The eastern part of Ethiopia and is a region inhabited mainly by Muslims. The ancient walled city of Harar has more than 99 mosques and shrines mixed in with households behind its sixteenth-century walls. This city was founded over 1000 years ago and is considered to be one of the fourth holiest city of Islam after Mecca, Medina and the dome of the rock Jerusalem. Also, Harar is the first Muslim learning center in the Islamic world. In Ethiopia as Axum was the window for Christianity, Harar is the same for Islam.
Beside the walls and the mosques, the dominant features of this UNESCO registered world heritage site are the traditional Harari house; the childhood home of late Emperor Haile Selassie; the exciting open market that presents mixture of people and culture; the Rimbaud House named after the French poet who lived there in 1880 and the hyena-feeding ritual - where, after dark, the legendary Hyena Man feeds meat by hand - and mouth - to the wild hyenas that haunt the city's fringes.
Harar, which is not too large to be visited on foot, is a place of unique and unforgettable charm and has much to offer to the discerning tourist. Walking down its narrow path and twisting lanes, one can easily feel transported back in time to the days of Richard Burton - or even earlier when Amir Nur constructed the city's stout old walls
The ancient metropolis of a once powerful race, the only permanent settlement in Eastern Africa, the reported seat of Muslim learning, a walled city of stone houses, possessing its independent chief, its peculiar population, its unknown language and its own coinage; the emporium of the coffee trade and the great manufacture of cotton cloths, apply it appeared deserved the trouble of exploration.
The old town is home to 110 mosques and many more shrines, centered on Feres Magala square. Notable buildings include Medhane Alem(Holy Savior) Cathedral, the house of Ras Mekonnen(the father of Emperor Haile Selassie I), the house of Arthur Rimbaud, and the sixteenth century Jami Mosque. The Walls of Harar - built in the early 16th century, the walls are designated after the city of Harar. The Walls have 5 arched gates inviting to the city's popular basket works, a variety of fruits and colorfully decorated costumes of Harari (Hadere) women. The city of Harar is considered as the 4th holy city of Islam. One of Harar's main attractions is the hyena man who feeds hyenas on the outskirts of the town every night. The sum of all these attractions made Harar one of the ten Ethiopian UNESCO world heritage sites.
