the globe says
Ethiopia
Fly to Addis Ababa, then a short domestic flight to Dire Dawa and an hour's shared taxi up the escarpment.
A traditional Harari house inside the walled city — painted interiors, raised platforms, family kitchens.
The fourth-holiest city in Islam: 82 mosques in one square kilometer, coffee at its birthplace, Rimbaud's old haunt, and men who hand-feed wild hyenas at the gates each night.
Drink coffee in a courtyard at dawn, then find the hyena men at Fallana gate after sunset and hold the stick yourself.
October to February
Salam — hello, in Harari and Amharic alike.
The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuściński — Ethiopia's court, told like scripture.
The Valley of Marvels toward Babile — balancing rock formations and camel herds.
Ethiopia's security situation varies sharply by region — check advisories for the east before booking. Fly, don't drive, from Addis.