Fun Facts About Niger

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Fun Facts About Niger
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One

Whether you romance the idea of a bumpy camel ride across the beautiful dunes of the Sahara, or just find the thought of travelling in jam-packed bush taxis across magnificent mazes of mud brick architecture utterly thrilling, the Niger delta is one place that won't disappoint you! Landlocked in the Western corners of Africa, Niger is cocooned between Sahara and sub-Saharan regions and apparently draws its name from the famed Niger River which flows through the southwestern part of its territory. Home to ancient relics and pre-historic rock carvings, Niger once served as important economic crossroads. However, today Niger stands as one of the poorest nations in the world. Predominantly an Islamic nation, Niger prides itself on its excellent inter-communal relationships. Niger is one of the poorest economies in the world, and its economy strength is largely based on internal markets, subsistence agriculture, and the export of raw commodities. To know more about Niger, check out the following fun and interesting facts. Interesting & Fun Facts About Niger

Did you know that the official language of Niger is not Swahili but French?
Zinder was the former capital of Niger before Niamey was declared as its official capital in 1926.
Niger is primarily divided into seven regions and one capital district.
Niger shares its territorial boundaries with seven other African countries. They being Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Libya.
The name Niger is derived from the phrase gher n-gheren which means "river among rivers," in the Tamashek language.
The currency of Niger is the CFA Franc (CFAF).
Niger has lowest ‘Human Development Index' on Earth.
Niger apparently ranks among the poorest economies in the world.
The country of Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world and is famously nicknamed as ‘Frying Pan of the World'.
Mt. Greboun is the highest point in Niger. It stands approximately 6,379 feet (1,944 meters) tall.
Niger is home to one of the world's largest protected reserves, the Air and Tenere Natural Reserves, which is the refuge for animals like addax, Cheetah, oryx and the gazelle.
The people of Niger are called as Nigeriens.
The remains of the dinosaur ‘Nigersaurus', better known for its long neck and hammerhead skull was discovered in Niger.
The Hausa forms the largest ethnic group in Niger and comprises of more than half of the total population of the country.
Slavery was declared illegal in Niger in May 2004.
The sprawling Musée National du Niger is one of West Africa's excellent standouts.
Niger's initial contacts with the West began whenthe first European explorers, Mungo Park (British) and Heinrich Barth (German) came to the land looking for the Niger River.
The land of Niger is vaguely less than twice the size of the US state of Texas.
According to a 2008 survey, there are approximately 80, 000 internet users in Niger.
On August 3, 1960 Niger became independent from France and experienced single-party and military rule till 1991.
The Nigerian flag is perfectly square in shape and the colors of orange, white and green stand for the Sahara desert, purity and innocence, and green vegetation and fruitful agricultural areas of the country respectively.

Free Guide Niamey, City

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Free Guide Niamey, City
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One

Niger's seaport, capital city, and managerial hub, Niamey is situated in the southwest edge of the country, at the northeast bank of the Niger River. As compare to other regions of the country, the Niger maintains quite a serene and fashionable environment that encourages the tourists to get the tickets of cheap flights to Niamey. Originally, named as Niamma, the city was established during 18th century and it stayed as a little town until 1902, when a French fort was founded in the city.

Niamey enjoys a well facilitated civil infrastructure. Diori Hamani International Airport connects the city with rest of the world and receives the international flights to Niamey from all destinations of the world. The tourists' lodging and housing amenities are also adequate and cheap. The public is welcoming and friendly. On Sundays, it is a great fun to visit the Hippodrome and enjoy the thrilling horses and camels races. Anyone adores to shopping, historic architecture and arts must take the flights to Niamey and experience thecity splendor personally.

The Large Mosque of Niamey is an incredible green building and gives an absolute panoramic view of the city from the peak of the minaret. Do take some Niamey tours souvenirs from the two big open air markets in the premises. Moreover, the travelers taking the flights to Niamey for leisure holidays must also plan a trip toW National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site as well, keeps a large stock of wildlife including African elephants, giraffes, buffalos, lions, hyenas, jackals and baboons. The indigo green pool in the park is just picturesque. The tour operators and travel firms offering the holiday's packages and cheap flights to Niamey also incorporate the tour to the park.

The city's stadium named as ‘Stade du 29 Juillet' on occasions conduct mega sporting events like soccer being far and away the most favorite. The Franco-Nigerien cultural center is a well disciplined facility with state of the art basics systems with a well stocked library, an excellent bar and cafe and an auditorium employed for French and African film screenings performance art and drama productions. Just across down on the Rue des Ambassades, the U.S. recreation center has a softball meadow, a pool, a basketball square and a diner spot.



Moreover, The National Museum of Niger, located right in the middle of the city, presents the country's culture through a huge collection. Very delightful is the reconstitution of Niger different territories.

Money Exchange for Niger -Services - Money

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Money Exchange for Niger -Services - Money
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One




Currency information:

CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XOF; symbol CFA) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFA10,000, 5,000, 2,500, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of CFA500, 250, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Niger is part of the French Monetary Area.

Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Credit cards:

Niger has a cash-based society with no ATMs. Diners Club and MasterCard are accepted on a very limited basis.
ATM:

Niger has a cash-based society with no ATMs.
Travellers cheques:

Accepted by banks, as well as some hotels, restaurants, shops and airline offices. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros.
Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0730-1100 and 1530-1730.
Currency restriction:

The import of local and foreign currency is unrestricted. Export of local currency is limited to XOF25,000. The export of foreign currency is unlimited.
Currency exchange:

Currency can be exchanged at the airport as well as at main banks and hotels.

Health and Medical Information for Niger

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Health and Medical Information for Niger
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One


The two main hospitals are in Niamey and Zinder. Only the main centres have reasonable medical facilities, but even these are poor. Personal medicines should be brought in as these can be difficult or impossible to obtain in Niger. Full health insurance is essential and should include cover for emergency repatriation.
Food and drink:

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks:

Vaccinations against tuberculosis, cholera and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water.

Short History Of Niger and Culture

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Short History Of Niger and Culture
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One


Considerable evidence indicates that about 600,000 years ago, humans inhabited what has since become the desolate Sahara of northern Niger. Long before the arrival of French influence and control in the area, Niger was an important economic crossroads, and the empires of Songhai, Mali, Gao, Kanem, and Bornu, as well as a number of Hausa states, claimed control over portions of the area.

During recent centuries, the nomadic Tuareg formed large confederations, pushed southward, and, siding with various Hausa states, clashed with the Fulani Empire of Sokoto, which had gained control of much of the Hausa territory in the late 18th century. In the 19th century, contact with the West began when the first European explorers--notably Mungo Park (British) and Heinrich Barth (German)--explored the area searching for the mouth of the Niger River. Although French efforts at pacification began before 1900, dissident ethnic groups, especially the desert Tuareg, were not subdued until 1922, when Niger became a French colony.

In April 1974, the army, which is prone to intervening in Niger's politics, staged a military coup under Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Seyni Kountché. A series of failed coups followed when Kountché attempted to civilianise the government. By 1983 however, the legislative Council of Ministers was entirely composed of civilians, under Prime Minister Oumarou Maname. Kountché died in 1987, to be replaced by his staunch ally, Ali Seibou, who consolidated his position during the late 1980s. Seibou established the Mouvement Nationale pour une Société de Développement (MNSD), which became the sole legitimate political party.

In the early 1990s, the government came under internal and external pressure to introduce democratic government. After some initial uncertainty and opposition from Seibou, the government chose to follow the regional trend and installed an interim administration, prior to multi-party elections and the introduction of a new constitution.

The National Assembly poll, held on 14 February 1993, saw a victory for the six-party coalition, the Alliance des Forces de Changement (AFC), which accumulated 50 of the 83 seats over the MNSD. The MNSD was similarly thwarted in the presidential election, held in two rounds during February and March 1993, which was won by Mahamane Ousmane, a leading member of the AFC coalition. Apart from the economy, the new government's main problem was the Tuareg rebellion. Since 1990, there had been a series of clashes between security forces and guerrillas belonging to the nomadic Tuareg people. The Tuareg had left Niger to escape the chronic Sahel drought of the 1980s. A series of agreements were brokered, providing for Tuareg land rights and defined future relations between the Tuareg and central government. Despite occasional problems, the agreement has held.

Following the January 1995 legislative elections, MNSD recovered control of the national assembly and the government under ex-World Bank official Amadou Aboubacar Cissé. Over the next 12 months, friction between the Cissé government and President Ousmane steadily worsened until, exactly one year later, the military stepped in once again. Army chief of staff Colonel Ibrahim Bare Mainassara took control of the country. Under strong external pressure, particularly from Niger's main Western financial backers, the military moved quickly to restore a veneer of civilian government.
In April 1999, Mainassara was killed by his own head of security, after an escalating series of disputes with his erstwhile military colleagues. The uncertain political situation which followed was resolved with the holding of simultaneous presidential and legislative elections in November that year. The MNSD, the country's historic ruling party, recovered control of both the presidency – in the person of Mamadou Tandja – and the national assembly, where it forms the government with Hana Amadou as premier.

In 2002, the government faced a series of mutinies by soldiers demanding better pay and conditions; these were put down by other units loyal to the government. The following year, the United States and Britain claimed that Niger had sold uranium ore to the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the course of his efforts to build nuclear weapons. The claim was subsequently proven to have been based on forged documents but the case drew unwelcome attention to Niger and its dependence on sales of the ore.

Niger Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details

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Niger Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details
Travel tips for your trip to Niger Hotel Maps Famous Places in Niger helps you to make your trip to Niger in the holiday a Splendid One

Hotels in Agadez


Hotels in Agadez satisfy the lodging requirements of the travelers who tour this city at regular intervals or once in a lifetime. While planning a vacation in the African country of Niger, one can hardly miss an opportunity to visit the town of Agadez in their itinerary. Located along the northern district of Niger, Agadez is the capital city of the Air Province along the Sahara Desert. Today, the city is a frequently traveled destination and there has been a rise in the total number of Hotels in Agadez with the growth of tourism in the area.

