Guides β€Ί Africa β€Ί Mutare
City guide

Mutare

Mutare, known as Umtali until 1982, is the capital and largest city in the province of Manicaland. It is the third-largest city in Zimbabwe.

Type CityPopulation 224,802Metro Area Population 500,000

Why go

  • Capital city of Manicaland, Zimbabwe.
  • Served by Chimoio Airport (VPY).

History

Mutare, known as Umtali until 1982, is the capital and largest city in the province of Manicaland. It is the third-largest city in Zimbabwe. Having surpassed Gweru in the 2012 census, with an urban population of 224,802 and approximately 260,567 in the surrounding districts, Mutare adds to the wider metropolitan area a total population of over 500,000 people. Mutare is also the capital of Manicaland Province and the largest city in eastern Zimbabwe.

Airports

Chimoio Airport (VPY) 82 km to the centre
Chimoio, B, MZ β€” Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron β€” plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Air Mozambique) Β· direct flights to 1 destination incl. Maputo (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths β€” 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Air Mozambique TM (Dash 8-400, EM2) Β· 1 route: Maputo

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data β€” they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Mutare Airport (UTA) 5.2 km to the centre
Mutare, MA, ZW β€” Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board β€” bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Grand Reef Airport 23 km to the centre
Mutare, MA, ZW
Outdoor
Aberdeen Airport 87 km to the centre
Aberdeen, MA, ZW
Outdoor
Nyanyadzi Airport 88 km to the centre
Nyanyadzi, MA, ZW
Outdoor
Honde Valley Airport 57 km to the centre
Honde Valley, MA, ZW
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping β†’
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map Β© OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter β€” check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Chimoio Airport (VPY); 10 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: VPY has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Maputo).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Mutare. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Tours & experiences