Things to do in Niger

Experience the mesmerizing Gerewol dance, where young Wodaabe men, in elaborate makeup and costumes, compete for attention.

Safari through this UNESCO World Heritage site, part of the vast W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, home to West Africa's last remaining savannah elephants, lions, and leopards.

Ascend the iconic 27-metre mudbrick minaret, the tallest structure in the Sahara, for panoramic views over the labyrinthine old town and the Aïr Mountains.

Marvel at the two life-size giraffe petroglyphs etched into a rock outcrop in the Ténéré Desert, dating back over 8,000 years.

Step inside this ornate Hausa palace, still the seat of the Sultan of Damagaram, with its intricate mudbrick architecture, royal history and vibrant living traditions.

Get lost in the maze-like alleyways of this UNESCO-listed oasis town, lined with centuries-old mudbrick houses, Tuareg metalwork workshops and bustling weekly markets.

Immerse yourself in the sensory overload of this sprawling market, where colourful pagne cloth, West African spices and Tuareg leatherwork fill every stall.

Drift along Africa's third-longest river in a traditional wooden canoe as the sky turns gold, spotting hippos, waterbirds and fishermen casting their nets.

Follow ancient Tuareg routes through volcanic massifs, hidden oases and dramatic canyons on a multi-day camel expedition, camping under a canopy of stars.

Pitch camp on the endless dunes of one of the most remote deserts on Earth, with zero light pollution and only the wind and celestial vault for company.

Walk with guides to spot the endangered Peralta giraffes, a distinct subspecies that survives only in this peaceful community-managed reserve an hour from Niamey.

Explore the royal compound of the Djerma people, with its traditional thatched granaries and a small museum showcasing the region's warrior and musical heritage.

See caravans laden with salt slabs from Bilma arrive at this lush oasis, set against a backdrop of red mountains and waterfalls, a lifeline of the Saharan trade.

Walk among fields littered with 110-million-year-old dinosaur fossils, including bones of the Sarcosuchus imperator, a giant crocodilian, in the heart of the Ténéré.

Sample Niger's signature spiced dried meat—thinly sliced, dried, coated in peanut‑chili paste—freshly prepared by street vendors in the capital's craft area.

Join a traditional sagefara (tea ceremony) in a mountain camp, learning the three rounds of tea steeped in ritual and hospitality while nomads share stories.

Roam the crumbling stone ruins of the ancient Aïr capital, once a bustling stop on trans-Saharan trade routes, now a haunting settlement swallowed by the desert.

Scan ephemeral lakes and floodplains near Dosso that attract thousands of storks, herons and ducks during the rainy season, a key stopover on the West African flyway.

Trek across the parched landscape to reach this hidden oasis, where a permanent waterhole feeds citrus groves and towering date palms beneath castellated cliffs.

Browse artisanal silver pendants, cross-of-Agadez necklaces, and engraved rings crafted by the Inadan blacksmith caste in a market that has traded for centuries.

Admire the capital’s central mosque with its soaring minaret and tranquil courtyard, a focal point for the city’s Muslim community and a landmark of modern Sahelian architecture.

Witness the centuries-old technique of salt extraction in deep hand‑dug pits, producing the distinctive pink salt slabs that are still traded across the Sahara by camel.

Join the vibrant Sabr’e festival, where young Djerma wrestlers compete to drum rhythms and dancers perform in elaborate costumes, a celebration of strength and bravery.

Capture the surreal, star‑shaped dunes towering above the Aïr plains, whose rippling forms glow orange, pink and violet at dawn and dusk.

Dine on fresh Nile perch, flame‑grilled and served with spicy sauce and fried plantains, at riverside maquis in the Saga district where Niamey unwinds at sunset.