Niger is a landlocked country that shares its land borders with Algeria, Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Benin. From its famous tribal festivals and camel races to its abundant wildlife and, Niger is a treasure of natural beauty with a lot to offer to its tourists. We have put together the following 9 interesting facts about Niger to give you an overview about the country!
1. With a land area of 1,267,000 km square km, Niger is the largest country in West Africa.
2. The country gets its name from the River Niger, which is the third-longest river in the continent. The river has its source in Guinea and stretches for 2,597 miles and traverses through five countries before emptying its water to the Atlantic Ocean at the Niger Delta.
2. Unlike the Nile that is unclear, the Niger River is clear over the whole course. This is attributed to an absence of silt.
3. A mere 2.8% of the total land area in Niger is cultivated, and most of these areas are along the banks of the River Niger.
4. Indigenous communities in Niger have annual festivals with the two most prominent being the ‘Salt Cure’ festival, a celebration of Tuareg nomads to celebrate the end of the rainy season and a colourful courtship ritual that is practiced by the Wodaabe which was known as the Guerewol festival.
5. The country has one of the world’s largest protected reserves covering 7.7m Ha land. Cheetah, Oryx, and different gazelle are to be found on this territory.
6. Dinosaur remains are also to be found in an area within the Sahara Desert.
7. Niger Suffers from Alarming Poverty Levels. The levels of poverty in Niger are alarming, and it is one of the most impoverished nations in the world. Out of every three residents in the country, two live below the poverty line, and more than 40% of the country’s population survives on less than $1 a day.
8. Resting at some of the hottest points of Sahara, Niger is considered one of the hottest nations in the world and is aptly nicknamed the “Frying Pan of the World.”
How to reach?
Niger is primarily served by Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, which is the country’s only international airport. There are no direct international flights to Niger from India. However, you can board a connecting flight provided by Air France, Qatar Airways, Air Algerie, Jet Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Air India, etc.
Visa:
Author’s Recommendations:
W National Park: Undoubtedly the most renowned national park in total Niger, the W National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its distinctive exhibit of transition abodes between the savannah and the West African jungles. And the animals? Well, suffice to say you should get the camera ready for a medley of baboons and African buffalo, giraffes, leopards, lions and more!
Koure: It’s the perfect place for giraffe spotting in Niger. Surrounded by warm and sandy Sahelian landscapes, the small city is known for its long-necked animals that stride its wild areas. Native guides can assist you to locate the unique animals, but be ready, because you may require strolling some before, they show themselves!
