Rarely visited West African country of Niger is the land of empty deserts, sand dunes, camel rides and green oases. The fascinating African wildlife such as lions, elephants, leopards and crocodiles can be admired in the W National Park of Niger, while the Saharan Desert is home to the nomadic Tuareg people. In the lively cities of this poor, French-speaking country you can sense the real African atmosphere and shop beautiful local handicrafts in the colorful markets.
Niamey, the busy capital and the largest city of Niger is the city of bustling colorful markets, art and craft centres, and best hotels and restaurants in the country. Here you can take a ride on a canoe on the Niger River to see some hippos. Niamey is a good base for exploring the surrounding deserts, sand dunes, and the W National Park of Niger. Other remarkable cities in Niger include Agagez, Maradi, Ayorou and Zinder.
Nature destinations. In the W National Park of Niger you can admire African wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, antelopes, buffaloes, crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals, among others. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the area. The park is located around 145 km south of Niamey and you can travel to the park only with a local guide or on organized tours from Niamey. The World Heritage-listed Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves are located in the dry North of Niger.
Limited services. Niger has very limited services for foreign visitors. English is spoken only in some big hotels in Niamey. The official language is French, but only few people speak it outside Niamey. It is advisable to learn some basic phrases in local language of Hausa before traveling to Niger. The best shopping opportunities can be found in Niamey, which has open markets and some shops. Restaurants can be found in the biggest hotels of Niamey. There are also food stalls along the streets. However, buying food from the street can be a health risk. Bars and nightclubs can be found Niamey.
Deserts, wildlife and authentic African towns – Destinations in Niger
The terrain of Niger consists mostly of desert and sand dunes with some savannas in the southern part of the country, and some hills in the north. In the Sahara Desert you can go on camel rides, see sand dunes, cave paintings and fossils, and sense the tranquility of the desert. The Niger River flows through the southern part of the country.Niamey, the busy capital and the largest city of Niger is the city of bustling colorful markets, art and craft centres, and best hotels and restaurants in the country. Here you can take a ride on a canoe on the Niger River to see some hippos. Niamey is a good base for exploring the surrounding deserts, sand dunes, and the W National Park of Niger. Other remarkable cities in Niger include Agagez, Maradi, Ayorou and Zinder.
Nature destinations. In the W National Park of Niger you can admire African wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, antelopes, buffaloes, crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals, among others. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the area. The park is located around 145 km south of Niamey and you can travel to the park only with a local guide or on organized tours from Niamey. The World Heritage-listed Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves are located in the dry North of Niger.
Practical information for your trip to Niger
Niger is a large landlocked country located in Western Africa. It has a very dry, hot and dusty desert climate, except the extreme south which has a bit less harsh tropical climate. The hottest time of the year in Niger is from March to June, and the rainy season in Niger is from June to October. The best time to visit Niger is during the cooler months of December to February when there is no rainfall. Nights can be very cold in the desert.Limited services. Niger has very limited services for foreign visitors. English is spoken only in some big hotels in Niamey. The official language is French, but only few people speak it outside Niamey. It is advisable to learn some basic phrases in local language of Hausa before traveling to Niger. The best shopping opportunities can be found in Niamey, which has open markets and some shops. Restaurants can be found in the biggest hotels of Niamey. There are also food stalls along the streets. However, buying food from the street can be a health risk. Bars and nightclubs can be found Niamey.
Photo: diasUndKompott, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Medical facilities are poor all over Niger and even in Niamey.
Traveling to Niger is best done by air. There are several airports in the country, the main international airport being in the capital Niamey. The airport serves flights to Niger from Europe and West Africa. There is another international airport in Agadez. You can also travel to Niger by road from Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin or Nigeria.
Getting around. The roads in Niger are often in poor condition, except some main roads which are paved. Some roads are closed to tourists for security reasons. There are buses along the major routes in the country. However, these can be dangerous and very hot. Car rental is available in Niamey and a 4WD is usually needed. You can also rent a car with a driver.
Safety. A poor and unstable country, Niger is not the safest place on earth. Theft and robberies are common at any time, and terrorist attacks and kidnappings have increased recently. Travelling alone or at night should be avoided. Due to the presence of armed Tuareg rebels and land mines, traveling to the border regions and the northern part of Niger including Agagez and Abalack is not recommended. Always use a local guide or travel agent when traveling outside Niamey.
