Harar & Dire Dawa Travel Guide

🚌 Addis Ababa → Harar Bus: Direct to Harar (13 hours, departs at 4 AM from Lamberet Menaharia). Stops for 30 mins for food. Ticket price: ~1550 ETB (varies by company). Shops are independent—compare options! (A Kenyan traveler paid 1800 ETB for a 3 AM bus, but I couldn’t find that vendor.) Plane/Train: Only go to Dire Dawa (then transfer to Harar). 🏨 Harar Accommodation Belayneh Hotel: 700 ETB/night. ⚠️ Check-out by 10 AM (late fee negotiable—I bargained from 350 ETB to 200). 🍽️ Food & Drinks Adot Juice: Try the Adot Special salad (huge portion!). Coke: 70 ETB inside the walled city, 60 ETB outside. Local "herb" is often offered—try at your own risk 🌿😉. 🐺 Hyena Feeding Ask locals for "Hyena Feeding Site" (near the old city). Or hire a guide. A must-do experience! 🚂 Returning to Addis (via Dire Dawa) Minibus to Dire Dawa: 2 hours, 150-300 ETB (I paid 300 ETB—backpack counted as a seat). Train to Addis: 1520 ETB, departs at 7:30 AM (10-hour ride). Built by Chinese! ⚠️ Note: Dire Dawa’s station is far from the center. Tuk-tuk: 200-300 ETB (locals may quote 500+ ETB—bargain!). #Africa #TravelAfrica #BudgetTravel #Ethiopia #Harar #DireDawa #HyenaFeeding #IslamicCulture ✈️🌍🐪