From Wikitravel

Balleyara is a town 2 hours from [[Niamey]] on the route to Filingue.

[edit] Get in

Bush taxis leave early from the Wadatta gare in Niamey, 1,750F per person in a minivan or slightly more in a station wagon. Or, you can rent out an entire station wagon for 20,000F one-way. One decent driver is Oumarou, 96-62-73-96.

[edit] See and Do

Sunday is market day in Balleyara, a 2-hour drive from Niamey. The spectacular market gets going at about 10am. Balleyara is known across West Africa for having one of the largest animal markets. It also has a very lively regular market with a mix of Zarma, Bella, and Fulani cultures.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Traditional hand-woven wedding blankets in bright colorful patterns: 7000F-20000F depending on size and complicated weaving.
• Black etched wooden bowls: 500-1000F for small, 1500-2500F for medium, and 3-4500 for large, depending on negotiating skills and number of foreigners in the group.
• Carved spoons, available from the same guys as the black etched wooden bowls: 150-250F depending on size and quality.
• Carved calabashes
• Pagne fabric 5000F for 3 pagnes (6 meters) or 2000F for 1 pagne (2 meters). Enitex brand from Niger is less: 4000F for 3 pagnes or 1500F for 1 pagne.

[edit] Eat and Drink

Street food stands are your best option. You can also find delicious local bread and sweet bread. On the main road just outside the market are a couple of boutiques that serve food such as rice and sauce, omelette sandwhiches, etc. Filtered water is for sale for 25F each, known as "Purewater."

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are no hotels in town but there is a new campement/resort about 3km before town, with all the amenities. However, you could also visit Balleyara as just a day-trip from Niamey.

[edit] Contact

No internet yet in Balleyara (as of 2008). Good cell phone reception.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!