Rusape

Most people meet Rusape as the place where you turn left for Nyanga. It is a Makoni District town at 1,410 m, about 170 km from Harare on the Mutare road, and the 2022 census counted 37,906 people. The name comes from rusapwe, “may it never dry”, after the Rusape River, the one stream near town that runs all year. Give it a day, though. Two national monuments sit in the farmland north of town.

Getting there

From Harare take the A3 through Marondera. The Zimbabwe Field Guide logs Rusape at 168 km. The A14 branches north here for Juliasdale (239 km from Harare) and Nyanga village (259 km), while the A3 carries on over the rest of its 270.8 km to Mutare. Stop at every toll gate and police roadblock, keep copies of your passport and visa handy, and ask for a receipt if you are fined. Avoid the open road after dark. Our self-drive guide covers the rest.

When to go

Go in the dry season if you want to reach the monuments. July and August get under 5 mm of rain each on the 1961 to 1990 figures, while December and January get over 165 mm, and the farm roads around Diana’s Vow get worse after the rains. July nights average 4.8°C, so pack a jumper. October is the hottest month, around 27°C by day.

What to do

Diana’s Vow is National Monument No. 64, a San painted frieze on a big overhanging boulder. A reclining figure, possibly masked, lies among bows, baskets and animals, and nobody agrees on what it shows. Frobenius saw a royal burial, Fothergill a ceremony, Peter Garlake a trance dancer in sable antelope markings. To get there, take the A14 for 0.95 km from the A3 junction, turn left on the tar road signposted for Harleigh Farm and Diana’s Vow, pass the old tobacco barns at 14.5 km and turn right onto the farm track at 29.1 km.

Zvipadze (National Monument No. 72, once called Harleigh Farm Ruin) is near those barns. The main ruin is Zimbabwe-type stonework from the 17th century, and Chief Zvipadze is buried there. A second ruin stands on a kopje about 500 m away, ringed by a ditch and bank that early explorers took for a moat. Selous described the ruins in his diary in October 1890. The track wants a high clearance car, and the field guide suggests phoning ahead for the local guide.

In town, Rusape Dam lies on the edge next to Tsanzaguru hill. It supplies the town’s water, and local legend has a mermaid at the dam who takes a human life every year.

Good to know

During the Second World War more than 700 Polish refugees lived in a camp here until it closed in 1946, after which they were moved to Gatooma, now Kadoma. Fill up in town before heading for the monuments, since fuel can run short, and carry cash because cards are not always accepted.

Last updated 19 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Rusape (Makoni District, about 170 km from Harare, 1,410 m, rusapwe name, Rusape River, Polish refugees until 1946, 2022 census 37,906, 1961 to 1990 climate table), Wikipedia, Rusape Dam (on the outskirts next to Tsanzaguru, town water supply, mermaid legend), Wikipedia, A3 road (Zimbabwe) (Harare to Mutare 270.8 km, A14 branches north at Rusape for Juliasdale and Nyanga), Zimbabwe Field Guide, Nyanga National Park (Harare to Rusape 168 km, Juliasdale 239 km, Nyanga village 259 km), Zimbabwe Field Guide, Diana's Vow (National Monument No. 64, route from the A3 and A14 junction, Harleigh Farm barns at 14.5 km, car park at 29.4 km, passable for 2WD, poor after the rains, Frobenius, Fothergill, Garlake), Zimbabwe Field Guide, Zvipadze Monument, formerly Harleigh Farm Ruin (National Monument No. 72, 17th century, Chief Zvipadze's grave, second ruin 500 m away with ditch and bank, Selous 1890, high clearance track 2.3 km from the barns, local guide), The Herald, Hidden, yet charming tourism sites (Zvipadze along the Rusape to Nyanga road, Diana's Vow on a large overhang boulder, one of two rock art national monuments in Manicaland), UK FCDO, Zimbabwe safety and security (roadblocks and toll gates, receipts for fines, no night driving outside towns, fuel shortages, power cuts, carry cash).