My first reaction when told about feeding wild hyenas in Harar was one of slight disbelief.

The last time I saw hyenas they were tearing an animal to pieces out on safari, so I was understandably a little curious about the practice of feeding wild hyenas with a stick of meat in my mouth.

It turns out the tradition of feeding wild hyenas in Harar dates back decades.

They used to leave food offerings in the hills so the hyenas wouldn’t eat the livestock in times of drought.

Someone had the bright idea of luring the hyenas to the old city of Harar and then feeding them meat as a tourist display.

The hyenas became so used to being fed near the city that they started to roam the city streets at night, looking for scraps of meat thrown away.

It is somewhat a freaky feeling wandering the maze of streets in the old city and then bumping into a hyena walking down the opposite way.

So with a slight sense of trepidation I wandered to the place where the hyena men had gathered at around seven at night.

FIND PLACES TO STAY IN HARAR HERE

Feeding Hyenas in Harar

They call themselves “hyena men”. Brave guys who call out to the hyenas every night and then feed them with scraps of meat.

There are two spots where they feed them, the old and the new.

I was in the new spot and was the first to arrive. Waiting in the dark the first set of eyes shone in my direction, and then several more.

Hmmm, I thought, what the hell did you get yourself into this time Jonny?

Soon the hyena man was surrounded by several off them.

The hyenas had become so used to humans because of being fed every night, and as long as they are distracted by pieces of mea they will not attack you.

Having said all that they are still wild and have no problem tearing other animals to pieces up in the hills!

The fact they have the second strongest bite of any land animal (the crocodile is number one), one can be somewhat apprehensive, especially as I was the first there.

I did not get to see anyone else try it before me.

Gathering myself I handed my camera over to someone, possibly for a memorial photo at my possible funeral, and leant down while the hyena man put some meat above my head, and soon enough a hyena jumped on my back and snatched it away.

It was very creepy having a hyena jump on your back!

They are not only strong, but huge as well.

“Right”, said the hyena man, “time to put a stick in your mouth and feed them meat from the end of it”.

You got to be shitting me, was my naturally calm and rational response.

But before I knew it I had a stick with a piece of meat on the end and the second strongest jaws of any land animal snapping it off from 10cm in front of my face.

I was now actually beginning to thoroughly enjoy the experience. With my initial trepidition fading I was left alone with several hyenas around me and a basket full of meat.

The hyenas came from all sides and took it in turns taking meat from the basket.

They better be bloody right about not eating people as long as they have meat, was the mantra going around my brain.

I even started giving them names, Fido being the most prominent one that came to mind.

After about twenty minutes alone more tourists showed up.

These we’re domestic Ethiopian tourists and they understandably we’re very nervous as well.

Devious thoughts to make it sound really bad came to mind and I was soon having fun watching them go through the same experience I had.

Some took it better than others.

It was hilarious watching the show, with new people coming and having the fear on their faces of not knowing what to expect.

The piece-de-resistance was when a young girl put everyone to shame and happily took the basket of meat and started feeding the hyenas with a big grin on her face.

You wouldn’t get this show at Disneyland I thought!

After 45 minutes I left and wandered back in the dark with a big smile on my face.

Hyenas in Harar

I love seeing wildlife, so being up close with one of Africa’s most dangerous predators was incredible. I will never forget it snapping that meat from right in front of my face.

Make sure to take travel insurance for your adventures. I recommend using SafetyWing Travel Insurance for your trip, just in case, it’s best to be prepared.

See my post about exploring Harar’s old city here.

Learn more about Ethiopia with my complete Ethiopia travel guide.

FIND PLACES TO STAY IN HARAR HERE

Interested in Ethiopia?

Pick up my favourite guidebook to Ethiopia (good Harar section inside).

Ethiopia (Bradt Travel Guides)

SHARE IT –

SaveSave

Keep in the loop with an occasional email of my latest and updated travel guides.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!