Harar combines a distinctive landscape with a historic cityscape: the fortified historic city sits on a plateau with deep gorges, surrounded by desert and savanna. In Harar Jugol, today’s urban layout follows a 16th-century design. Commercial and religious buildings stand in the centre, alongside narrow streets lined with distinctive façades. This combination of urban layout, architecture and culture shapes the many ways to explore Harar.
City history in homes and collections
The Harar Community Centre Museum contains a replica of a traditional gey gar, a Harari house decorated with hundreds of historical artefacts. The Sherif Harari City Museum, meanwhile, is housed in a two-storey mansion with wide balconies. Emperor Haile Selassie spent much of his childhood in this house. The Arthur Rimbaud Museum offers a different focus: it displays exhibits about the poet, as well as monochrome photographs of the city from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The three museums offer different perspectives: a replica of a traditional house, a building with a historical connection to Haile Selassie, and photographs of Harar spanning two centuries. Those interested in the city’s history can consider these perspectives alongside the layout and façades of Harar Jugol.
Shrines, a minaret and the cityscape
Individual religious buildings also stand out in their own way. The domed Awaach of Amir Nur is one of 438 shrines in the Old Town of Harar Jugol. The minaret of Al-Jami Mosque dates to the 1760s. The shrine is notable for its shape and its place among the many shrines, while the mosque’s dated minaret offers a specific historical reference point.
Cultural festivals and their dates
Shewal Eid is a Harari cultural festival celebrated on the eighth day of the month of Shewal and lasting 24 hours. Calendar dates vary, so it is worth checking the date before your trip. This is distinct from Shuwalid in the broader Harari destination: the Harari festival takes place annually and lasts three days. Celebrations are held at the Aw Shulum Ahmed and Aw Akebara shrines, located at the main entrance gates of the walled city of Harar. The two festivals differ both in duration and in their stated timing.
Evening activities and market life
In the broader Harari destination, Harar’s hyena men feed wild hyenas at dusk at two locations: the Aw Ansar Ahmed Shrine outside Argob bari Gate and the Christian slaughterhouse outside Assumiy Bari Gate. The timing at dusk is a distinctive aspect of this cultural activity.
At Harar’s marketplaces, local women sell tropical fruit. Market life complements the historic buildings and museum collections with a glimpse of trade in the city.
Tours and getting around
Tours of Harar Jugol can be arranged through hotels or at the central Tourist Information Office. Check locally for current availability. Hotels can therefore also be a point of contact if you would like to include a tour in your plans.
In the broader Harari destination, taxis and bajaj can be picked up at Feres Megala and along the main road through Harar’s New Town. Availability may vary. When planning, it is helpful to treat your preferred sights and cultural dates as separate priorities and check the relevant details locally.
For the broader travel overview: East Hararghe.
