Niger

Getting there & away

Land

Algeria

The crossing between Arlit and Tamanrasset at Assamakka/In Guezzam is open, though you must travel with licensed travel agencies on both sides (even with private 4WDs).

Benin

Bush taxis don’t cross the Gaya/Malanville border, so use a moto (CFA500) or walk between the towns. Once across, local transport abounds.

Easier still, SNTV and EHGM buses connect Niamey and Cotonou (CFA20, 000, 14 hours).

Burkina Faso

The main crossing is Foetchango, southwest of Niamey. Minibuses (CFA8100, 11 hours) leaving Niamey’s gare routière, 1km west of Kennedy Bridge, and SNTV buses connect Niamey and Ouagadougou (CFA10, 000, nine to 11 hours, Tuesday to Sunday).

Those with vehicles can also cross via Téra, northwest of Niamey.

Chad

Some landcruisers make weekly journeys from Nguigmi to Mao (CFA15, 000). From Mao, daily landcruisers serve N’Djaména.

Get your passport stamped in Nguigmi and Mao (expect an unofficial US$6 ‘fee’).

Libya

This border is only open to traffic entering Niger, though you must be in the company of a licensed Nigerien travel agency.

Mali

SNTV runs a truck between Niamey and Gao Mondays and Thursdays (CFA11, 500, up to 30 hours). The Mali road isn’t sealed, so conditions can be horrifically muddy from July through September.

A slow boat connects Ayorou to Gao (CFA14, 000, two days) on Monday. A hat and plentiful water are crucial. Minibuses to Ayorou from Niamey (CFA3000, four hours) leave from Katako Marché (Blvd de l’Indépendance).

Nigeria

There are four border crossings to Nigeria: Gaya/Kamba, Birni N’Konni/Illela (which leads south to Sokoto), Maradi/Katsina and Zinder/Jibiya.

From Niamey the Gaya/Kamba crossing is quickest. Minibuses/Peugeots run from Niamey to Gaya (CFA4100/4500, 4½/5½ hours), where motos and taxis access the border (CFA100). From there take a moto to Kamba (200N).

Motos (CFA100) connect Birni N’Konni to the border, where minibuses/Peugeots run to Sokoto (300N/350N, 1½ hours).

Peugeots link Maradi with Katsina (CFA1200, 1½ hours) and Kano (CFA3000, four hours).

Peugeots (CFA3000, 3½ hours) connect Zinder to Kano via Jibya.

^ Back to top

Air

Niamey airport is the international hub, though Point-Afrique and Go-Voyages flights now connect Paris/Marseilles to Agadez (October to April). Airlines serving Niger:

Afriqiyah Airways (8U; www.afriqiyah.aero) Hub: Tripoli.

Air Algérie (AH; 73 32 14; www.airalgerie.dz ; Rue du Gaweye) Hub: Algiers.

Air Burkina (2J; 73 70 67; www.air-burkina.com ; Rue du Commerce) Hub: Ougadougou.

Air France (AF; 73 31 21; www.airfrance.com ; Rue du Souvenir) Hub: Charles de Gaulle, Paris.

Air Ivoire (VU; www.airivoire.com) Hub: Abidjan.

Air Sénégal International (V7; www.air-senegal-international.com ; Rue du Gaweye) Hub: Dakar.

Go-Voyages (www.govoyges.com) Hub: Paris.

Point-Afrique (73 40 26; www.point_afrique.com ; Rue du Sahel) Hub: Paris.

Royal Air Maroc (AT; 73 28 85; www.royalairmaroc.com ; Rue du Gaweye) Hub: Casablanca.

Toumaï Air Tchad (73 04 05; Rue du Gaweye) Hub: N’Djaména.

^ Back to top