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Harare , the bustling capital city of Zimbabwe, is home to a diverse range of neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. From the affluent and exclusive Borrowdale to the trendy and historic avenues, this vibrant city has something for everyone! Whether you're looking for a daily-friendly suburb or a trendy urban district, Harare has it all! For the coming weeks, we will be exploring the top 10 neighborhoods in the city and what makes each one special First up is Borrowdale.
Borrowdale, The exclusive Neighborhood of Choice
Borrowdale is well known for its high-end real estate and exclusive suburbs (Borrowdale Brooke). Borrowdale is home to the well-off and upper-class residents of Harare. It has manicured lawns, spacious homes, and excellent schools; no wonder this is one of the city's most desirable neighborhoods. Borrowdale Brooke is the most famous area in the suburb because it's a security estate with extras like a golf course. Here, vacant land can cost something like $75 per square metre.
The History Behind It!
Borrowdale was named after Henry Borrow, an early merchant who combined residential and agricultural land to create an estate covering 22,275 hectares. Captain Henry Borrow moved to South Africa in 1882 and later joined the BSAC Police, where he helped guard the Pioneer Column and constructed Rhodesia's first artificial dam in Borrowdale. The dam was destroyed in 1939 due to severe flooding after being used for irrigation for many years.
Borrow fought in the Anglo-Ndebele War alongside Allan Wilson and lost his life in Major Allan Wilson's ill-fated Shangani Patrol. In 1897, the United Goldfields Company attempted animal production on the land but had to stop due to cattle theft by the nearby Shona people.
The land was then divided into residential plots, leading to the development of affluent neighborhoods such as Helensvale, Hatcliffe, Greystone Park, Quinnington, and Glen Forest.
Borrowdale is known for its peaceful surroundings and attracts politicians, business people, religious leaders, and socialites. Former president Robert Mugabe is among the notable residents, with his residence, the "Blue Roof," featuring impressive architecture visible from afar. Another notable person is Sam Levy, the owner of the prestige shopping center in Samy Levy village.
Notable places in a Places
When it comes to entertainment and sporting events, Borrowdale Racecourse is the way to go. There are sports car racing competitions if you are an adrenaline junkie, or you can watch horse racing.
For events, Celebration Center is also best for high-class events like weddings or events. Although it is home to the Celebration International Church, a lot of events happen there.
In terms of restaurants, if you like winning and dining, there are a couple of places you can go, like Pariah State, St. Elmos, The Jam Tree,Veldemeers, The Village Greek, and the Beach Mistress, amongst others. Whatever your style or preference is, Borrowdale has got you covered.
Shopping places are also very popular there, notably Pomona Shopping Mall and Sam Levy's Village. Samy Levy has been there for years. It's a large, well-kept mall with a great selection of stores and eateries. Good family-friendly location away from the bustle for shopping and dining out. It also extended its business into what is now called The Village Walk, which is a world-class shopping centre for everyday personal, business, and leisure activities. Sam Rahamin Levy, the owner, was a Zimbabwean businessman and property developer. Born and raised in Kwekwe in 1929 to a Jewish family He built the Samy Levy village in 1990 and founded and chaired Macey's Stores Limited,which was a famous chain of shops in the 1960s. He served as a ward councilor in the southern district of Waterfalls from 1975 to 1979. Before he died on June 5, 2012, he was considered to be one of the richest billionaires in Zimbabwe. He left the business to his son, who then helped in the expansion of the recent extension, The Village Walk.
There is also a health and wellness spa about 0.5 miles away from Semi Levy's Village called Ammara’s Health Spa, where you can get your health supplements and mind-blowing massages.
In terms of property value, the suburb is well known for its numerous high-end shopping areas, such as Sam Levy's Village and Borrowdale Brooke Center. It's one of the most sought-after and expensive places to live in the country.
Borrowdale offers a variety of properties for sale and lease, including flats, land, houses, and commercial properties. Houses in good condition range from $250,000+ for a single-story with 3+ bedrooms to $350,000+ for a double-story. Residential land prices average $40–45/m2 for 2,000-m2 lots and $30–35/m2 for larger plots. Monthly rentals for houses and apartments average $1,500, with high-end options reaching $2,500, according to the property. co.zw.
The area is of prestigious quality, has stunning views, and gated communities like Borrowdale Brooke Golf Estate attract. It also boasts excellent private schools, which include St. John's College, The Heritage Preparatory Schools, and St. John's Preparatory School.
Zimbabwe has a very fragile economy, and this is notable when posh neighborhoods like Borrowdale have seen a lot of unfinished building projects in recent years due to the unpredictability of the economy, but others do it so easily. Borrowdale is home to one of the most elite neighborhoods for the wealthy, Umwinsdale. A lack of money and the unpredictability of the Zimbabwean economy which has left a number of unfinished homes.
Borrowdale is filled with sprawling lawns and big mansions, and these mansions have swimming pools and tennis courts. Because of this, it's probably the greenest part of Harare, with hills overlooking Msasa Trees.
