In most of Niger, the African Financial Community Franc, also known as the West African Franc (CFA Fr, pronounced SAY-fah) is the preferred currency, although many of the towns near the border with Nigeria deal mostly or exclusively with its currency, the naira. To the far east, near Diffa and N'Guigmi, the usual currency is the Central African Franc, which is equivalent to the CFA Fr. However, you can't make payments with the Central African CFA in the West African CFA zone or vice versa.
Monday-Friday 8-11 am and 4-5 pm.
Tip about 10%.
It's difficult to say when to go—it's almost always uncomfortable—but there are some times when you should definitely not go. Avoid April and May, when it's at its hottest, driest and dustiest. In the southwestern area (including Niamey), avoid the rainy season, June-September; October may be the worst month because it's hot and humid. The rainy season doesn't affect the Sahel region too severely—it receives only 4 in/10 cm of rain annually, and that falls in short but violent thunderstorms (preceded by sandstorms). November through February are the coolest months (nights are generally quite pleasant), although the harmattan (an arid trade wind) blows the sand around quite a bit, particularly in November.
Air Afrique, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Algerie and Sudan Airways serve Niamey Airport (NIM), which is 7 mi/12 km southeast of town. Transportation within Niamey is fairly easy—there is a flat rate for any destinations in the downtown area, and taxis are plentiful. City buses, run by SNTN (Societe National de Transport Nigerien), can be crowded and uncomfortable, but they are among the most efficient in West Africa. Colorful but clunky bicycles can be rented around the
grande marche, although many places are within walking distance of downtown.
In order to head south or east of Niamey, you must usually go first to the Wadata autogare (taxi station), which every taxi driver will know. To get to other destinations, it's usually enough to ask a taxi driver for the name of your destination followed by autogare (e.g., Ouallam autogare, please). Motorized boats can be hired by the Kennedy Bridge for sightseeing or to head somewhere along the river, but they can be slow and hot.
Outside Niamey, transportation consists primarily of bush taxis, which epitomize the sketchy and flexible nature of travel in Africa. Invariably, they are crowded, uncomfortable, unreliable and potentially dangerous (but oh, what an experience!). SNTN buses are more reliable, a little more expensive, slower and a lot safer. Black-market taxis (which travel only to and from the east) are fast, reliable, comfortable and a lot more expensive, but they can be a little difficult to find, although virtually anyone would be willing to help you find one for a fee.
Project vehicles (attached to various nonprofit agencies or missions) head east fairly regularly and can be a real windfall—it's always a good idea to ask around the expat community (Peace Corps volunteers, who have a hostel in Niamey and are experts on frugality, will usually know about project rides).
Niger: Office National du Tourisme, Avenue du President H. Luebke, B.P. 612, Niamey. Phone 732–447. Fax 733-940.
Niger does not have tourist offices in Australia, Canada, the U.K. or the U.S.
Niger Embassies
Canada: Embassy of the Republic of Niger, 38 Blackburn Ave., Ottawa, ON K1N 8A3. Phone 613-232-4291. Fax 613-230-9808. There are also consulates in Brampton, Montreal and Vancouver.
France: 154 rue du Longchamp, 75116 Paris, France. Phone 4504-8060. Fax 4504-7973.
U.S.: Embassy of the Republic of Niger, 2204 R St. N.W., Washington, DC 20008. Phone 202-483-4224. Fax 202-483-3169. There is also a United Nations mission in New York. http://www.nigerembassyusa.org.
Niger does not have diplomatic representation in Australia or the U.K.
Embassies in Niger
Australia is represented by its embassy in Nigeria: 2 Ozumba Mbadiwe Ave., Victoria Island, Lagos (mail address: P.O. Box 12705, Lagos, Nigeria). Phone 234-1-261-8875. Fax 234-1-261-8703.
Office of the Canadian Embassy, Mali Bero Boulevard, Niamey (mail address: P.O. Box 362, Niamey, Niger). Phone 753-686. Fax 753-107. The Canadian Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, has consular responsibility for Niger: Immeuble Trade Center, 23 Avenue Nogues, Le Plateau, Abidjan (mail address: B.P. 4104, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire). Phone 225-212-009. Fax 225-217-728.
British Vice-Consulate, SIL BP 10152, Niamey. Phone 722-831. Fax 733-685. The British embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, has consular responsibility for Niger: Third Floor, Immeuble "Les Harmonies," Angle Boulevard Carde et Avenue Dr. Jamot, Le Plateau, Abidjan (mail address: B.P. 2581, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire). Phone 20-7201-9601. Fax 20-7462-0087.
U.S. Embassy, Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey (mail address: B.P. 11201, Niamey, Niger). Phone 722-661-4. Fax 733-169 or 735-560. http://usembassy.state.gov/niamey.
The Nomads of Niger by Marion Van Offelen and Carol Beckwith (Abradale Press). This coffee-table book is a fascinating introduction to the country.
In Sorcery's Shadow: A Memoir of Apprenticeship Among the Songhay of Niger by Paul Stoller and Cheryl Olkes (University of Chicago Press) is an account of a young man's apprenticeship to the traditional healers in the Tillaberi region.
The Peoples of the Middle Niger: The Island of Gold by Roderick James McIntosh (Blackwell Publishers). The first comprehensive history of the peoples of the Middle Niger.
Still Waters in Niger by Kathleen Hill (Triquaterly). Follows the emotional journey of an unnamed, Irish-American narrator as she returns to Niger to visit her eldest daughter, who works in a medical clinic not far from Zinder.
