Harar: an ancient walled city, the fourth holiest in Islam Harar: an ancient walled city, one of the holiest in Islam

Visit the 4th holiest city in Islam, spend two nights within its ancient walls in a very special, colourful traditional house. Visit French-influenced Dire Dawa and its early 20thC railway compound.
This truly unusual tour takes you to the east of Ethiopia to visit the colourful and fascinating cities of Dire Dawa and Harar. The main focus is the ancient, walled city of Harar where you will sleep in a very special traditional Harari family house. You will visit museums, explore the narrow, colour-washed alleyways of the city, be shown round the huge covered market area with spices, traditional clothes and every type of local fruits and vegetables. You will also witness Harar's most amazing spectacle, the nightly feeding of the wild hyenas, taking part yourself if you really want to! Back in Dire Dawa on the third day, you can enjoy the tree-lined boulevards and visit the historic railway museum with original rolling stock and carriages as well as the stationmaster's offices, all still intact.

The tour starts in Dire Dawa after your afternoon flight from Addis Ababa (we'll assist you with the booking of your flights if you would like us to). At the airport you will be met by one of the finest local guides who will have your private car waiting to take you on the two-hour transfer to the city of Harar, passing through local towns and villages quite unlike those you may already have experienced in this very varied country of Ethiopia.

You will check in to your comfortable and unique accommodation and then, if time allows, your guide will take you immediately to the edge of the city to see the feeding of the hyenas. This is a truly extraordinary thing to witness and you may be invited to take part yourself if you so desire - but this is not compulsory!

After a good dinner at a classic hotel in the centre of the city, you spend your first night in this unique situation.

You will be offered an equally unique breakfast by the lady of the house - local pancakes and honey, coffee and tea - before your guide rejoins you and introduces you in a fascinating way to the details of the house and its traditions. After that you start off for your main day of exploration of this ancient walled city - well-curated museums, narrow alleyways with pastel colours on the walls, ancient mosques, an old Catholic church, a coffee roasters (Harar coffee is world-famous) and coffee stops for relaxation whenever you require. A simple lunch will break the day up and you might decide to give yourself some downtime also for a couple of hours - your decision! The day will end with another good dinner at a local restaurant and a second night in your Harari traditional house.

The next morning, after breakfast, you will be taken back to Dire Dawa to look round this attractive city and visit the railway museum. It's a much more fascinating experience than it might sound, like stepping back a century into the days of steam trains and a very different speed of life. Wooden furniture in the carriages, schedules still on display in the ticket office, etc.

Your guide will deliver you back to the airport in good time for your return to Addis Ababa.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

Cancellation is not possible. If you cancel it anyway or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity and the money you paid will not be refunded.