Experiences in Niger

Visit Agadez
The ancient city of Agadez was established back in the 11th century and today it has turned out as a significant center of Islamic learning as well as an important seat for the Sahel sultanates. It is occupied mainly by the native Tuareg people popular for making leather handicraft and metallic handicrafts which you can buy from the different stalls at the local markets. This city which is the fifth largest in the whole of Niger was a popular stop over for many merchants that were crossing the desert on camels along the trans-Saharan trade route, And even today it continues to be a significant point along the trans-Saharan highway which is a truck route used to transport goods from the northern parts of the African continent to the South. The city remains highly populated, very vibrant and busy with trade, so visitors who will make their way here will enjoy both ancient and modern day ways of trading. Some of the important sites found here include the sultanate palace as well as the Agadez mosque that was constructed during the 16th century.

Visit W National Park
this National Park is shared by three different countries which include: Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin; and the large part of this national park that is found within Niger was declared a national park in 1954 and later in 1996 it acquired the status of a World heritage site by UNESCO. In case you are interested seeing the different wildlife found in Niger, is the best recommended place to go. Leopards, baboons, lions, African elephants, hippos, cheetahs and water buffaloes are among the very many different types of animals found here, in addition to more than 365 different types of birds.

Pay respect to the Dosso King
Visit the royal palace, the active town square as well as the museum where you will get a chance to learn about the Dosso Kingdom that dominated the region prior to the colonial times. Today a number of cultural ceremonies are still being conducted here.

Visit Ayorou Town
Located about 200 kilometers Northwest of Niamey the capital and close to the Malian border, Ayorou is an ancient town found close to the banks of river Niger and it is popular for its animal market. During your visit one of the very popular activities to engage in here is to take a hippopotamus tour down the course of the river during which you will also visit several islands that are inhabited and get an opportunity to experience their unique lifestyle.

Visit Maradi for souvenir shopping
Maradi is the third largest city in Niger and among the major economic centers in the country. Being a prime home to the Hausa Culture, this city has a number of artisan markets where handicrafts are beautifully displayed and sold. This is a good place to go and buy some souvenirs to carry back home at the end of your visit in Niger. Other places of interest in this city include: the Dan Kasswa mosque and the Katsinawa Provincial Palace for the Chief.

Visit Zinder City
Zinder is mistakenly believed to be the capital of Niger however this city served as a capital to the country until 1927 when the capital was transferred to Niamey the present day capital. Zinder offers various tourist attractions such as the unique mud-brick constructed sultan’s Palace which is significant to this Sahel region traditions, a large market where you will be able to see both Niger’s mercantile history as well as the modern day trade. Unique about this part of Africa is that today the tradition of bartering items as a form of trade is still being practiced and this is one of the best places to have a personal experience of it while in Africa.

Enjoy a sunset canoe ride on River Niger
River Niger is among the most significant waterways on the African continent. So do not miss out on a relaxing sunset sail in a canoe was you explore this beautiful waterway. Other activities that can be done on this river include fishing trips especially from Feruary to July, as the river has more than 250 different species.

Watch Giraffes in Koure
Koure town is found in the southwestern part of the country and it is home to one of the last remaining populations of giraffes across Western Africa. These giraffes have a tendency of moving closer to the road and foliage on the nearby vegetation during the rainy seasons. Many tourists enjoy game drives to see these very tall animals gracefully feed of the treetops, and a number of holidaymakers actually prefer to hike to this area and see these animals while on foot. Koure can easily be accessed from capital city Niamey.

Explore the beautiful Air Mountains
The section of the Sahara Desert within Niger has a number of uneven Air Mountains that rise high above the surrounding terrain to a height of 6,000 feet (1800 meters) and covers an area of about 85,000 square kilometers. This area which is mainly inhabited by the Tuareg nomads is home to a number of different wildlife species such as the fennec a desert specialist, hyenas and baboons.

Be part of the Annual Nomad Festival
The Cure Salee also known as the Festival for Nomads which is an annual gathering of the Wodaabe and Tuareg people found in Ingall a town in the northern part of Niger. This ceremony is conducted in the last two weeks of August.