lot of emphasis on privacy, comfort and style. The property offers fourteen individually decorated rooms with a number of additional facilities.
Highlands House have built up an enviable reputation for the quality of their food and pride themselves on their delicious meals which are prepared using locally sourced, fresh ingredients
At A Glance
Accommodation
14 individually appointed ensuite rooms
Facilities and Services:
- Bath Robes & Slippers
- Hairdryer
- Fully Stocked Mini Bar
- Non-Allergic Pillows & Duvets
- Comfortable Hotel Harris pillow top mattresses
- High Speed Wifi (free of charge)
- DSTV
- Flat Screen TV
- Safe in rooms
- Panic button connected to Safeguard Security Company
- Gate remote
- Electric blankets
- Extra room heaters, if required by guests
- Complimentary tea & coffee station with kettle & coffee plunger
- Laundry service
Friends of guests are welcome to dine at Highlands House for an additional charge.
Airport and Location
Harare International Airport is located seven miles (12 kms) from the city.
Car hire is available as well as taxis.
VIP Airport transfers can be arranged. A charge will apply.
Harare is Zimbabwe’s main terminal and the hub for Air Zimbabwe.
A number of international airlines fly into Harare including Emirates, South African Airways, Kenyan Airways, Comair and Ethiopian Airlines.
A number of airlines fly into Johannesburg and connecting flights to Harare are available.
Air Zimbabwe also flies to Johannesburg but due to the airlines erratic history you will need to check with your travel agent.
Air Zimbabwe flies to Bulawayo from Harare twice daily and to Kariba and Victoria Falls three times a week. Once again you will need to check with your travel agent.
Distances
Harare Airport – Highlands House 19.4 kms (12.2 miles)
Harare Airport – Harare 12 kms (7.5 miles)
Harare – Highlands House 10.5 kms (6.6 miles)
Harare – Lake Chivero 37 kms (23.2 miles)
Harare – Balancing Rocks 13 kms (8.2 miles)
Harare – Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens 38.2 kms (24 miles)
Harare – Lion and Cheetah Park 25 kms (15.6 miles)
Highlands House – Harare Sports Club 7.4 kms (4.6 miles)
Harare – Rusape 174 kms (109 miles)
Harare – Bvumba 286 kms (179 miles)
Rusape – Nyanga 105 kms (65 miles)
Harare – Nyanga 274 kms (170 miles)
Harare – Mutare 262 kms (163 miles)
Mutare – Bvumba 33.4 kms (21 miles)
Harare – Masvingo 293 kms (183.13 miles)
Harare – Gweru 277 kms (172 miles)
Nyanga – Masvingo 425 kms (264 miles)
Beitbridge – Bulawayo 322 kms 200 (miles)
Bulawayo – Harare 440 kms (274 miles)
Bulawayo – Masvingo 280 kms (174 miles
Bulawayo – Mutare 578 kms (359 miles)
Bulawayo – Nyanga 686 kms (429 miles)
Activities
There are a number of interesting things to do in and around Harare.
These include:
- City tours
- Swimming
- Visit city Gardens
- Visit Harare Sports Club (international cricket venue)
- Game reserves
- Visit curio centres
- Lion and Cheetah Park
- Visit the art Gallery
- Visit the Botanical Gardens
- Sculpture Gallery
- Animal and bird sanctuaries
- Picnic or braai (BBQ) at Lake Chivero
Tennis court – Tennis raquets and balls supplied,
Swimming pool – Pool loungers and towels supplied
Massage – outsourced masseuse to do treatments in guests rooms
Gym – Guests are offered complimentary access to the Profitness Gym in nearby Borrowdale Village.
Nearby Attractions
There are a number of interesting things to do in and around Harare.
