Why go
Mukuvisi Woodlands is an indigenous woodland reserve and environmental education centre on the edge of Harare, run by the Mukuvisi Woodlands Association, created in 1979, which has leased the land from Harare Municipality since 1980. It gives you a slice of Zimbabwean bush, with game roaming behind an electric fence, within easy reach of the capital, so it works as a half-day trip for anyone who does not have time for a full safari further afield.
What you will see
Inside the fenced reserve you can find zebra, giraffe, eland, wildebeest and impala, along with more than 300 recorded bird species and a wide range of indigenous miombo and savanna tree species, listed on the official species page. Walking, cycling and horse-riding trails run through the grounds, so you can cover more ground than on foot alone if you want to see a wider stretch of the woodland in a morning.
The site also runs an environmental education centre for schools, reflecting its role as a conservation and education association rather than a pure tourist attraction. A coffee shop and a curio and gift shop on site cover a break and a souvenir without needing to leave the grounds.
Visiting: hours, admission, booking
The facts box on this page shows current opening hours and the adult admission price. You must sign an indemnity form at the entrance before going in, standard practice for a reserve where you are walking among free-roaming game behind only a perimeter fence.
Getting there
Mukuvisi Woodlands sits at Glenara Road South and Hillside Road Extension in the Hillside suburb of Harare, within the city rather than out in the surrounding countryside, so it is a short taxi or kombi ride from the centre rather than a day trip. The getting-around guide covers fares and road conditions for getting around Harare.
Nearby
Lake Chivero and its recreational park, covered in the Harare city guide’s day trips section, lie further southwest of the city and make a fuller day out if you want more game and a lake alongside the woodland. The city guide also covers the National Gallery and Mbare Musika market back in the centre.