NIGER © that can cheerfully rivalanyotherinthisbook. that cancheerfully mighty NigerRiver inadugoutpirogue,andyou’ve gotyourselfaWestAfrican adventure Ayorou. Addtothisthelaid-backbutcosmopolitancapitalofNiameyandatripdown Africa’s lastherdofwildgiraffe of atKouréandtheimpossiblyromanticSundaymarket in thepeacefulsouth:ancientsultanate ofZinder,thefantasticWNationalPark, West townofAgadez trade-route wasstillaccessible,aswellabevyofattractions trans-Saharan before headingtothecountry’snorth. the groundremains unstable,however, andyoushouldalwayscheckthelatest information the government onpaperatleast,in2009. The broughtanendtotheconflict, situation on However, and Libyan-brokered ceasefire talksbetweentheNigerMovement forJustice(MNJ) remained closedtotravellersthe AïrMountainsinnorth duetotheTuareg Rebellion. at theedgeofSahara. population andsomesuperbtout-free WestAfrican travel throughancientcaravancities republic, you’llfindawarmandgenerousMuslim tovisitthisdesert theeffort you make famine and–incredibly, asrevealed inatrial2008–itsongoingslavery problem.Butif Niger only thenewsforbad reasons:seems tomake itsrecent coup,theTuareg Rebellion, Niger 442

L Despite atthetimeofwritingfascinating theclosure ofmuchthecounty’snorth, Sadly, atthetimeofwritingcountry’sgreatestand theTénéréDesert attractions,

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e is covered bythe Visa desPays del’Entente. Algeria, Benin,Chad, MaliandNigeria. Niger West African citizens. Obtainedeasilyin Visa Required byalmosteveryone except Time GMT/UTC +1 Telephone Countrycode toAugust) wet (June Seasons Hot anddry(September toMay), Population 14.7million CFA463, €1=CFA656 Money WestAfrican CFA franc;US$1= Tamashek Languages French, Hausa,Djerma,Fulfulde, Capital Niamey Budget US$15toUS$70aday the landborderwithLibyaiscurrently closed Faso,Borders Algeria,Mali,Burkina Benin,Nigeria,Chad; ATMs Nonexistent Area 1,267,000sqkm international accesscode l y

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é T Maiduguri Temet Chirfa Base yourself in Niamey and Fachi Termit (1295m) Arbre du Ténéré Gouré Réserve Naturelle Nationale de l'Aïr et du Ténéré Mt Takolokouzet ( p450 ) Savour the aromas at the ) Savour p450 ( ( p452 ) Explore the Birni Quartier) Explore p452 ( ( p450 ) Wander in wonder with ) Wander in wonder with p450 ( Terim (2022m) Mt Bagzane Zinder Tazolé Tanout Assodé Jibiya Parc RegionalParc du W face with lions, crocodiles, monkeys diverse and elephants in this incredibly national park. Ayorou market. country’s most exciting Zinder and soak up the brutal history at the sul- city. Hausa tan’s palace in this fascinating One Week trips to Ayorou day a series of make ) and to the giraffes p451 Filingué ( (p450), spending two ), before p450 near Kouré ( Regional du nights in the wonderful Parc the south. ) in p451 W ( Kouré giraffes. of West Africa’s last wild herd (1944m) Akréréb Gréboun N I G E R I A

Kano

Aïr      CLIMATE & WHEN TO GO & WHEN TO GO CLIMATE ITINERARIES

December to February, the coolest and driest per- the coolest and driest December to February, can iod, is the best time to visit. Temperatures through to June, soar beyond 45°C from March Rains unfeasible. making desert dampen travel until September. May the south from late

Tezerzaït Agadez Mountains Timia Elméki Katsina Tessaoua (373km) To Abuja Téloua S a h a r a Iferouâne Arlit ὈὈ ὈὈ Tafadek In-Gall Maradi Aderbissinat Abalak Assaouas Assamakka Tamanrasset Madaoua Illela Sokoto Tchin- US$4.40 Tabaradene US$0.50 In Guezzam Tegguida-n-Tessoum Tillia Tahoua US$0.10 US$0.20 Dogondoutchi Birni N'Konni US$0.05 Kamba US$1.10 Gaya Dosso Filingué (528km) US$1.10 Malanville To Cotonou

Baleyara US$3.30 Kouré A L G E R I A NIAMEY Parc La Tapoa du W Tamou National US$3.30

NIGER •• Highlights Tillabéri Say US$1.50 M A L I B E N I N Ayorou Namaro Labbézanga Kollo ( p454 ) Spiral up to the spiky ) Spiral up to the spiky p454 (

ὈὈ ὈὈ Téra Boubon Makalondi Kantchari Gao Foetchango

Dori Bottle of Bière Niger Bottle of Bière T-shirt Souvenir beef brochettes Grilled 1L petrol 1.5L bottled water Street snack (beignet) Street Moto-taxi across any town Sachet of purified water Sachet of purified stylised (historically d’Agadez Croix cross) silver (amulet) grigri Simple Tuareg FASO

River

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Agadez mud mosque the majestic summit of Sahara the views over for incredible here and beyond. BURKINA NIGER

To Ouagadougou (107km)

Niger To Timbuktu (594km)

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