Practical information Niger

489189  sq.mi

7 hours 45 mins. Niamey is 2,628 mi away from London.

14661000 hab.

Niamey airport is located 7 and a half miles away from the city centre. There you will find a car rental agency, and the taxi fare costs roughly 4,000 XOF (£5.50).

Since the peace accords were signed between the government and the Tuareg movement, tourists can go to Niger again. However, get some information on the latest developments before leaving. As a general rule, travelling into the Aïr and Ténéré are only authorized when accompanied with a guide. You can get the help of a tour operator from the UK or ask for a guide once there, from the national tourist offices (in Niamey and Agadez), but also from private agencies or the police force. Do not overlook this particular aspect of your trip because it is crucial for the smooth running of your expedition. Moreover, if you drive in this area you are required to travel with a convoy of a minimum of two vehicles, and you will have to present your itinerary on a map to the gendarmerie at your starting point.
Finally, on some routes, it is strictly prohibited to travel at night, specifically near the northern border such as near Mount Gréboun, near Zoumri Peak and the Gobo Pass route.

French is the official language. Hausa is becoming a vehicular language, but the majority of ethnic groups still speak their own language: Songhai, Zarma, Kanuri, Pulaar and many others.

European citizens must request a visa which is issued at Nigerien consulates. You must have a passport valid for more than six months after your return and should bring a form to fill in at the consulate and 2 ID photos. Allow 48 hours for the delivery of the visa.

90% of the population is Muslim. The rest is Catholic or practises indigenous worship.

The currency is the CFA franc (XOF). 100 XOF = £0.14 Sterling. Due to the lack of infrastructure and the distance between the main cities, it is best to bring cash in pounds and to exchange as much as you can on arrival in the country. Banks are, in fact, something of rarity here and not all of them accept travellers cheques. Banks that accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express cards are even harder to come by.
Banks are generally open from 8:00am to 11:30am and from 4:00pm to 4:45pm or 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

You need to know that if you wish to go beyond Agadez and Arlit, that is to say into the desert region of the Aïr and Ténéré, you will require the services of a guide. In order to do so, you will have to get the help of an agency and plan properly the equipment needed. At its best, the road network is limited to sand tracks. Get some information before leaving, as it is preferable to reserve a guide in advance. In the south, the road network is satisfactory. Most tarred roads (500 miles on a total highway network of 6,000 miles) are actually located within this part of the country. They link Niamley to Arlit, via Dosso, Birnin-N'Konni, Tahoua and Agadez. The Niamey-N'Guigmi route that runs parallel to the border is also tarred, and so are the roads going towards the borders with Benin and Burkina Faso. To rent a car, you have to be at least 23 years of age, take two ID photos and an international driver's license. A log-book will be handed over to you, to be stamped at the police stations.
The buses of the SNTN (National Society of Nigerien Transport) ensure a shuttle service to the cities. The links generally run on a twice-weekly basis. There are also a few private companies, but their buses are not as comfortable. From Niamey, allow a 12 hour trip to Zinder, 17 hours to Agadez and 7 hours to Tahoua.
Bush taxis are the other low-cost means of transport allowing you to get to the country's main cities. But the trips are more wearisome than on a bus, and they only leave when they are full.
There is no other domestic air travel apart from that provided by mining aircrafts which take on passengers to Arlit and Agadez from Niamey. You can always charter a plane from a private company. It is expensive, but it has the great advantage of taking you to the north of the country very quickly in comparison to the other modes of transport.

The vaccine against yellow fever is mandatory and will be requested upon arrival in the country. It is absolutely essential that you take an anti-malaria treatment and get vaccinated against typhoid, hepatitises A and B. Right now, it is also preferable to get vaccinated against meningitis (essential for children and young adults). Unpasteurized milk must be boiled, and it is preferable to avoid the consummation of dairy products. Due to the presence of bilharzia, it is strongly inadvisable to swim in stretches of fresh water, especially in the Niger River. Finally, pack a medical kit with essentials if you are going on an excursion into the desert. Sterile syringes and needles, serum against snake bites, antispasmodics, antidiarrheics... The best thing is to buy a detailed guide specialising in trips into the desert. To avoid dehydration, it is recommended to drink between 3 and 6 litres of water per day and to consume enough salty food.
We would like to draw your attention to the country's poor medical infrastructures. In case of need for surgery, you should plan to be evacuated towards the Ivory Coast or UK. Is is absolutely essential to subscribe to insurance.
Finally, if cases of cholera occur in the country, a justification of your vaccination against the disease could be requested. Inform yourself imperatively before departure, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the sanitary conditions.

Voltage is 220 V, round-pin plugs. Adapter not needed.

To call Niger from the UK, dial 00 + 227 (country code) + n# you are trying to reach.
From Niger to the UK: 00 44 + n# (excluding the initial 0).