Northern Niger

Northern Niger covers Niger's Saharan territory.

Map of Northern Niger

• 16.9722227.9908331 Agadez — the largest city in Saharan Niger.
• 18.7333337.3833332 Arlit — the second largest city in the region.
• 18.68666712.9191673 Bilma — gateway to the remotest reaches of the Ténéré Desert.
• 20.95333312.3405564 Chirfa — gateway to the Djado Plateau.
• 19.06258.425 Iferouane – gateway to the Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve

• 1891 Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve — beautiful desert landscapes that have long been a major draw for travelers in Niger, although it is not safe for travel.
• 16.393911.65812 Termit & Tin Toumma National Nature and Cultural Reserve — one of Africa's largest reserves (twice as large as Costa Rica), the park protects several animals (including the critically endangered addax, Dama gazelle, & desert cheetah), protects the nomadic culture, and features lots of scenic desert landscape.

Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY ^IATA) in Agadez receives flights from the capital, Niamey.

If visiting in mid-September, just after the rainy season, be sure to participate in the Cure Salee, translated as the Salt Cure because of the nearby salt flats and also known as Festival of the Nomads. It's a yearly gathering by the nomadic Tuareg and Wodaabe peoples that inhabit northern Niger and Mali taking place at the village of In-gall, 115 km west of Agadez. The festival is part market, part social gathering. For the Wodaabe peoples Cure Salee is the most important guérewol, or courtship ritual, of the whole year. The guérewol is a much fascinating, that is for the western traveller, ritual where the men perform dances that can go on for days wearing elaborate make-up for women to courting a potential husband.

See the warning in the Niger article for information on the security situation.