Babile Camel Market
Babile
A market in the town of Babile, about 30 km east of Harar, where Somali and Oromo herders bring large numbers of camels to trade. It offers an authentic taste of East African pastoral life.
Babile is a small town on the road from Harar to Jijiga. On market days, usually Monday and Thursday (check with your hotel), large numbers of camels, cattle and goats gather on the edge of town, and Somali and Oromo herders haggle over prices in a lively, raw atmosphere. It is one of the best-known livestock markets in eastern Ethiopia. The market is busiest in the morning and winds down around noon. It is about 40 minutes by hired car from Harar and is often combined with the nearby Valley of Marvels as a half-day trip. Always ask permission before taking photos, as some people will ask for a tip.
Opening hours
Market days, mornings
Nearby sights
- Valley of Marvels (Dakata)
- Harar Hyena Feeding
- Gidir Magala & Old Town Markets
- Harar Jugol
- Arthur Rimbaud House
- Tomb of Emir Nur
- Sherif Harar City Museum (Ras Tafari's House)
- Medhane Alem Cathedral & Feres Megala