Things to do in Niamey
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Musée National du Niger
The sprawling Musée National du Niger is one of West Africa's standouts. Numerous themed pavilions, each tipping their hat to Hausa architecture, give visitors a peek into Niger's present and past. The Pablo Toucet pavilion displays the dress of Niger's different ethnic groups - a quick way to train the eye for differentiating these groups as you travel around Niger.
While common sense and science dictate that there are no 2m-tall, 15m-long crocodiles wandering the earth today, one jaw-dropping glimpse of the Boubou Hana pavilion's 100 million-year-old Sarcosuchus imperator, or 'Super Croc', and you'll be second guessing everything - chilling indeed! Oddly, similarly…
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Grand Marché
If you're patient and peruse the nether regions of the Grand Marché you'll find a fine selection of goods, including Tuareg and Hausa leatherwork, silver jewellery, batiks and tie-dyed cloth. Look out for les couvertures Djerma (known locally as a kountas) - large, bright strips of cotton sewn together into a large blanket, which are truly spectacular and unique to Niger. As always, friendly negotiations are in order!
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Fruit Bats
Unless you're new to town, you'll have noticed the huge Fruit Bats (looking like flying dogs) soaring in the sky each evening. To get a closer look at these massive bats in the daylight, head towards Place de la République along Ave de la Mairie - you'll find thousands of them hanging, snoozing and squeaking in the trees lining the compound of Banque Centrale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. At sunset it's a hive of activity. Guano anyone?
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Grande Mosquée
Rising above eastern Niamey is the impressive Grande Mosquée, with its massive minaret and bulbous green dome. Everything from the elaborately carved exterior wooden doors to the interior's 16 ornate pillars and grand tiled dome were financed by Libyan money. If you linger outside, someone will offer you a short tour. The view and breeze atop the minaret are well worth the dizzying 171 steps to get there.
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Pirogue Trip
There's no better way to experience the Niger River than from aboard a peaceful Pirogue Trip skimming its surface at sunset. Although numerous 'guides' in town offer just such a trip, your cheapest option is to visit the piroguersthemselves, on the riverfront between Palais du Congrés and La Flottile restaurant.
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Le Pilier
Hands down, this is the place for fine Italian fare. Enjoy a plethora of pastas, ranging from various raviolis to lasagne and even gnocchi dripping in gorgonzola. Dine in their air-con equipped lounge, within the vibrant courtyard terrace, or downstairs in the Taverne (evenings only), which serves great pizza.
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Le Diamangou
Put aside your fear and grumbling insides to walk the plank out to this established boat restaurant. The views can't be beat, and the lemon chicken and other fare aren't bad either. Like La Flottile, this place isn't in the safest neck of the woods, so arrange a taxi after sunset.
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Stade de la Lutte Traditionelle
You may be lucky enough to take in a traditional wrestling match at the Stade de la Lutte Traditionelle. We say lucky because they're quite the spectacle and only happen a handful of times a year. So keep your ear to the ground and you may just get - you guessed it - lucky!
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Chocolat Raffine
This cafés menu is laden with French treats like croque monsieur, crêpes and chocolat mousse. While most hit their mark, others remind you that you're in Niamey and not Paris. It's often closed for short periods during the day.
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La Flottile
The shady garden confines of this friendly restaurant, west of Palais du Congrés, are a perfect place to indulge in some of the Niger River's tastiest fish. The capitaine (Nile perch) is excellent. It's not safe to walk here after sunset, so organise a taxi.
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Bada Restaurant
Put your chop sticks in the kung fu position and go to battle with everything from tempura vegetables and roasted eel to fresh sashimi and sushi. When we arrived, three of Niamey's temporary Japanese contingent were leaving, oh so happy and full as eggs.
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Le Dragon d'Or
Slurp delicious Vietnamese pho (a noodle soup with coriander, bean sprouts and beef), sharpen your teeth on frog legs, or work your chopstick magic on tasty stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts and fresh ginger. The Saturday night buffet is also superb.
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Petit Marché
The Petit Marché is smack-dab in the centre of town and merits a visit. Self-caterers can go crazy, squeezing fruit and veg to their hearts content in this lively market. Remember where your wallet is when you're ogling the wares, as pickpockets are rife.
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La Cascade
With friendly service and great Italian, French and Lebanese fare, this restaurant is justifiably popular with expats, travellers and well-to-do locals. We'll let you decide which is cheesier, the delicious pizza or the artificial waterfall…
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Guiguinya
Belting out African and European beats, this massive place is usually packed with locals (and the odd prostitute). Tear it up beneath the strobing red lights or stick your feet in the sand and chill out under the stars and trees in the courtyard.
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Maquis 2000
This Ivorian-style open-air restaurant has a varied menu including brochette de capitaine, crevette grillé (grilled prawns) and, if you're game, agouti braisé (grilled grasscutter rat).
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Niger-Car Voyages
The best, albeit most expensive, agency in Niamey for tours. Their tours include Filingué and Baleyara, Ayorou, pirogue journeys, the giraffes at Kouré and Parc Regional du W. Prices plummet if there's six or more of you.
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Byblos
This great Lebanese restaurant, with thatched garden pavilions and open-air ambience, has some of the best tabouleh and hummus in Niger. It's on the pricey side, but its large set meals for two people are decent value.
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La Cloche
If you can get over the number of prostitutes and the glowing Christmas tree light-interior, this club (next to 2005) can be quite fun. There's a pool table and the music ranges from Arabic to Western.
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Le Pizzeria
The pizzas here are excellent - a bit pricey, but they're much larger than what you'll get elsewhere. It's in the heart of town and is a good place to line the stomach before dancing the night away.
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Restaurant Baobab
A short walk from the Grand Marché, this Senegalese place is perfect for a pre- or post-shopping feed. It's usually packed with locals, so share a table and practice your French.
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American Cultural Center
Your only options for cinematic distraction are the American Cultural Center, which plays more mainstream Hollywood flicks, and the Centre Culturel Franco-Nigérien.
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Score
Next to the Petit Marché, Score is large and loaded with French groceries like Bonne Maman jam. It also sells the cheapest chilled bottled water in town.
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Zoo
The least appealing aspect of the museum is the depressing Zoo, where lethargic and neurotic animals are kept in appallingly cramped conditions.
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Le Shanghai
While Le Shanghai's Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine is of a similarly high standard to that of Le Dragon d'Or, it lacks the same garden ambience.
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