--- title: "Bicycle touring in Niger | Cycle Planet" description: "The population consists of various ethnic groups, the majority of which are Muslim, so appropriate clothing (legs covered) is recommended. The big…" canonical_url: "https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger" meta: "og:description": "The population consists of various ethnic groups, the majority of which are Muslim, so appropriate clothing (legs covered) is recommended. The big…" "og:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BNiger%2Cdescription_~VGhlIHBvcHVsYXRpb24gY29uc2lzdHMgb2YgdmFyaW91cyBldGhuaWMgZ3JvdXBzLCB0aGUgbWFqb3JpdHkgb2Ygd2hpY2ggYXJlIE11c2xpbSwgc28gYXBwcm9wcmlhdGUgY2xvdGhpbmcgKGxlZ3MgY292ZXJlZCkgaXMgcmVjb21tZW5kZWQuIFRoZSBiaWfigKY%2Cheadline_Western%2BAfrica%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvbmlnZXIi%2Cs_OgebI31JLtWlvWJl.png" "og:image:height": "600" "og:image:type": image/png "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "Bicycle touring in Niger" "twitter:image": "https://cycleplanet.org/_og/d/c_Blauwdruk%2Ctitle_Bicycle%2Btouring%2Bin%2BNiger%2Cdescription_~VGhlIHBvcHVsYXRpb24gY29uc2lzdHMgb2YgdmFyaW91cyBldGhuaWMgZ3JvdXBzLCB0aGUgbWFqb3JpdHkgb2Ygd2hpY2ggYXJlIE11c2xpbSwgc28gYXBwcm9wcmlhdGUgY2xvdGhpbmcgKGxlZ3MgY292ZXJlZCkgaXMgcmVjb21tZW5kZWQuIFRoZSBiaWfigKY%2Cheadline_Western%2BAfrica%2CsiteName_Cycle%2BPlanet%2Clogo_CP%2Cp_Ii9jb3VudHJpZXMvbmlnZXIi%2Cs_OgebI31JLtWlvWJl.png" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://cycleplanet.org/llms.txt) Western Africa # Niger [**View on the map**](https://cycleplanet.org/map?at=17.607789,8.081666,6.5) ## **About ** The population consists of various ethnic groups, the majority of which are Muslim, so appropriate clothing (legs covered) is recommended. The big difference with the surrounding countries is that poverty is very dire in many places. Despite this, the population can be characterized as sincere and cordial. Like many Africans in the region, people live by the day, they are traditional and used to living with severe setbacks. The official language is French, but given that the vast majority of the population is out of school and illiterate, not everyone speaks it. The local native languages are Hausa (in the south), Zarma (in the west), Fula and Tamashek (desert nomads in the north). Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/about) ## **Visa ** If you come by land, visas for Niger are not available in the neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso. However, in Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Ghana. At the border would also be possible. Always provide sufficient passport photos. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/visa) ## **Sleeping ** ### **Staying with locals** Spontaneously invited to people's homes is not one of them. Not out of unwillingness, but simply because they are too poor for it. ### **(Formal) camping** There is a campsite in Niamey ### **Ho(s)tels** There are hotels in the larger towns. Don't expect too much from the quality. More luxurious hotels mainly in Niamey. ### **Wild camping** Wild camping is possible, but you will get a lot of attention near the villages. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/sleeping) ## **Safety ** Niger is a politically safe country, it is one of the more stable democracies in the region. Corruption is less and less tolerated. In view of the visibly shocking poverty, you may experience it differently and guarantees cannot be given here. However, the chance that you will be approached aggressively is small. ### **Nature and animals** Dogs are normally not a problem. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/safety) ## **Food and drink ** The country is painfully poor, the food that can be found is not much culinary, unless it has to be fried grasshoppers (tastes like chips). There are plenty of restaurants in cities, the quality is usually not fantastic. Outside the cities you are on your own, taking a supply for 2-3 days is nice. For vegetarians there is rice and not much more than that. **Drinkable water** Tap water is available in the cities but also very scarce there. In Zinder it was there about 6 hours a day. The rest of the water comes from wells or pumps. Filtering is recommended in all cases. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/foodDrink) ## **Vaccinations & health ** - A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. - A DTP vaccination is recommended - Protection against Hepatitis A is recommended. - Sometimes a Cholera statement is needed. - Malaria occurs all year round. Precautions are recommended. **Availability hospitals / doctors** Healthcare is at a very low level. Pharmacies, for example, do not store their medicines refrigerated due to a lack of electricity. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/health) ## **Other ** **Best time to cycle** Between March and June the temperature is at its highest and downright killer, especially in the north, in the desert. December to February are the best cycling months. In the desert, the temperature drops to freezing at night. August is the month with the most rain, mainly in the south. Harmatan winds that blow before the rainy season can bring in suffocating dust and significantly impair visibility. Provide respiratory protection! **Spare parts** If you ride a Chinese bicycle, there are parts available, unfortunately these are of poor quality. Even tire patches suck, make sure you have plenty of them with you, thorns can be a problem. There are no Shimano parts, etc. Because of the heat, it is advisable to also take a decent extra rim tape with you. (Glue comes loose, plastic becomes soft, etc.). Do not rely on the skills of the bicycle mechanics, they are especially good at carpentry. **Nice routes** - The route of Robert and Wiesje through the south: From Benin: Gaia, Birni N'Konni, Zinder towards Kano, Nigeria. “The landscape is a bit monotonous but it was exciting and the country has left an indelible impression.” - The classic heart of the country is around Agadez. This is an old trading town similar to Tomboucktou in Mali. - The Aïr Mountains are a spectacular area of dark volcanic rock. There are cave paintings dating as far back as 5000 BC. - In Tawachi, about 70 km. southwest of the city of Agadez is a huge cemetery of dinosaur remains. A start was made on uncovering some of them in 2000. Last updated 4 Jun 2021 by [Wereldfietser.nl / Vakantiefietser.be](https://cycleplanet.org/cyclists/01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3) [Edit](https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger/edit/other) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Cycle Planet is the bicycle touring platform: visas, border crossings, places to sleep and points of interest per country, and a community of cyclists who host each other.","name":"Cycle Planet","url":"https://cycleplanet.org/","publisher":{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://cycleplanet.org/countries/niger#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"The population consists of various ethnic groups, the majority of which are Muslim, so appropriate clothing (legs covered) is recommended. 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