Departs 17 Jan
Popular 4 days, 3 nights Cultural
Addis Ababa
Timket in Addis Ababa
Walk beside the tabots to Jan Meda on the eve, then stand in the crowd at dawn as the blessed water falls.
Cultural journeys
Harar Overnight
A walled Muslim city of painted houses and narrow lanes, explored with a Harari guide, and wild hyenas fed by hand at dusk.
Overview
The journey in brief
- Duration
- 2 days, 1 night
- Where
- Eastern · Harar
- Travel style
- Private tour
- Best season
- All year; cooler from October to February
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Price
- USD 545 per person
At dusk, just outside Harar’s old walls, the hyena men call wild spotted hyenas by name and feed them by hand. Inside the walls is the Jugol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006: five historic gates, about 82 mosques by the usual count, painted Harari houses, the house linked to the poet Arthur Rimbaud, and markets heaped with spices and baskets.
Two days lets you walk the lanes slowly, see the hyenas without rushing for a flight, and wake up inside a very different Ethiopia from Addis. Harar has no luxury hotels; the guesthouses are simple, clean and full of character.
Highlights
- Entering the Jugol through its historic gates with a Harari guide
- Wild hyenas fed by hand at about 6:30 pm, just outside the walls
- Rimbaud House, a merchant’s house with city views and a small museum
- The Shewa Gate market, Harar’s largest and busiest, on your last morning
- Tailors at their sewing machines along Mekina Girgir, among fabric and baskets
What is included
- 1 night’s accommodation, twin share
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Round-trip flights Addis Ababa–Dire Dawa at the Ethiopian Airlines discounted fare
- Airport transfers in Addis Ababa
- Vehicle and driver from Dire Dawa
- Local Harari guide
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
What is not included
- International flights
- Ethiopian visa
- Domestic fare difference if you do not fly Ethiopian Airlines internationally (about USD 150 per round trip)
- Single room (optional extra)
- Meals not listed
- Drinks
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1 Through the Old Gates, Then Hyenas at DuskHarar
A morning flight to Dire Dawa and an hour’s drive bring you up to Harar, where your Harari guide meets you. After lunch you enter the Jugol through its gates and walk to the Grand Mosque area and Rimbaud House. At about 6:30 pm, we drive to the edge of town for the hyenas.
Activities
- Morning flight to Dire Dawa
- Walk the Jugol through its historic gates
- Rimbaud House
- Hyena feeding at about 6:30 pm
Day 2 The Shewa Gate Market and Tailors’ StreetHarar
The morning starts at the Shewa Gate, where Harar’s largest and busiest market spills out around the old wall. Inside, tailors work treadle sewing machines along Mekina Girgir, and the spice and basket stalls lead to a Harari home hung with woven baskets. After lunch, the drive to Dire Dawa and the afternoon flight to Addis.
Activities
- Shewa Gate market
- Mekina Girgir, the tailors’ street
- Old-town spice and basket markets
- A traditional Harari home
- Afternoon flight to Addis
Itineraries can change with weather, road and flight conditions. We will tell you promptly if they do.
Gallery
A look at the trip
Photo: Unsplash
Good to know
Before you book
- Guide languages
- English, Amharic
- Minimum age
- 6 years and over
- Group size
- 1 to 12 travellers
- Meeting point
- Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Your guide meets you in arrivals with a name sign.
- Accessibility
- The old town’s lanes are narrow, cobbled and uneven, with steps in places. Not suitable for wheelchairs.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A light scarf
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- A small torch for the evening
Dress code: Harar is a conservative Muslim city. Cover shoulders and knees; women should bring a light scarf.
Cancellation policy
This tour follows the Strict policy. Days are whole calendar days before departure.
| When you cancel | What you get back |
|---|---|
| 30 or more days before departure | 50% refund |
| Fewer than 30 days before departure | No refund |
A non-refundable USD 150 per traveller (domestic flights) is deducted before these percentages are applied.
Questions
About this tour
Is the hyena feeding safe?
Yes. The hyena men have done this for generations and stay in control; you can watch from a few steps back or feed one yourself.
How basic is the guesthouse?
Simple, clean rooms in a traditional Harari house, with fewer comforts than a city hotel and far more character.
Can I photograph people?
Ask first. Your guide will help, and some people will say no.
Which day is best for the markets?
Any day. The Shewa Gate market and the old-town stalls trade daily, busiest in the morning.
Is the route open?
Yes. We send a current briefing before you book.
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Plan with us
Ready for Ethiopia?
Choose your dates above, or tell us what you have in mind and we will shape the trip around you.