The walled city of Harar

Dating back to 16th century the walled city of Harar is ancient and the fourth sacred city of Islamic religion followers and a center of learning Muslim faiths. The city came to be a formal city much later around the 10th AD and once it was established as a center of Islamic learning in the horn of Africa.
Harar is shaped by insularity, exchange mysticism indigenous faith and history. The remarkable defensive lime- stone wall popularly known as the Jugel was built in the 16th century. This wall warmly engulfs the city within 60 hectares and 362 narrow lanes. The city’s five traditional gates are corresponded to the five pillars of Islam and the kingdom built 99 mosques according to the 99 names of God referred to in the Quran.  Of those an estimated 82 remain active today.   
Apart from the 5 m high strong encircling walls, the other most dormant features in the old city are the traditional Harari houses (exceptional on their design), the childhood home of the late Emperor Haile Sellasse I, the exiting open market (probably the most colorful in Africa), the best expressed the Grand Mosque (Al Jami) and the hospitable Harari people and cultures.
The Harari people are known for the quality of their handcrafts including weaving Basketry. Colorful markets are rich and exciting. They offer beautiful baskets of woven grass, decorative wall –mats and bright shawls as well as handmade soaps, silver jewelries, fruits, vegetables, different types of spices and grains of the province while tailors line the narrow streets with their sewing machines.  
When the night falls the wild spotted hyenas walk peacefully through moon-drenched nights down winding alleyways of the city to collect something that they can eat. On the outskirts of the walled city local men attract wild hyenas for the Hyena- Feeding ritual and feed these dangerous scavengers with acrobatic performance passing bones and meat by hand and even from his mouth. You will share the typical experience getting near these wild animals and even feed them with your own hand.