Every evening at nightfall, a small group of hereditary hyena feeders (the practice passes through families) gather at two spots just outside Harar's walls to feed wild spotted hyenas that come in from the surrounding hills. Visitors stand close — close enough to touch, if they dare — and the feeders pass strips of meat from a basket, sometimes holding them in their teeth for hyenas to take directly.
This is not a zoo performance. The hyenas are fully wild and can disappear at any point. Most nights they come reliably; occasionally they don't. The best-known spot is near the Erer Gate on the eastern side of the old city. A small fee goes to the feeder. Arrive around 7pm and bring a torch — the road is unlit. The experience is one of the genuinely unusual things you can do in Africa.