What to see in Niger?

The Republic of Niger is located in the north-eastern part of West Africa. In recent years, this country has become a unique tourist destination with well-preserved traditions, culture and charming sights. Most of Niger's territory is desert, but in this monotonous landscape you can find places of striking beauty. From cultural sites that preserve the traditions of desert civilisations to wild and amazingly beautiful nature, Niger offers a variety of options for tourists.

Attractions in Niger include many interesting places. The country's capital, Niamey, is a modern metropolis with shopping centres and restaurants, set in the desert where the night sky is always clear. The National Museum tells the history and way of life of the locals, offering not only an exhibition but also the opportunity to purchase the work of local artisans if desired. In Agadez you can visit the ancient defence fort of Vix Quartier and the beautiful mosque. The town of Zinder, with its Sultan's Palace and Grand Mosque, is also a unique excursion destination.

• Niger, a landlocked country, is completely surrounded by land and is devoid of bodies of water such as the ocean or sea. Its neighbours are Algeria (northwest), Libya (northeast), Nigeria and Benin (south), Burkina Faso and Mali (west), and Chad (east).
• Niger is on the list of countries with a high threat of terrorism. Tourists are strongly not recommended to travel to areas in the south-east of the country, where fighting regularly takes place to curb the activities of local extremist groups. However, in Niamey and other major population centres, the level of security is much higher. Locals are generally friendly and the number of offences against foreign tourists is relatively low. The main danger to visitors is from pickpockets, who often operate in and around large markets, especially at night.
• Unlike Arabic, the official language in Niger is French, due to the long period of French rule. It has become the predominant language among civil servants, courts, and other institutions.
• Among ordinary citizens, Hausa is the main language, spoken by more than half of the population. Other languages spoken in Niger include Songhai, Tamashek and Arabic.
• In the past, archaeologists have discovered many dinosaur fossils in Niger's regions, including the Teniers Desert. Notable among the known fossils are the remains of a herbivorous dinosaur (Ouranosaurus) and a theropod dinosaur (Spinosaurus). Both species inhabited the Earth 90-100 million years ago.
• More recently, a genus of sauropod dinosaurs from the family Rebbachisauridae was found in the Gadoufaoua region of the Elrhaz Formation (Republic of Niger), which lived on Earth during the mid-Cretaceous period. First described in 1976, the fossil remains were not given the name Nigersaurus until 1999.