From Wikitravel

Niger is an arid, landlocked West African country with a population of 11,000,000. It is bordered by Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Chad and Libya. Niger is a former French colony which was granted independence in 1960. The land is mostly desert plains and dunes, with rolling savannah in the southeast.

[edit] Regions

[edit] Cities

• Niamey (pop 674,950 according to 2002 census) - capital and commercial center
• Agadez - stop on the traditional cross-Sahara route to Algeria
• Dosso
• Maradi
• Tahoua
• Tillabery
• Zinder

[edit] Other destinations

• W National Park (Tapoa)
• Koure - See the last herd of giraffes in West Africa
• Magia Valley
• Balleyara Market - Two hours from Niameym, one of West Africa's largest animal markets, plus a colorful array of other traditional market and artisanal goods (Sundays)
• Rio Bravo / Kanazi
• Ayorou - a river-side town three hours from Niamey with a colorful, laid-back Sunday market as well as pirougue tours to see the hippos and islands.
• Boubon -- Bar/restaurant and huts to rent nightly on an island in the Niger River.
• Namaro

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

Not until 1993, 35 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999.

[edit] Economy

Niger's economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999 coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In 2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of $105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation. The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facility for Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Two international airports: in Niamey and Agadez.

• Niamey has regularly scheduled flights from Europe and West Africa.
• Air France is the only major carrier with direct flights from outside of Africa. but a regional airline, Point Air Niger flies weekly between France and Niamey.
• Royal Air Maroc has good connections via Casablanca.
• Charter flights from Paris and Marseille to Niamey and Agadez (Point Afrique airlines, see vols charters)
• Air Algerie offers flights to Niamey from Algiers.
• Afriqiyah flies via Tripoli.

There are a few private companies and one mission aviation group (SIMAir) that do charter flights from Niamey in small planes.

[edit] By car

Travelers can get to Niger overland by roads from Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria. Some adventurous souls still cross the Sahara from the north (Algeria), but that area is not secure.

[edit] Get around

There are no railways in Niger.

Of the 10,000 km of highways over 2000 km is paved and efforts are being made to improve some of the sections that have previously been in repair. One can travel from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso all the way to Diffa, near Lake Chad on roads in decent to tolerable condition. The road from Niamey to "Park W" in the south is paved. The Zinder-Agadez route is being repaved after being in severe disrepair for years. The Birni Nkonni-Agadez-Arlit road is in poor shape.

The country has 27 airports/landing strips, 9 of which with paved runways.

From mid-December to March the Niger River is navigable for about 300 km, from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin border.

Taxi's in Niamey run either 200 francs if the distance isn't too long, or 400 francs for a going almost across the city. At the airport in Niamey though they have a monopoly and the lowest you'll get a taxi for is 3,000 francs, and that's if you haggle a lot. If you go South from the airport you'll hit a main road and for 100 to 150 francs you can get a ride from a beat up van to the Grand Marche.

[edit] By bus

The Nigerien government has recently set up a bus service along the major routes of the country. While taking cars is exciting and interesting, they are dangerous, extremely hot, and more expensive. Plus, they are forced to pull over after midnight due to banditry. Because these cars often only leave in the evening, it can take several days to travel a relatively short distance. The large buses are brand new Mercedes buses and they carry a soldier at night so they may drive all night long. In addition, due to their large size, they can skim over potholes that would destroy the smaller vans.

[edit] Rent a car

There is almost no possibility to rent a car in usual sense, although in 2005 a Hertz franchise came to Niamey and rents Toyota RAV4s. Also you can rent full-size cat-cat (4x4 SUV from French: quatre-quatre) with a driver/guide, but in most cases you will have to arrange with companies that organise expeditions.

• Tidene Expeditions, BP 270 Agadez, +227 440568, fax: +227 440 578

[edit] Talk

The official language in Niger is French, though very few people speak it outside Niamey, and even there do not expect a high level conversation with the traders at the markets. The local languages include Djerma (spoken mainly in Niamey), Hausa, Fulfulde and Tamashek (spoken by Tuaregs in north), and Kanuri (spoken by Beri Beri). English is of no use outside American cultural center and few big hotels of Niamey. However, you will find English-speakers in border towns along the Nigerian border, such as Birni N Konni and Maradi. These people are usually from Nigeria to the south and in general want something from you. As friendly as they may be, always listen to a professional guide over anyone that speaks some English.

[edit][add listing] Buy

The "Petit Marche" in Niamey is a good place to buy fabric, baskets, jewelry and other crafts. 'Score' or 'Haddad' is the closest thing to a Asda, Tesco or Walmart as you can get in country. You can buy just about anything there.

The currency used in Niger is the CFA Franc (FCFA - XOF). $1 = 499.504 FCFA (as of February 16th, 2007).

ATMs - Mastercard/ Maestro withdrawals are available at Banque Atlantique in Niamey

[edit][add listing] Eat

• "Le Poulet du Milliardaire"

This is simply a guy selling fried chicken and fried guinea fowl in the street. But it is terribly good. Don't forget to order it with sauce and bread. Be aware that buying street food can be a health risk! Egg sandwiches are tasty in Niger as well. You can go and wait to be served in the pub in front of him (even if they sell their own fried chicken.) In April 2006, a chicken dish cost CFA 2000 and a fowl for CFA 2500. It's called "poulet du miliardaire" (even if it is not written anywhere) because the guy multiplies all his prices by 1000, just for the fun of it!

