A CITY LIKE NO OTHER IN a country like no other. Hara is where Africa met Arabia, where Ethiopia met Somalia, where Islam met Orthodox Christianity, and farmers met hyenas.

Preservation orders protect a large number of historic buildings in the city, which has been a trading post for a thousad years.

The walled city is considered the fourth holy city of Islam, and known in Arabic as 'madinat al-awliyaʾ, the City Of Saints.

The city grew as a trade route between Arabia, the Horn of Africa, and Ethiopia. Contuing east takes you to Somaliland.

Harar began feeding its hyenas in the 19th century famine, to stop them attacking livestock. Hand feeding is still carried out nightly by two men.

French poet Arthur Rimbaud spent many years in Harar dealing arms and coffee. These girls are playing in the grounds of the museum which was his house.