Harar is a walled city located in eastern Ethiopia that was once a forbidden city closed to visitors. It is considered the fourth most holy city in Islam and contains 99 mosques. The city has a distinctly Muslim cultural influence and was an important historic trade hub. Tourists can visit sites like the Grand Mosque and former houses of important historical figures. Locals partake in the traditional practice of feeding meat to hyenas.
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MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION PLACES..P2
1. MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION PLACES
Harar
Harar jugol archeology Site
Harar is a walled city which stands on the
eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley and is
the provincial capital of Ethiopia's largest
administrative region, Hararge. The city's
location gives wonderful views of the
surrounding country - the vast Danakil desert
to the north, the fertile Harar Mountains to
the west, and the cattle rich Ogaden plains to
the south. Harar was a fiercely religious city
and was a forbidden city (closed to visitors),
until 1887 when Menelik restored central rule.
With its 99 mosques, including the 16th
century Grand Mosque with is beautiful twin
towers and slender minaret, it is considered
to be the fourth most holy city in Islam after
Mecca, Medina and the Dome of the Rock in
Jerusalem. The city has a distinctly Muslim
feel, but the different rules are all visible in
the different architectural styles found within
the city. The former house of Haile Selassie
can be visited and is at present used by a
healer. The French poet Rimbaud lived in
Harar as a trader and his beautiful house is
still visited by tourists. The original Harari
houses are also famous for their beautiful
paintings and carvings. All around the walled
...It is considered to be the fourth most holy city in
city are markets famous for baskets, spices
Islam after Mecca, Medina and the Dome of the Rock
and the chewing herb, chat. A long standing
in Jerusalem....
tradition of feeding meat to hyenas one night
a year developed in the 1960s into a nightly
Harar Founded circa 1520, this feeding show for the benefit of tourists.
legendary walled city, the spiritual
heart of Islamic Ethiopia, was the most
important trade hub in the 19th century,
The Walled city
when the explorer Richard Burton and
Harar
French poet Rimbaud visited. Despite its
Devout pedigree, Harar has a rather
hedonistic feel today the compulsive
chewing of narcotic khat leaves seems
To dominate every aspect of public life,
and the bars are unexpectedly lively and
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plentifulplenty to engage history buffs,
too, but touristic pride of place goes to
the famously demented hyena men of
Harar, who lure wild hyenas to a feeding
place on the city outskirts every night.
TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants
2. Founded in the late 19th century, Addis Ababa is Ethiopia at its
most modern and cosmopolitan, as epitomised by them relative
Addis Ababa
glitz of Bole Road and the seedier Piazza district. The city forms a
good starting point for exploring most aspects of Ethiopia, whether
you fancy trawling the national museum and various imperial-era
landmarks in search of historical and cultural enlightenment, losing
yourself in the maze-like commercial hubbub of the Mercato
(reputedly largest market), or socialising in its ubiquitous coffee
shops and bars whilst absorbing the wondrously discordant home
The Home of the hominid grown music that emanates from all directions.
African Heritage
ADDIS ABABA ADDIS ABABA ADDIS
ABABA
Addis Ababa (New Flower in Amharic), the capital city and
arrival point for incoming Flights, also the best place to Begin
exploring. Addis Founded in 1887 by Emperor Menelik, this
Sprawling, and vibrant city of 3 million Inhabitants is home to
both the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity and
the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. As a most
attractive city, the Addis Ababa has the position of both city and
state. There are almost 80 nationalities speaking in various 80
languages. This is actually the grassland-biotic community. From
the lowest area around the Bole International Airport amid the
southern edge to the northern part of the city with more than
3,000 meters in the Entoto Mountains, Addis Ababa is in easy
access to various parts of Ethiopia. The city lies at the foot of
Mount Entoto, and is home to Addis Ababa University.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has plenty of places to
travel around during your leisure time. The 2
Ethiopian National Museum is popular for the plaster
copy of Lucy...
TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants
3. D Ire Dawa is city in Harar region, Ethiopia. It is a
commercial and industrial center located on the Addis
Dire Dawa
AbabaDjibouti railroad. Manufactures include
processed meat, vegetable oil, textiles, and cement.
There are also railroad workshops in the city. Dire Dawa
was founded in 1902 when the railroad from Djibouti
reached the area, and its growth has resulted largely
from trade brought
Dire Dawa has a rich wealth of pre-historic cave paintings
some of which have achieved international recognition through
the efforts of the French and American Geologists that have
Dire Dawa
studied them several times in the last 75 years, while there are
still other caves that have never been studied so far. The
remains of the British airmen and African soldiers who, during
the Second World War, fought besides the Ethiopian forces to
liberate Ethiopia from Italian occupation.
The railway line that
reached Dire Dawa in 1902
Dire Dawa
is believed to have been
All the attractive sightseeing places of the reason the city came
Dire-Dawa can easily be explored by into being in the first place.
the local minibuses. You will have to That is why the railway
take the blue and white minibuses that station is one of the
destinations of tourists and
will fetch you to the perfect places of
other visitors coming to the
Ethiopia. The best way for getting city. Kefira is a traditional
around is to utilize the minibuses or to market place where one
hire the blue taxis during your stay. can see the colorful This is one of largest mosques
Dire-Dawa has plenty of places to presentation of all people found in the city. It is called
explore. The French mannered train of the region in their Italian Mosque because the
cultural dresses. The Italians built it during their
station is a must-visit place of the city.
presence of camels, short-lived occupation of
This train station will provide you an donkeys, and the inevitable Ethiopia. Dire Dawa, a modern
ancient feeling of 19th century. You can Gharris, two wheeled carts Ethiopian railway town, with
also go to watch the sunset and sunrise drown by a horse or a mule, an international airport and
at the Dechatu river basin. You can gives it an aura of going several first-class Government
enjoy the panoramic vista after the sun back to medieval times. and private
sets.
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The main city of Dire-Dawa. Dire Dawa is strategically located at the east of the
nation located on the Dechatu River
TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants
4. Simien Mountains National
Gelada monkey
Simien Mountains National Park
The Simien Mountains form one of Africas largest mountain ranges and
are one of the most spectacular. With many of the peaks rising above
4000m, they make an awesome sight and contain Ethiopias highest
mountain and the fourth highest in Africa Ras Dashen, standing
majestically at 4620m. The Simien Mountain National Park, an area
abundant with flora and fauna, fertile cultivated terraces and vibrant
hillside villages. Gaping montane scenery aside, the park is the last
stronghold for the endangered walia ibex and the main population centre
of the magnificent golden-maned gelada monkey, while birdwatchers are
practically guaranteed close-up views of the awesome lammergeyer
(bearded vulture). The Park was one of the first four sites to be inscribed
on the World Heritage List in 1978. The Park is the refuge of the extremely
rare Ethiopian wolf, gelada baboon and Walia ibex, a goat unique to
Ethiopia. A total of 21 mammals have been recorded, including seven
endemic species. The Simien region, surrounded by old cultural centers like
Aksum, Lalibela and Gondar, has been inhabited by cultivators for at least
2,000 years.
The roof of Ethiopia
To the south mile upon mile of green cultivated land, intersected by
Dramatic gorges stretch out beneath you. Here on the high plateau the
rare Ethiopian Wolf, Walya Ibex and Lammergeier call this home. Troops of
Gelada Baboons abound and the giant Lobelia can grow up to 10m in
height. The awesome landscapes of the Simien Mountains are simply
breathtaking with amazing canyons and immense, bizarre rock formations. 4
Surprisingly verdant and in contrast to the surrounding arid plains, the
Simien Mountains present a wonderful setting for wild trekking.
TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants