A Journey into the Walled City of Saints, Stories, and Surprises
Step into a world unlike any other in Ethiopia with this immersive 2-day journey to Harar Jugol — the 4th holiest city in Islam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tucked away in the eastern highlands, Harar is a labyrinth of over 80 alleyways, 82 mosques, and hundreds of traditional homes wrapped inside ancient city walls. But its magic lies in more than its architecture — it’s in the vibrant blend of cultures, colors, and centuries-old traditions that live on today.
Your journey begins with a short flight or scenic drive from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa, followed by a transfer to Harar. Once inside the city’s historic walls, you’ll discover bustling markets, richly decorated homes, Islamic shrines, and coffee houses echoing with centuries of conversation.
As the sun sets, you’ll witness one of Harar’s most iconic and mystical rituals — the hyena feeding ceremony, where locals hand-feed wild hyenas just outside the city gates, a symbol of coexistence found nowhere else.
Whether you’re a history buff, cultural explorer, photographer, or curious traveler, Harar offers an experience that is intimate, colorful, and deeply human.
Explore the ancient walled city of Harar Jugol, filled with over 400 historic homes and vibrant street life
Visit the home of Arthur Rimbaud, the French poet who lived in Harar in the late 1800s
Walk through the colorful spice markets and chat with Muslim, Christian, and Oromo locals living side by side
Discover Islamic shrines, traditional Harari houses, and handcrafted baskets and textiles
Witness the hyena feeding ritual — a surreal nightly tradition blending folklore and reality
Taste traditional Harari cuisine and experience the legendary coffee culture in local homes
Catch the morning flight to Diredawa, and drive 55kms to Harar. On arrival your expert guide leads you through the maze like alleys of Harar where you can visit unique Harari houses with their exceptional interior design, Al Jami mosque inside Jugo, Sherif Abdulla museum and the house of Arthur Rimbaud. In the evening, you will drive to the outskirt of the city to attend an outlandish ritual of feeding wild hyenas in the hyena man show.
After breakfast, drive to Diredawa. In Diredawa you will visit the colorful Kefira market and the old train station before catching your flight back to Addis.
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