Arobanda, in front of the "Maquis des Arènes", Niamey

[edit][add listing] Drink

The national beer is called, appropriately, Beire Niger. The only other locally produced beer is a franchise of the French West-African Flag brewery. While taste is in the eye of the beerholder, most people claim to get headaches from one brand or another. They are also brewed in the same tank from the same ingredients with the slightest variation on how much reconstituted malt they put in each batch. All other beer, boxed wine and hard liquor is imported.

• DRINK PLENTY OF FILTERED OR BOTTLED WATER. You WILL get dehydrated during your trip to Niger at one point.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Grand Hotel du Niger. (+227) 20 73 26 41. Fully renovated, magnificent view over the Niger River and Niamey. Really the perfect place if you want to be perched on top of Niamey, quietly installed out of the real life. Perfect for a 100% touristic view.

[edit] Learn

If you learn about 20 phrases in a local language, especially Hausa, you will gain respect in a heartbeat. Simply greeting people in their local tongue will make your trip there smother than you would have ever thought possible.

Some Arabic words such as the greeting 'Assalam-U-Alaikum,' which means, "may we sit in peace," or 'al hamdallaye,' which means to a Nigerien "Bless it, it's finished," can be useful. The latter can also get your out of having to sample possibly dirty food, or from eating at someone's home until your stomach explodes.

Patience. If you haven't learned it before you went to Niger, you probably will.

[edit] Work

Volunteering would be your best bet here, as many people in the rural areas have been hit by drought.

[edit] Stay safe

Niger is one of the safest countries in West Africa. The only annoyances you are likely to meet are young boys shouting "Anasara," which means 'foreigner' in most local languaes, derived from the Arabic word. You will also be asked for a 'cadeau' pretty much every time you see a person outside your hotel. The word is French for 'present,' and it is best to remember not to perpetuate the misery this word causes to foreigners working in the country.

In Niamey you should feel safe, even after dark, no matter what US Department of State says. If you stay away from markets after dark and use taxis you shouldn't run into any problems at all. In markets there is risk of pickpockets, but you are more likely to lose money by haggling poorly and in French.

Carrying a backpack and camera, looking like a tourist, and especially being a white, will definitely draw some unwanted attention. Most of the attention is from people who try to get your money legally, either by selling you a toothbrush or by begging, but there are always few less honest people.

In the region north of Agadez, there have been many car-jackings, kidnappings and robberies in the past sixteen or so years. The problem continues to this day (most recently, 2 Italians were kidnapped by Tuareg rebels in September 2006), and tourists should consider the area essentially lawless.

Avoid driving late at night in a private vehicle. Ocassionally armed robbers will operate near the town of Galmi (central Niger) and around Dosso-Doutchi (in western Niger), as well as on the road to Gao, Mali in the Tillabery region. Normally, there are police check-points on the main highways which limit criminal activities during the day.

[edit] Stay healthy

The Centers for Disease Control is an excellent resource for authoritative advice on health issues for travelers to Niger.

Drink lots and lots of water while in Niger because the dry heat will dehydrate you and you won't realize it. It is the best preventative step you can take. Bottled water is available in most of the cities but in a pinch, city tap water is well-chlorinated (this is according to one traveler; another American who lived in Niger for two years says never drink unfiltered water anywhere! - that includes ice!). Be particularly wary of well water as it can be dirty.

Wear loose clothes, big hats, and lots of sunscreen. If in doubt, wear what the locals wear.

Malaria, including encephaletic malaria, is a problem, and is chloroquine resistant in Niger.[1] Take your prophylaxes, use heavy-duty insect repellent (DEET is best, though nasty), and consider carrying a mosquito net (although they are horribly hot). If you are in a well-screened room, simply spray the room with readily-available insecticide 15 minutes before entering (like when you leave for a meal) and all your existing mosquitos and other critters should be dead.

Giardia, and much worse -- dysentery -- is also a problem. Be wary of any roadside food, unless you buy it hot off the grill. Even items fried in oil could make you sick if the oil has been heavily used and is old. If ordering a salad, asked if it was washed in eau de javel (household bleach) as that will kill anything nasty. Also, never drink unfiltered water (and no ice!).

Schistosomiasis is present in most water bodies in Niger, so travelers should avoid going in the water everywhere -- except chlorinated swimming pools.[2]

In case you were unable to stay healthy, the Clinique Pasteur (situated in front of the Lycée Fontaine) has clean facilities, sterile needles, and competent, sympathetic doctors. The Clinique Gamkalley and many other clinics are around, however, you may need to watch out for dirty needles, over-prescription and aggresive staff.

[edit] Respect

Visitors are treated as kings in Niger (there is a Koranic proverb to that effect), so be careful not to abuse the hospitality you will be shown. For the most part, try to accept all the small tokens and gestures (cokes, tea, small gifts, etc.) that are offered to you during your time in Niger. It really isn't good to refuse too much and don't think "these people are too poor to give me these things". That is offensive as taking good care of guests is a point of honor and gives people great pleasure. Don't comment out loud when you see poverty or things in disrepair and please don't remind Nigeriens about how poor their country is.

Always ask people, especially the elderly, before taking a photograph. Many Nigeriens still believe that a camera has the ability to take their soul somehow.

Also, remember Niger is a predominantly Muslim country. Covering up knees (especially women, but men too) is typically very appropriate and appreciated anywhere you go in Niger. For women wearing tank tops or revealing clothes outside of Niamey can be seen as VERY offensive. Even in some parts of Niamey it can be frowned upon.

[edit] Contact

See the Friends of Niger website for discussion boards where you can ask questions before you go to Niger and maybe get some Nigeriens or others to fill you in.

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