The caravan gathered at the edge of the city, to quarter their camels and work out arrangements for the night. The town had wide, camel-friendly streets, but even so, it wasn't quite built for a caravan to walk through at its leisure. Besides that, the beasts needed rest, which they would have while their masters stayed and took care of business in town.
Dante dismounted gratefully from his own beast, sodden clothes and all. He had elected to put them back on since it would be easier to disrobe after he dismounted.