Mukuvisi Woodlands Harare: Key info 2026

Mukuvisi Woodlands is still one of the best places to go for a ‘wild’ walk in the centre of Harare. It has a viewing platform overlooking giraffe, sable, and birds, plus woodland walking or cycling routes, toilets and a cafe too. Check out this post for key info.

We saw a herd of 11 eland (the largest antelope in the world) ambling along the path with us – what a treat to be in their presence.

Top tip: If you want a guaranteed sighting of the animals, visit on a Saturday or Sunday at 2pm, when the animals are fed special treat of game cubes. We don’t go at this time however, as we’re happy to avoid the people and enjoy the animals that are in sight when we visit.

Key info about Mukuvisi Woodlands, Harare

Prices: Adult US$6, Child 5 to 12 years US$5, Child 0 to 4 years FREE, Senior Citizens US$3 (2026).
Suitable for all ages. There are pushchair-friendly sandy walkways.
Annual membership available if you plan to visit often.
Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm every day.
Located on Hillside Rd, Harare, Zimbabwe (it’s on Google Maps here)
Woodland trail routes of 3, 5, 8 and 10 kilometres in distance, and they are colour coded along the route.
Duration: 2 to 5 hours, depending on how far you walk, whether you have a picnic, etc.
Other activities: Horse safaris operate 7 days a week at 8:30 am, 11 am and 3 pm. There are also pony rides, guided walking safaris and guided bird walks through BirdLife Zimbabwe.
BirdLife has been hosting a walk every 1st Sunday of the month from 6.30-10am for over forty years. Anyone is welcome to join them.
Indemnity must be signed before entering.
Coffee shop open from 7am, where bacon & egg rolls as well as cakes and coffe are available.
Wildlife includes: eland antelope, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, sable, jackal, slender mongoose, genet, civet, python, impala, blue duiker, crocodile, tortoise, guinea fowl, Egyptian geese, grey heron, and more.
Dogs allowed on the lead.
Braai & picnic facilities available.
Toilets on site.
Free parking on site.
Size: 270 hectares.
Take a hat, sunscreen and water with you (or buy water from the coffee shop).
On very hot days, time your visit in the early morning or late afternoon instead of peak daylight.
Events: The Mukuvisi Market is usually held on the first Sunday of each month. Entry is free, but check their website first.
Contrubute to biodiversity science by uploading photos to the iNaturalist app.
Other natural drawcards are the indigenous trees, riverine vegetation, Mukuvisi River and Chiraura River.
Years ago, young orphaned elephants were kept here, but this is no longer the case. You can still see some of their watering areas if you walk around the reserve.

I haven’t been paid for this post, I want to support this important area in Harare, and some of this info isn’t as easy to find online as you might think.

Other (mis-)spellings of Mukuvisi include: Makavusi, Mukuvusi, Mukuvuzi, Makavuzi, etc.

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