Harar Tour from Addis Ababa: 2 Days with Hyena Feeding

2 Days / 1 Night Private & customizable Easy

Tour overview

Discover a very different side of Ethiopia on this two-day private journey to Harar, one of the most atmospheric cities in the Horn of Africa.

Surrounded by its historic walls, Harar’s old town, known as Jugol and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is a maze of narrow lanes dotted with mosques and shrines. For centuries it has been a centre of Islamic culture, trade and learning, and today it is famous for its colourful markets, its coffee and its unique tradition of feeding wild hyenas at night.

Fly from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa and drive up to hilltop Harar. Explore the old city on foot with a local guide, join the evening hyena feeding and spend the next day meandering the city walls and markets, with time for unplanned encounters before flying back to Addis Ababa.

Tour Highlights

Return flights between Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa
Explore Harar’s historic walled old town on foot
Discover its mosques, shrines and narrow lanes
Join the famous evening feeding of the spotted hyenas
Taste the city’s celebrated Harar coffee
Wander the colourful local markets
Walk through the historic city gates
Visit the house associated with the French poet Arthur Rimbaud

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Dire Dawa and the Walled City of Harar

Take a morning flight from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa, then drive for about an hour up to the hilltop city of Harar.

Spend the afternoon exploring on foot. Harar shows a very different side of Ethiopia, shaped by Islamic culture, architecture and daily life. Its maze of streets is dotted with mosques and shrines and surrounded by the walls that have protected this sacred city for centuries.

In the evening, take part in one of Ethiopia’s most thrilling experiences: the feeding of the spotted hyenas on the edge of the city.

Overnight: Harar (guest house, bed and breakfast)

Day 2: Explore Harar and Return to Addis Ababa

Spend the day getting under the skin of this picturesque and diverse city. Walk along the old city walls and through its historic gates, wander the colourful markets and visit the house associated with the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, now a museum with views over the old town.

Stop for a cup of Harar’s famous coffee. We also like to leave time for the unexpected, so you can truly experience the everyday life and culture of Harar.

After lunch in the city, transfer to Dire Dawa for an early evening flight back to Addis Ababa.

Included

Return flights between Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa
One night in a Harar guest house with breakfast
Local guide in Harar
Private transport and airport transfers
Evening hyena feeding
Entrance fees

Not included

Lunches, dinners and drinks
International flights
Visa
Insurance
Tips
Personal expenses

Traveller reviews

What our travellers say

Tripadvisor ★★★★★

“Took a 12-day trip with three friends all around Ethiopia with New Ethiopia Tours and would highly recommend them. Bre was professional, communicative, and easy-going. He was willing to work with us to fulfill all our requests, to pivot when unexpected issues popped up, and was just a generally great person to have on our trip with us. He went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing trip even when the weather and health issues had other plans for us. Throughout the trip, I felt safe and respected. This was my first time in Ethiopia and I am glad I went with Bre and New Ethiopia Tours. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to book a tour in Ethiopia.”

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Google ★★★★★

“Great car, great guide, and customised the trip for me. Thank you very much.”

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“Recently spent 9 days visiting Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Simien Mountains and Lalibela, all organised by New Ethiopia Tours.

Birhanu and the team took care of every detail, were able to answer any questions and attentive to any special requests eg. vegetarian meals! Accommodation was all a high standard, transport all felt very safe and was impressed by how smooth everything went.

A special mention to our guide for the whole trip Henok, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of this unique and fascinating country!

A reliable and professional tour operator and would highly recommend!”

“The guid Ebraham was very helpful and tried his best to make my trip wonderful. I would recommend him for everyone.”

“I recently spent almost two weeks in Ethiopia (Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, and the Danakil Depression). Everyone from accommodation, currency exchange, local guides/transportation, and domestic flights was organised by Birhanu and his team. I was very impressed at how smoothly everything went, and Birhanu was always extremely helpful and communicative. Would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to visit Ethiopia.”

“Title: Birhanu and Solomon - The Perfect Guides to Ethiopia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re planning a trip to Ethiopia, Birhanu and Solomon from New Ethiopia Tours are exactly who you want leading the way. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and generous, making every moment of the journey memorable.

From the start, they made us feel welcome, like we were exploring with friends rather than guides. Their deep understanding of Ethiopia’s culture and history, paired with their warm sense of humor, kept the trip both educational and fun.

Whether it was helping us navigate bustling markets, sharing fascinating stories, or going out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly, they truly went above and beyond. Each stop felt thoughtfully planned, yet they still managed to keep things flexible and relaxed.

If you want a seamless and enriching experience, Birhanu and Solomon are the perfect choice. Highly recommended!”

“Very good experience with this local tour operator. Very reattive to my messages and professional during and after the booking Process i did the city tour and dankil depression. Happy for the services and timing. I reccomend this company as reliable and organised. Thanks”

“Thanks to Mule and Birhanu, we had an amazing experience in Addis and the surrounding areas. They helped us truly connect with the people, landscapes, and local customs in a way we could never have done on our own. They’re super professional, friendly, and know every little corner. If you’re thinking of exploring Ethiopia for real, don’t hesitate—reach out to them. Booking their services was the best decision of our trip. Highly recommend!”

“It was such a wonderful experience! The tour guides are very elaborate and patient with the different questions. They were also recommended very nice restaurants for us 👌🏾”

“We were honored to have had an amazing and hospitable tour guide experience during SHAPE Africa event. Birhanu is amazing. He takes good care of you, ensuring that everything goes smoothly and eloquently.”

2-Day Harar Tour from Addis Ababa