Travel Blog » Africa » Niger

Niger Travel Blogs

Background: Not until 1993, 33 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. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.

Niger

Map of Niger

Niger's Flag

Hostels in Niger
Latest Niger Blog Entries
Niger Photos

By Uwargida
March 29th 2009

Africa Moment #16 Africa » Niger » Niamey

Anti hangover soap

So, I had to stay an extra three days in Niamey because the airport staff are on strike. I went out to find some soap and the only thing I could find was this "Lendemain Difficile" or, "The Next Day is Difficult"...Anti-hangover soap. I haven't been drunk in well over 20 years, but where was this stuff when I was 15? Notice the back side, soap+man=woman to the second power (or squared)...what does that mean? Anyway, it promises to save your morning and bring you back to life after a short and restless night! Maybe Peace Corps should purchase this in [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
March 29th 2009

Mobile Pharmacy Africa » Niger

Dosso Mobile Pharmacy

Here is a nice mobile pharmacy in Dosso...anything and everything you could possibly need! Jaundice, gonorrhea, diarrhea, stomach problems, diabetes, fever and much, much more! Doesn't it make you feel better already to see your potential treatments being served out of old trash cans, gas cans, plastic bags, and dirty water bottles? [View Full Entry]

By Kurogawa
November 9th 2008

And so we trudge alog the paths that lay before us, and smile. Africa » Niger » Niamey

Douglas in Zinder, Niger.
A beautiful city.

When I crossed the border by buss I was really positive and meditative. The hot wind blowing furiously in my face, as the bleached scenery rushed by, drenched in the strongest Sahelian sun. It was a pleasure to see slight hills, and eventually a valley in which the Niger flowed, as we drove into Niamey, the capital. This is Niger, remember, not Nigeria! This is a country of some 14 million people, considered to be the poorest country in the world for third consecutive year, and there were no severe droughts those years, so one can see the state of things [View Full Entry]

By rosekanasty
July 2nd 2008

Finding giraffes and jewellery in Niger Africa » Niger » Niamey

After the awful bus from Cotonou dropped me off in Fada, I met up with PCVs Beth and Aisha. We happened to be in Fada on the night of a Floby concert, what luck! (Floby is a popular Burkinabe singer.) The next morning we joined PCV Courtney on a bus to Niamey. There was a big fiasco in which the bus company sold us tickets and then didn’t want to let us get on the bus, but we managed to get some spots standing in the aisle. It was about an eight hour trip including a long stop at the border. [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 7th 2008

Africa Moment # 13 Africa » Niger

Hadja in Niger
Light load but fun to watch none the less!

One of the things I love about West Africa...It is not very clear due to the fact that both of us were in moving vehicles, but I just get a kick out of the ladies dressed to the max zooming about on motos and scooters...no helmet, purse slung over the arm, bags and shopping stuffed onto the front. This one was a 'minimum baggage' you notice; she doesn't have three kids and a goat on the moto with her! The record on this trip was a dad, mom and three kids on one motorcycle but unfortunately I wasn't fast enough with [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 7th 2008

RPCV Niger Africa » Niger » Niamey

Gaston Kaba
Gaston and I at Dragon D'Or

I was just in Niger for 10 days conducting a workshop for Imams and Pastors to equip them to discuss HIV and AIDS in their congregations and communities. It went very well - thanks for asking! All of the translations were exhausting, but other than that it was a great experience. It is nice to be in a forum where we can discuss our similarities and not focus on our differences! The group was very motivated and all but one participant turned in a follow up plan of action so that was great! I did have a chance to get with [View Full Entry]

By Royanna
February 26th 2008

Goodbye Niger Africa » Niger » Niamey

Lunch at Le Pilier
Chris and I standing in front of the restaurant.

February 25, 2008 Goodbye Niger It is our last day here in Niamey, Niger. We work for the morning and I complete the pedology map and copy maps we have worked on over the past few days to Amadou’s computer. We go to lunch at the Italian restaurant. There is a special lunch menu that you can choose between two options for each appetizer, main course, and dessert, for the cost of 7000 cifa’s. We are given a pen to mark our choices, and I have the tomato basil salad, the spinach ricotta ravioli and vanilla ice cream for dessert. It [View Full Entry]

By Royanna
February 25th 2008

Gounday Area Project Africa » Niger

Mud Houses
Adobe style housing is the dominant housing type in the area.

February 23, 2008 The Project at Gounday Happy Birthday Chris. Well, not a traditional birthday in any way for my dear husband. The only indication it is his birthday are the cards for him from the kids and a birthday e-mail. I wish him a happy birthday, we eat breakfast, and then we head out. We are off this morning to another project, also located at the Burkina Faso border, but more west of Niamey, north of the previous project. The route today is the highway heading west and eventually a ferry crossing to continue along the highway. The road is [View Full Entry]

By Royanna
February 25th 2008

Return from Project Africa » Niger

Amadou, Moussa and Chris in a Trench

February 24, 2008 We wake up around 6:30, pack up the bedding we had brought in, and are ready to go around 7. We are the first ones up, so head outside into the cooler air. The temperature outside is wonderful. Lots of interesting sounds around the village, animals (chickens, roosters), a few vehicles, people. There is a smoky haze in the air, smoke from cooking fires and fires for heat. We find the temperature quite nice, but most people consider it to be cold (have seen many sweaters, big winter jackets on people in the morning). By 7:30, the group [View Full Entry]

By Royanna
February 22nd 2008

Koutougou Area Project Africa » Niger

Amadou, Chris, and Kamel
Standing on a quartz outcrop on the project.

February 21, 2008 Wow, what a day, it has been a full and exciting one! We had our usual breakfast, prepared to leave, then headed to the lawyers office on the way out of town. She is a neat lady, very dynamic. From there, we headed to our project at Koutouggou. Our route was the one bridge over the Niger River, south towards Burkina Faso. The highway portion of our route was paved and in excellent shape. We followed this until the village of Torodi, where we turned between two buildings, into what looked like an alley, but actually the laterite [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Niger