• Personally Planned by Nigisti
  • Small Group Sizes
Custom-Built Itinerary

About Tour Package

Your journey east begins with a flight to Dire Dawa, home to Ethiopia's first-ever train station and the lively Kefira and Awaday markets, before the short drive to Harar — a walled city unlike anywhere else in the country. That first evening, you'll witness one of Ethiopia's strangest and most memorable traditions: a local Hyena Man hand-feeding wild spotted hyenas at the edge of town, a practice that began back in 1960 as a way of keeping the animals from preying on livestock.

Your full day in Harar is spent inside Jugol, the UNESCO-listed old walled city, home to 110 mosques packed into a maze of narrow lanes and colorful stone houses. You'll visit the house of the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, pass through Harar's historic gates, browse its markets, and step inside a traditional Harari home to see how the city has lived for centuries behind its walls.

On your final day, drive out to Babile to see its camel market (market days permitting) and the area's striking natural rock formations, before looping back through Harar and Dire Dawa for your evening flight home. This is a short trip, but a dense one — three days that trade Ethiopia's northern historic circuit for something rarer: a living walled city, and a tradition found nowhere else on Earth.

  • Accommodation Hotels in Harar
  • Meals Breakfast & Dinner
  • Transportation Domestic Flight & Private Vehicle
  • Group Size 2–12 People
  • Language English, Amharic, Harari
  • Heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Age Range 8+ Years
  • Season Year-Round (Best: Oct–May)
  • Category History & Living Culture

Explore Locations

The Hyena Man of Harar feeding wild hyenas at night, Ethiopia
The Hyena Man of Harar
(Evening)
Ancient stone gate of Harar's walled Jugol city, Ethiopia
Jugol Walled City Gates
(Half Day)
The house of French poet Arthur Rimbaud in Harar, Ethiopia
House of Arthur Rimbaud
(Half Day)
Minarets rising above Harar's old city walls, Ethiopia
Harar's 110 Mosques
(Half Day)
Traditional tailor at work in the UNESCO-listed streets of Harar, Ethiopia
Jugol Markets & Traditional Houses
(Half Day)
Jamia Mosque in the old city of Harar, Ethiopia
Jamia Mosque
(1 Hour)

Tour Itinerary

Expand All +
  • Harar, Ethiopia ( Departure: 7:20 am - 8:35am )
    Take the morning flight to Dire Dawa and visit Ethiopia's first-ever train station, then Kefira, the city's largest open-air market, and Awaday, its bustling khat market. Drive 53 km on an asphalt road to Harar, check into your hotel, and rest before heading out in the evening to witness Harar's famous Hyena Man — a local tradition of hand-feeding wild hyenas that began in 1960 as a way to protect livestock.
    • Transport:
      Domestic Flight, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Dire Dawa Train Station, Kefira Market, Awaday Khat Market, The Hyena Man of Harar
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Harar
    Spend the day exploring Jugol, Harar's UNESCO-listed old stone-walled city and home to 110 mosques. Visit the house of French poet Arthur Rimbaud, pass through the city's historic gates, browse its biggest markets, and step into the Ras Tefari House and a traditional Harari home to see centuries of daily life lived behind these walls.
    • Transport:
      On Foot, Private Vehicle
    • Activities:
      Jugol Walled City, House of Arthur Rimbaud, Historical Gates, Ras Tefari House, Traditional Harar House
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Dinner
    • Accommodation:
      Hotel in Harar
    After breakfast, drive to Babile to visit the camel market (on market days) and the area's natural rock formations with their unique stone piles. Drive back to Harar for lunch, then continue to Dire Dawa, with time to explore the city again before your final evening flight back to Addis Ababa.
    • Transport:
      Private Vehicle, Domestic Flight
    • Activities:
      Babile Camel Market, Babile Rock Formations, Dire Dawa City Exploration
    • Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch
    • Accommodation:
      Departure (Evening Flight Home)

Highlights of the Tour

  • The Hyena Man of Harar – a tradition dating to 1960, when locals began hand-feeding wild hyenas to protect their livestock.
  • Jugol, Harar's UNESCO-listed walled old city, home to 110 mosques packed into narrow stone lanes.
  • The house of French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who lived and traded in Harar in the 1880s.
  • Dire Dawa's Kefira Market and Awaday khat market, and Ethiopia's first-ever train station.
  • The Babile camel market and its striking natural rock formations outside Harar.

Your Route on the Map

Package Features List

Include Features
  • Domestic Flights (Addis Ababa ↔ Dire Dawa) & All Ground Transfers
  • Guided Tour of Harar's Jugol Walled City & the House of Arthur Rimbaud
  • Evening Visit to the Hyena Man of Harar & the Babile Camel Market
  • Professional English-Speaking Guide Throughout
  • 2 Nights Accommodation & Daily Breakfast and Dinner
Exclude Features
  • All Flights (Domestic & International).
  • Visa Fees & Processing.
  • Lunches Not Listed in the Itinerary.
  • Personal Expenses (Shopping, Souvenirs, Tips, etc.)
  • Optional Excursions & Activities Not Listed Above.
  • Travel Insurance.

Additional Info

  • Flexible Planning – Let us know as early as possible if your dates change; we'll always work with you to find a solution.
  • Health & Safety – We'll advise you on vaccinations, altitude, and anything else worth knowing before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Hyena Man has been feeding Harar's wild hyenas since 1960, and it's done under his careful control — you'll watch from a safe, close distance, and can even try hand-feeding one yourself if you're comfortable doing so.
Harar is a year-round destination, with October to May generally offering the driest, most comfortable weather for walking Jugol's streets. The Hyena Man feeding happens nightly regardless of season.
The camel market at Babile only runs on certain market days. If your visit doesn't line up, we'll spend the extra time at the natural rock formations nearby instead, so the day is never wasted either way.
Absolutely. Harar pairs naturally with a stop in Dire Dawa or an extension into the Bale Mountains for trekking. Let us know what else you'd like to see and we'll build it into your itinerary.
Comfortable walking shoes for Jugol's cobbled lanes, modest clothing for visiting mosques and traditional homes, sun protection, and a light layer for cooler evenings. See our full travel preparation guide for the complete checklist.

Customer Review & Rating

New Route

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Starting From
$750/per person
  • Personally Planned by Nigisti.
  • Your Safety is Our Top Priority.
Ask About Extending to Dire Dawa or the Bale Mountains

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