Skip to content
Ethiopian— vacations —

Historical & Cultural Tours

Harar Cultural Tour

Two days in the walled old city, and the hyenas that come to its gates.

Ask About This Tour
Duration
2 days
Region
Harar
Starts
Addis Ababa

Overview

Harar is a walled city in eastern Ethiopia and one of Islam's historic centres in the Horn of Africa, with a dense old town of narrow lanes, mosques and shrines behind the Jugol wall. It is also where, for generations, men have fed spotted hyenas by hand outside the walls after dark — a practice that is genuinely local rather than staged for visitors. Two days is enough to see the old town properly and to be there after sunset.

Highlights

  • The walled old town of Jugol and its gates
  • The market
  • Hyena feeding after dark, outside the walls
  • Harar's coffee, from one of Ethiopia's oldest growing regions

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Fly to Dire Dawa, on to Harar

    Fly east to Dire Dawa and drive up to Harar. The afternoon is spent walking the old town and its market. After dark, out to the walls for the hyena feeding.

  2. Day 2

    Harar, return to Addis Ababa

    The old city in daylight — the Jugol wall, the museums and a coffee works. Drive back to Dire Dawa and fly to Addis Ababa.

Who it suits

Mostly walking, on cobbled and uneven lanes in the old town. The hyena feeding takes place after dark, outside the walls, and is optional.

Before you go

Harar is in eastern Ethiopia, in a different direction from the northern historic route and the south, so it does not combine neatly with either. It works best as a trip in its own right.

Common questions

Where is Harar?
In eastern Ethiopia, reached by a short flight to Dire Dawa and then a drive. It is in the opposite direction from both the northern historic route and the south, so it is usually done as a separate trip.

Places visited

  • Dire Dawa
  • Harar

Other journeys