Harar, in eastern Ethiopia, is considered the fourth holiest city in Islam and one of the oldest walled cities in Africa. The Jugol (old walled city) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing 82 mosques, 102 shrines, and a labyrinth of narrow alleyways lined with colourful houses.
The city’s most famous attraction is the “Hyena Men” — for over 500 years, local residents have fed wild spotted hyenas at the city walls. Today, visitors can watch (and even participate in) the nightly feeding, where hyenas take meat directly from a handler’s mouth or hand.
Harar’s bustling markets, spice stalls, and traditional coffee ceremonies offer a sensory feast. The city is also home to the Rimbaud House museum, named after the French poet Arthur Rimbaud who lived here in the 1880s.