Eastern Ethiopia
Eastern Ethiopia, centered on the UNESCO-listed walled city of Harar, with a strong Islamic culture and the signature experience of feeding hyenas at night.
This region is defined by whole regional states and includes the Harari Region, the city of Dire Dawa and the vast Somali Region; geographically it is the transition zone from the eastern edge of the Ethiopian Highlands to the Ogaden lowlands.
Highlights: the old city of Harar (Jugol), with 368 alleyways and more than 80 mosques and shrines, regarded as the fourth holiest city of Islam, enclosed by walls with five gates built in the 16th century; the Rimbaud House Museum; the "Hyena Men" who hand-feed wild hyenas outside the city at dusk; the surrounding khat and Harar coffee markets; Dire Dawa's French colonial quarter and its Ethio-Djibouti Railway station, from where you can ride the electrified Addis–Djibouti railway; and Babile Elephant Sanctuary.
Classic itinerary: fly from Addis to Dire Dawa (or take the Ethio-Djibouti Railway), then travel about 1 hour by road to Harar and stay 2–3 days; it can be combined with the Northern or Southern routes.
Getting around: Dire Dawa Airport has daily flights. Note: the security situation in most of the Somali Region is complicated, so travelers generally go only to Harar and Dire Dawa; when taking photos in the old city, please respect the wishes of local women.
Destinations
Itineraries
- Harar Jugol & Dire Dawa – Fly to Dire Dawa, transfer to Harar, wander the alleys of the walled city of Jugol, and watch the hyena feeding at night
- Addis, Omo Valley & Harar Fly-in Route – Connect the capital, Omo tribes, and the ancient eastern city by air, bypassing the north and long overland drives