Harari Region

A Riot of Colour

Harar delights the eye at every turn, from the brightly painted walls of its old houses to the baskets and textiles piled high in its markets. The interiors of traditional Harari homes, lined with woven baskets and vivid cloth, are famous throughout Ethiopia. It is a city that seems to celebrate colour as a way of life.

Dancing with Hyenas

Perhaps the most extraordinary sight in Harar unfolds after dark, when the famous hyena men feed wild hyenas by hand just outside the walls. This remarkable tradition, part ritual and part spectacle, has drawn curious visitors for generations. Brave souls are sometimes invited to offer a morsel themselves.

Coffee, Poets and Trade

Long a crossroads of caravans, Harar gave its name to one of the world's most celebrated coffees, still grown in the surrounding hills. The French poet Arthur Rimbaud spent his final restless years here, and a house in his memory now welcomes visitors. Sip a cup slowly, wander the lanes, and let the old city work its quiet magic.