Any Travels

Niger is a landlocked country bordered in the north by Libya, Chad to the East, Nigeria in the south, Benin and Burkina Faso in the southwest, Mali in the west and Algeria in the Northwest.

Two-thirds of Niger is desert with much of the of the northeastern part of the country being uninhabitable. The remaining third of the country is savannah, suitable mainly for raising livestock and limited agriculture. In the north-central region is the volcanic Air Massif, attaining heights of up to 5,900 ft.

The Niger River flows for 300 miles along the south-west border, permitting the cultivation of various crops. A portion of Lake Chad is situated in the eastern part of the country.

Most people of Niger are muslims, although there are quite some differences in their practice depending on the region where they are from. People of Arab descent tend to be a bit stricter than the Haussa from the south.However, these differences seem to be slowly disappearing.

Niger was one of the last places in Africa to fall under colonial rule and in the case of Niger, it were the French that left their mark on the country and its inhabitants. French is still widely spoken and if you don't speak Haussa, Pulaar or any of the other languages spoken in Niger, you will probably (have to) get by with your French.

The capital city of Niamey is a nice and easy going town with colourful markets. More importantly, Niger has stunning natural beauty, especially in the Mountain ranges in the north of the country, but also houses a few old trading centers in the Sahara, such as Agadez and Zinder, that have a distinct mixture of arab/touareg and black african culture. The Hausa architecture in those towns is also worth a detour.

Speaking of detours: it is not always easy to travel in Niger. The roads themselves are not the biggest problems; actually they are not as bad as you might expect. But banditism and political strife between different factions can make certain areas unsafe.

The trans-Saharan routes to Algeria and Libya can be closed due to these circumstances. Try to check recent reports, under the section Trans-Sahara.

Niamey
Niger's capital located in the far western region of the country is a lively fairly modern city of 500 000. Niamey offers unique open-air markets that are great for people watching—they're patronized by members of the Tuareg Sonuri and Fulani tribes. The town's other main attractions are the Grand Mosque (ask permission before entering) and the outdoor National Museum one of the finest museums in Africa (it displays local artifacts cultural exhibits and even animals—although the bare cages and neurotic animals are heart-wrenching to see). The museum also houses an artisans cooperative where the quality is tops (the jewelry is particularly fine) and the prices are a little high yet reasonable (and surprisingly nonnegotiable).

The city's stadium the Stade du 29 Juillet sometimes has sporting events soccer being far and away the most popular. The Franco-Nigerien cultural center is a well-managed facility with state-of-the-art information systems a well-endowed library a nice bar and cafe and an amphitheater used for French and African film screenings performance art and dramatic productions. Just across town on the Rue des Ambassades the U.S. recreation center has a softball field a pool a basketball court and a diner.

For more adventurous outings it's possible to take a ride in a pirogue (dugout canoe) on the Niger to see hippos in pools.

Culture

Niger forms part of the vast Sahelian cultural region of western Africa. Although the influence of Islam is predominant, pre-Islamic cultural traditions are also strong and omnipresent. Since independence, greater interest has been shown in the country's cultural heritage, particularly with respect to traditional architecture, handicrafts, dances, and music. With the assistance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a regional centre for the collection of oral traditions has been established at Niamey. An institution prominent in cultural life is the National Museum at Niamey.

The food in Niger is unlikely to be the thing you most remember about the country. In the north most meals consist of some combination of yoghurt, mutton and rice, and in the south rice, sauce, couscous, and ragout, or stew, are common elements. You'll probably still enjoy the meals, though, because of the distinctively Nigerien ambience. Any food tastes better when you're eating it under the stars, and have your feet stuck in the warm sand.

cool
the only thing wrong with this place is they seem to have left out a g in the name.