Zimbabwe
Harare in December
🌧️ Rainy seasonPleasant and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why December scores 8.8What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.5
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (26°C highs / 16°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 14.6°C)
- !Wet: ~183 mm rain, ~6 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.4
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~9 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline6.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Apr | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 26° / 16° | 26° / 13° |
| Rain | 183 mm | 37 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 15° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 9 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Harare weather-station normals. Rainfall: Harare weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Unity Day (22 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore HarareEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyHarare is Zimbabwe's capital, a green city of jacaranda-lined streets and a strong art scene. Travellers come for stone sculpture, markets and nearby rock art and balancing rocks.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Independence DayEvery year18 April every year
A national holiday marking independence in 1980.
Why go: Expect official events and closures.
Where: Nationwide, with ceremonies in Harare
Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA)Date variesTraditionally late April or May (has not run every year)
A multi-day festival of music, theatre and visual arts.
Why go: Check whether it is running before planning a trip around it.
Where: Harare
Heroes' Day and Defence Forces DayDate variesUsually the second Monday and Tuesday of August
Two public holidays honouring national heroes and the armed forces.
Why go: A long weekend; offices and many businesses close.
Where: Nationwide
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
The country's main art gallery, with contemporary Zimbabwean art and Shona sculpture.
Mbare Musika
The city's biggest market and bus terminal, selling produce, crafts and second-hand goods.
💡 Go with a local guide and keep valuables out of sight.
Domboshawa
A granite hill north of the city with ancient San rock paintings and wide views.
💡 Climb in the late afternoon for sunset, and wear good shoes.
Mukuvisi Woodlands
A woodland reserve in the city with walking trails and game such as zebra and giraffe.
Lake Chivero Recreational Park
A lake and game park southwest of the city with wildlife and rock art.
Sadza with nyama
Stiff maize porridge served with stewed beef or chicken.
💡 Local restaurants and eateries.
Muriwo
Cooked leafy greens, often with peanut butter or tomato.
💡 Local restaurants.
Matemba
Small dried fish cooked with tomato and onion.
💡 Markets and local eateries.
Madora
Mopane worms, dried or fried, a traditional snack.
💡 Markets.
Shona stone sculpture
Carved serpentine and springstone sculptures, Zimbabwe's best-known art form.
💡 Galleries and sculpture parks around Harare.
Baskets
Hand-woven baskets, including Binga baskets from the north.
💡 Craft markets and shops.