Commute Times in Harare: How Long Will You Spend in Traffic?
you ever tried to get from Borrowdale to the CBD during rush hour? it's like watching paint dry, but the paint is your life and the drying is happening in a kombi that smells like burnt wiring. harare's traffic is no joke. i'm talking 45 minutes to crawl 10 kilometers on a good day, and on a bad day? forget it. you're better off walking, except the sidewalks are more pothole than pavement.
let's break it down like a bad breakup:
- *morning rush: 6:30-9:00am, everyone's trying to get to work and the roads turn into a parking lot
- evening rush: 4:30-6:30pm, same thing but with more dust and existential dread
- fuel queues: add 30-60 minutes if you need to fill up, because why not
- rain season: double all times, because the roads become rivers of regret
according to some random traffic app i found on my phone, the average harare commute is about 38 minutes one way. but that's if you live and work in the same suburb. if you're commuting from budiriro to chisipite, you're looking at closer to an hour, maybe more if there's a police roadblock or a herd of goats crossing the road.
i asked a guy at the coffee shop (the one with the good wifi, not the one with the rat problem) and he said he spends more time in his car than at his desk. "it's like a second office," he said, "except the only thing i'm productive at is listening to podcasts about conspiracy theories."
now, if you're thinking of moving here, you might want to check out tripadvisor for neighborhood reviews. just don't trust anyone who says "it's only a 15-minute drive" unless they're talking about walking.
and hey, if you're into reddit, there's a whole thread about the best times to avoid traffic. spoiler: it's never.
but here's the thing: harare's traffic isn't just about cars. it's about the vibe. you'll see vendors selling airtime and bananas at every intersection. you'll hear the symphony of car horns and street preachers. you'll smell the mix of exhaust and roasting maize. it's chaotic, but it's also kind of beautiful in a "i can't believe i'm still alive" kind of way.
if you're a digital nomad or just someone who likes to complain about traffic, harare will give you plenty to work with. just remember to pack snacks, download offline maps, and maybe invest in a good audiobook. or just embrace the chaos and start a carpool karaoke group. who knows, you might even make friends with the guy in the next car who's also losing his mind to the same traffic jam.
oh, and if you're wondering about the weather, it's currently hot and dusty with a chance of sudden rain that will turn the roads into a slip 'n slide. but that's harare for you: unpredictable, frustrating, and somehow still charming.
so, how long will you spend in traffic? long enough to question your life choices, but short enough to still love this city. or at least tolerate it. mostly tolerate it.
pro tip*: if you're new here, download the yelp app for local reviews. and maybe invest in a good cushion for your car seat. your butt will thank you.
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