Harar

Harar is a historic city in eastern Ethiopia and the capital of the Harari Region. It lies about 515–550 kilometers east of Addis Ababa and sits at roughly 1,800 meters above sea level. The city has long been a center of Islamic culture, trade, and learning in the Horn of Africa.

The old city, known as Harar Jugol, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2006. It preserves a distinctive urban fabric of narrow lanes, courtyards, and traditional wooden houses enclosed by ancient walls. The walled area contains more than 80 mosques, some dating back to the 16th–17th centuries, reflecting Harar’s long-standing religious and commercial significance. The surrounding neighborhoods host markets, crafts, and everyday life that have persisted for generations.

Historically, Harar developed as an important crossroads for caravan routes linking the Ethiopian highlands with the port cities of the Indian Ocean. It served as a political and religious center under various local rulers and played a key role in regional trade networks involving livestock, coffee, spices, and other goods.

Culturally, Harar is associated with the Harari people and a strong Islamic heritage. A notable contemporary tradition is the nightly feeding of wild spotted hyenas near the city’s edge, a practice tied to local beliefs and tourism.

Today, Harar functions as the economic and administrative hub of the Harari Region, preserving its historic core while adapting to modern needs through commerce, education, and cultural preservation.