Harar

Harar Jugol is a enchanted, historic walled city in eastern Ethiopia, recognized by UNESCO as the fourth holiest city in Islam. Enclosed within 16th century stone walls pierced by five ancient gates, Harar's medina is a labyrinth of 368 narrow alleys lined with brightly painted traditional courtyard houses (Gari), 82 mosques, and over 100 shrines. For centuries, Harar was an independent trade emirate connecting the Horn of Africa with Arabia and India. It developed its own language (Harari), unique coffee blends, and distinct hand woven textiles. Famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud lived here in the 1880s as a coffee merchant; his former residence is now a museum showcasing vintage photographs of Old Harar. As night falls outside the city walls, Harar unveils its legendary ritual: the Hyena Men. For generations, local families have called wild spotted hyenas out of the dark desert hills to hand feed them meat directly from wooden sticks held between their teeth a spellbinding demonstration of harmony between humans and wild predators.