Under $100: Harare

It’s no secret a trip to Zimbabwe comes with a hefty price tag; hotels and restaurant prices are on par with New York City. Visiting the capital city, Harare, on a budget is no easy task, but it can be done.

Start the morning with a trip to the Mukuvisi Woodlands to experience a safari within city limits. Entrance price is only $4, but you might have to splurge a little more for a horseback or bicycle tour.

Afterward, make your way to the National Botanic Gardens to take a walk along 58 hectares of beautiful flowers found throughout Zimbabwe. Price of admission is $5. You’re probably starving by now, so head over to Gava’s for some generous portions of traditional Zimbabwe food and fantastic peri peri chicken. Expect to drop roughly $20 here.

In the afternoon, make your way to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The museum is dedicated to preserving the artistic history of the country and features plenty of African artists. Ticket prices are only $1.

Take a break from history for a bit and do a little shopping at Doon Estate. This arts and crafts market features tons of local artisans peddling their wares, so drop around $20 here to help the local economy. It’s located right next to the Chapungu Sculpture Park so be sure to have a walk around while you’re here.

The rest of the afternoon can be spent exploring the Harare Gardens, one of the largest parks in the city, or simply wandering around and seeing what exciting things you can find.

For dinner, if you still have some cash on hand, make your way to Coimbra, a wonderful restaurant known for it’s Portuguese chicken. It can be pricey depending on what you buy, so expect to drop $20–30.