By: Nyati Tours
Harare, the city that never sleeps, boasts of a welcoming and friendly population, rich heritage, a range of arts and culture which cumulatively set the backdrop for an appealing guided walking city tour.
With a mission to explore hidden, historical and cultural sites on foot, Nyati Tours and Travel have been providing city tours in Harare over the past two years. The tour is a four hour-long affair which begins at the Harare Railway Station and ends at the Royal Harare Golf Course by the walk cut-off time at 17:15 .
As the walk commences, participants are provided with the historical narratives and explanations of the railway station, the architecture of Eastgate Mall and the grandeur of the Meikles Hotel. The origin of the iconic Africa Unity Square is described in detail as well as the Anglican Cathedral with its Romanesque buildings and conical bell tower.
The walk past the Houses of Parliament takes the one to the Art Gallery for a cultural experience where you have the opportunity to explore sculpture filled Harare Gardens.This is followed by historical facts as one passes the Dominican Convent; one of the oldest established schools in the country, and enters the Roman Cathedral with its stained glass windows and exquisite paintings .
The lush gardens at Bronte Hotel provide a serene and scenic experience before the participants head over to their final destination; Harare Sports Club and Royal Harare Golf Club, hosts of the prestigious Sunshine Tour Zimbabwe Open.
Although a printout of the history of sites is not provided, the route walked is the same and has the added advantage of being able to be tailor made to accommodate the time availability of clients. Furthermore, these walks are not limited to the city centre with tours to explore Mbare also being on offer. At a cost of $25 per walk, all ages are welcome to come along on this adventure where tour sizes vary range from one to five people. A comfy pair of walking shoes are advisable as the tour is strictly a walking one, with the use of a taxi service only available to pick you up from the final destination at Royal.