On the east side of the Great Rift Valley, the medieval walled Islamic city of Harar is famous for its historical and cultural sites. The remarkable defensive wall, popularly known as the Jugol, was built in the 16th century. This wall warmly engulfs the city, which is confined within 48ha and 362 narrow lanes. The city inside this wall is the major reason for tourists to go to the city.
The circumference of the wall is 3.35km, with five traditional gates. The dominant features are the traditional Harari houses, the childhood home of Emperor Haile Selassie, the exciting open market with its medley of peoples and cultures, the Rimbaud House named after the French poet who lived there in the 1880s, and the hyena-feeding ritual. Harar’s glory is in its ancient monuments, dominated by the 16th-century Grand Mosque with elegant twin towers and a slender minaret.