These include:
- Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens
- Harare Sports Club
- Balancing Rocks (Epworth)
- Harare City tours
- Shona carvings (Newlands Shopping Centre)
- Lion and Cheetah Park
- National Gallery of Zimbabwe
- National Botanical Gardens
- The Shona Sculpture Gallery
- Thetford Game Reserve
- Wild is Life Trust
- Kuimba Shiri Bird Sanctuary
- Lake Chivero (formerly Lake McIlwaine)
- Catholic Cathedral
- Anglican Cathedral
- Nazareth House Catholic Church
National Gallery
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has three ‘branches’ in Bulawayo, Harare and Mutare. , The main branch is located in the CBD of Harare.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is a fully established purpose built art gallery that opened in July 1957. It is popular with visitors and is dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and visual heritage. The gallery also promotes art and culture both locally and abroad.
From the outset, the Gallery was conceived as a national institution, acting as the artistic representative not only for Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), but also Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi), all governed from 1953 to 1963 as a united Federation.
Today, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe is still one of the leading art and heritage institutions in Southern Africa.
Additionally, their ever growing art collection includes over 6000 works from all parts of Africa, Europe and Asia.
On any given day in the galleries, visitors will find cutting edge contemporary art from both emerging and veteran artists; art from African modernists and traditional artefacts representing intangible material culture of Zimbabwe. Visitors may also occasionally find collaborative exhibitions that feature artists from overseas as well as local creatives.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is a place that has always welcomed synchronism amongst all art disciplines; hence they have offerings that include fashion presentations, literary discourse, film screenings and alternative music.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has been central to the meteoric rise of Zimbabwean artists on the world art market. One cannot deny the institution’s role in shaping and promoting the careers of world renowned artists such Tapfuma Gutsa, Dominic Benhura, Chiko Chakonzero, John Takawira, Nicolas Mukomberanwa, Joram Mariga, Portia Zvavahera, Gareth Nyandoro, Virginia Chihota amongst others.
Climate
Harare has a pleasant subtropical highland climate. The average annual temperature is 17.95 °C (64.3 °F), rather low for the tropics, and this is due to its high altitude position and the prevalence of a cool south-easterly airflow.
There are three main seasons:
- a warm, wet season from November to March / April;
- a cool, dry season from May to August
- a hot, dry season in September / October.
Daily temperature ranges are about 7–22 °C (45–72 °F) in July (the coldest month), about 15–29 °C (59–84 °F) in October (the hottest month) and about 16–26 °C (61–79 °F) in January (midsummer). The hottest year on record was 1914 with 19.73 °C (67.5 °F) and the coldest year was 1965 with 17.13 °C (62.8 °F).
The average annual rainfall is about 825 mm (32.5 in) in the southwest, rising to 855 mm (33.7 in) on the higher land of the northeast. Very little rain typically falls during the period May to September, although sporadic showers occur most years. Rainfall varies a great deal from year to year and follows cycles of wet and dry periods from 7 to 10 years long. Records begin in October 1890 but all three Harare stations stopped reporting in early 2004.
The climate supports a natural vegetation of open woodland. The most common tree of the local region is the Msasa (Brachystegia spiciformis) that colours the landscape wine red with its new leaves in late August.
Two South American species of trees, the Jacaranda and the Flamboyant, which were introduced during the colonial era, contribute to the city’s colour palette with streets lined with either the lilac blossoms of the Jacaranda or the flame red blooms from the Flamboyant. They flower in October / November and are planted on alternative streets in the capital. An absolute sight to behold. Also prevalent is Bougainvillea.
Weather
Monthly Averages:
- January 26°C
- February 26°C
- March 25°C
- April 24°C
- May 23°C
- June 21°C
- July 21°C
- August 24°C
- September 26°C
- October 28°C
- November 27°C
- December 26°C
Summer highs can reach 30° to 32°c
Winter lows can reach 3° to 8°c
- Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in January, February, November and December.
- Harare has dry periods in May, June, July, August and September.
- On average, the warmest month is October.
- On average, the coolest month is July.
- January is the wettest month. This month should be avoided if you don’t like too much rain.
- July is the driest month.
Harare, Zimbabwe is at 17°55’S, 31°7’E, 1480 m (4856 ft).
