Off the oval- shaped almost north –south historical route is Harar 554 kilometers due east of Addis Ababa. While the town has a reasonable hotel most people prefer to stay in Dire Dawa 54 kilometers away along the road to Addis Ababa.

The most dominant feature of Harar are its strong encircling walls which tightly embrace the town, its rich and exciting market place- probably the most colorful in Ethiopia – and its 99 mosques Harar is believed to be 4th holiest city in Islam , after Makkah Medinah and Jerusalem.