Famous for its oasis towns, desert dunes, and Africa’s greatest dinosaur graveyard, Niger has layers and layers of history.
As you touch down on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, be prepared to walk down memory lane and immerse yourself in one of the richest fusion of Arabian and African culture in the world.
This desert republic rarely makes waves in the international consciousness, and when it does it’s invariably for all the wrong reasons: coups, rebellions and famines but there’s so much more to Niger than what the world has been fed to believe.
In the north, the stark splendour of the Aïr Mountains hides Neolithic rock art and stunning oasis towns. Within the expansive dunes of the Ténéré Desert are dinosaur graveyards and deserted medieval settlements, while to the south is the ancient trans-Saharan trade-route town of Agadez and the sultanate of Zinder.
In the capital, Niamey, ornate mosques, the vast Niger River, and museums that celebrate the country’s cultural heritage are the perfect introduction to the wonderfully diverse nation.
Sights N Sounds in Niger’s Niamey
There’s plenty to see in Niamey. The largest and most beautiful mosque in the city, Niamey’s Grand Mosque was built in the 1970s and has since become the city’s gathering place for Friday prayers. You can take a tour up the minaret’s 171 steps and look out from your place in the heart of the city.
You can set out on a sailing trip on the Niger River, the lifeblood of the country and the river that gave the country its name, aboard a traditional wooden boat and look out for swimming hippos, rural villages and the most mesmerizing sunsets.
At the National Museum of Niger or Musee National du Niger, as it’s known locally, you’ll find an impressive selection of exhibitions tucked inside Hausa-style pavilions. Here you will learn about traditional dress, the homes and tools of Niger’s diverse ethnic groups, the history of the Sahara, and the country’s endless customs and traditions.
Several times a year, Niamey hosts a fabulous race event that sees powerful horses compete to race across the red earth. The equestrian race started when Niger declared its independence from France in 1960, and has since turned into a tradition of racing, held in a hippodrome in Niamey’s center.
Niger pulsating nightlife
Despite roughly about 85 percent of the population adhering to the Sunni branch of islam, Niamey has a vibrant night life.
La Cloche bar in Niamey is one of the most popular clubs in the city and is packed every night. This club (next to 2005) can be quite fun. There’s a pool table and the music ranges from Arabic to Western. Here you will also bump into a high number of prostitutes busy looking for clients.
Galaxy bar, perched on the river behind the Piscine Olympique D’Etat (Olympic swimming pool), offers a more African experience in Niamey.
Where to stay in Niger
The Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey is nestled on the Boulevard de Republique, nearby the Palais de Congress, the Old Presidential Palace, and international embassies. Besides being in one of the safest areas in the city, you’ll find design-led accommodation, three on-site restaurants complete with a rooftop lounge, an elegant spa and beauty center, and Niger’s first conference center.
Welcome to Niger
Officially known as Republic of Niger, Niger is a landlocked western African country, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world’s largest uranium deposits.
It is bounded on the northwest by Algeria, on the northeast by Libya, on the east by Chad, on the south by Nigeria and Benin, and and on the west by Burkina Faso and Mali.
The country takes its name from the Niger River, which flows through the southwestern part of its territory. The name Niger derives in turn from the phrase gher n-gheren, meaning “river among rivers,” in the Tamashek language.
On paper Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base, and is ranked last in the world on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.
French is the official language while Hausa and Djerma are the two most popular and widely spoken languages. The largest linguistic group is formed by the Hausa, whose language, also spoken in Nigeria, is one of the most important in Western Africa. Songhai is the second most important language; it is also spoken in Mali, in northern Burkina Faso,and in northern Benin.
In Niger itself it is divided into various dialects, such as Songhai proper, Zarma, and Dendi.
Niger ethnic demographic is diverse and the country is made of Hausa (53.1%), Zarma/Songhai (21.2%), Tuareg (11%), Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5%, Kanuri (5.9%), Gurma (0.8%), Arab (0.4%), Tubu (0.4%), other/unavailable 0.9% (2006 est.).
Niger has the highest total fertility rate (TFR) of any country in the world, averaging close to 7 children per woman in 2016.
