Capital city, Zimbabwe
Is Harare safe?
Calmer than many African capitals but with real petty and opportunistic crime.
Is Harare safe?
Calmer than many African capitals but with real petty and opportunistic crime. Take care after dark, at ATMs and with phones, and expect police roadblocks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2023-06-26.
- Homicide rate in Zimbabwe: 6.8 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Zimbabwe: 41.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 995 · Ambulance 994 · Fire 993.
Safety in Harare at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching in the CBD and at traffic lights, car break-ins, ATM scams, and house burglaries. |
| At night | Drive or take a hotel taxi after dark; avoid walking, even in the better suburbs. |
| Solo women | Manageable with normal city caution. Expect some attention from men; use taxis at night and avoid isolated streets. |
| Other risks | Unreliable traffic lights and potholes; Water and power cuts; Malaria and typhoid risk outside the city |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Police roadblocks asking small 'fines' or bribes
- Money changers offering tourist rates on street corners
- ATM helpers watching your PIN
- Fake fuel attendants overcharging at some stations
Take care
- CBD and Mbare after dark: muggings
- Cars with windows down at traffic lights
- Protests and political events: avoid crowds
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing government buildings, airports, police or the military can lead to arrest
- Criticising the president is a criminal offence
- Drone use needs a permit
How Harare compares in Zimbabwe
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Victoria Falls | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Harare | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Harare safe for solo female travelers?
Manageable with normal city caution. Expect some attention from men; use taxis at night and avoid isolated streets.
Is Harare safe at night?
Drive or take a hotel taxi after dark; avoid walking, even in the better suburbs.
What is the crime rate in Harare?
Phone and bag snatching in the CBD and at traffic lights, car break-ins, ATM scams, and house burglaries. Nationally, Zimbabwe records 6.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Harare?
Police 995 · Ambulance 994 · Fire 993.
More about Harare
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
- Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.