Hotels in Agadez are rated among the best lodging facilities in the country of Niger. Being a destination for the backpack travelers, the Agadez hotels in Niger are reasonably priced aiming to provide comfortable accommodation at Agadez. Most of the lodging facilities in Agadez are provided with minimal basic amenities such as bathrooms and telephones which are required for a short yet comfortable stay.

One of the prominent hotels in Agadez is the l'Auberge D'Azel. Offering fine dining options and air conditioned rooms, the hotel is one of the finest in the region and allows you to enjoy the surrounding desert while staying here. Apart from the l'Auberge D'Azel, there are other options too which will make the tour to Agadez a relaxing experience.

Etoile du Tenere is another popular lodging facility which is spread across 2 hectares of sandy surroundings. Comfort and convenience are topmost priorities of the hotel and guests will certainly have a wonderful time staying here at the Etoile du Tenere in Agadez.

A few of the other hotels in the region, catering to the domestic and international tourists are:

Pension Tellit
Hotel de la Paix

Most of the Hotels in Agadez overlook the Sahara desert and offer a picturesque retreat for the hundreds of travelers arriving at the Niger city for work or fun. Guests are pampered with reasonable list of room and hotel amenities and services, both of which combine in providing a relaxing stay at the various Agadez accommodation options.

Therefore if you plan a holiday at the city in Niger, opt to stay at one of the above mentioned hotels for a remarkable holiday experience.

Hotels in Maradi



Maradi is an important tourist destination in Niger. Every year, large numbers of people visit Maradi in Niger to spend their dream vacation here. Hotels in Maradi offer the best of accommodation in this lovely city of Maradi. The Hotels in Maradi provide the best and the finest of facilities and amenities in the whole country.

Among the Hotels in Maradi, mention can be made of the following accommodation units in Maradi.

The Guesthouse is located a little far way from the center of Maradi. However, reaching the hotel will not be a problem for the tourists and travelers can take their cars and other vehicles to this lovely lodging center. The Guesthouse is one of the most stylish and lavishly built Maradi Hotels. The rooms are spacious and well maintained and all the guest rooms are air conditioned.

The comfortable rooms have a number of in-room facilities to make you completely relaxed and at home-like. The Guesthouse, Maradi has a lovely restaurant for you to dine in relaxation. One can enjoy and savor delicious dishes in the restaurant that is prepared with great care and attention. The restaurant really serves good and safe food to its guests.

For rural Africa, the guesthouse is a rare gem indeed. After much sightseeing in the place, the tourists can always opt for this trendy guesthouse that has all the amenities one can ask for.

The Niger Hotels are known for their world-class facilities and highly personalized services. Accommodation in Maradi is just a part of the chain of Hotels in Maradi. The other very popular and famous hotel is Hotel Jangorzo, Maradi. This hotel lies in a very strategic position with closeness to the major tourist attractions of the city of Maradi.

This star-rated hotel has airy and well-maintained rooms with nice windows to peep out. The restaurant of fine and elegant Hotel Jangorzo in the Maradi city offers good food, both local and international.

The bar serves a wide variety of drinks to sip in. The relaxed ambiance of the bar of Hotel Jangorzo in Maradi is just ideal for sitting there and chatting with friends and colleagues at the end of a strenuous journey to the city.


Hotels in Zinder

While in Zinder you will find Hotels in Zinder in Niger which will take care of your daily requirements. These hotels at Zinder offer warm hospitality and comfort to its guests. These accommodation options include both standard and budget hotels. You can choose among the different hotels set in this city of Zinder according to your choice and needs.

This city is the 2nd of this country of Niger. This city is also known as Damagaram. Today, this city has 3 major areas which comprise of Birni, Zengou as well as Sabon Gari. This city is very well connected and it has a small airport which offers domestic flights. You can also avail buses to travel within this city as well as many nearby cities of this country. The city also has several tourist attractions which are worth watching while you are here in Zinder. This makes this city an important tourist destination of this nation of Niger. Throughout the year several travelers and vacationers come to this city. The guests will get a feeling of home away from home upon arriving at this Hotels in Zinder.

The Hotels in Zinder are as follows:

Le Damagaram, Zinder
Malem Kal Ka Danu, Zinder
Hotel Amadou Kouran Daga, Zinder
Hotel Central, Zinder

The Hotels at Zinder have a strategic location. The hotels are either near to the heart of city or are closer to other places of interest. These Zinder Hotels offer several room facilities which match the requirements of the guests. You can also avail the dining facility offered at the hotels. If you feel like dining out, then there are several restaurants and food stalls present in this city which offer good food at affordable prices. The food available here is a tasty and fresh.

Many of the Hotels in Zinder offers several amenities and services keeping in mind your well being and recreation. There are swimming pools, gardens and even nightclubs present in many of the hotels in Zinder. You can also go to many of the tourist locations spread in this city and have a good time with your family and friends. The other facilities and services are also given to the guests by the different Hotels of Zinder. These facilities and services will make your stay better than ever.