Full Post Style - MustVisitPlace.com

Tourist Places to Visit in Seychelles, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Seychelles, East Africa, Africa

Seychelles is a country in the Indian Ocean, made up of 155 different islands (officially). Victoria is the capital and largest city of Seychelles, situated northeast of Madagascar and around 1600 km east of the mainland Africa (Kenya). Seychelles holds the population of 90,024 people (as of the 2012 census), making it the smallest country in Africa but its Human Development Index is highest compared to any other African country.

Seychelles is one of the member nations of the African Union. Seychelles is thriving in the tourism sector, holding plentiful striking coral beaches with opportunities of different water sports. Seychelles covers a total area of 459 sq. km and its geographical coordinates are 4.6167° S, 55.4500° E.

History of Seychelles:

It is said that, Austronesian seafarers were the first inhabitants of Seychelles, followed by them the Maldivian and Arab traders visited the island. The Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama was the first European to visit Seychelles in 1502, British landed on Seychelles in 1609 and Seychelles fell under the French rule in 1756. With the outcome of the Treaty of Paris in 1914, Seychelles came thoroughly under the British control and became independent on 29 June 1976.

How to reach Seychelles?

No necessity of Visa to enter Seychelles for any nationality but passport with 6 month validity is must. The Seychelles International Airport near the capital Victoria is the gateway to Seychelles, handling flights from/to Frankfurt, Abu Dhabi, Nairobi, Colombo, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Paris and Praslin. The cities of Seychelles are catered by buses, rental cars and taxis.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Seychelles:

The population of Seychelles is dominated by the Seychellois Creoles, who constitute around 93% of the country’s total population and have their own language, Seychellois Creole.

Pearl jewellery, textiles and straw hats are the purchasable items in Seychelles and Seychelles is famous for seafood dishes.

What to do in Seychelles?

Snorkelling
Sailing
Fishing
Surfing/Windsurfing
Bird-watching
Diving

Must see in Seychelles:

Sainte Anne Marine National Park:
The Sainte Anne Marine National Park covers 6 small islands, is situated around 5 km away from Victoria. Established in 1973, the park is the site of different water sport activities like glass-bottom boat excursions, scuba-diving and snorkeling.

Vallee de Mai:

Vallee de Mai is a world heritage site, featuring abundant flora and fauna species, highlighted by coco de mer of monocot tree, the largest seed in the world. This nature park is situated on the Praslin Island.

Aldabra Atoll:

Aldabra Atoll is considered as the largest coral atoll in the world, measuring a length of 22 miles. It is famous among visitors as home to a large proportion of giant land tortoise, tiger sharks and manta rays.

Natural History Museum:

The Natural History Museum describes the features of flora, fauna and the geological history of Seychelles with regular exhibitions. Entrance fee for non-residents is SR 15.00.

Sport activities in Seychelles:

Seychelles offers a wide range of sport activities for both locals and visitors such as horseback riding, biking, tennis, squash, badminton and golfing. These activities can be greatly enjoyed on Cousin Island.

List of other places to see in Seychelles include:

Bicentennial Monument
Petite Anse
Aride Island
Curieuse Island
Cousin Island
Vauxhall Clock Tower
Victoria Botanical Gardens
Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market

When to visit Seychelles?

Seychelles generally experiences a warm tropical climate year round and the best time to visit Seychelles depends on tourists’ particular interests, although the most preferred time is from December to January and July to August.

Where can stay in Seychelles?

There are dozens of world class hotels in Seychelles, but getting it during peak season would be a great challenge for visitors without advance booking. Here is the list of some tourist favor hotels in the capital, Victoria in Seychelles:

Le Relax Hotel and Restaurant
Le Meridien Barbarons
Hotel Bel Air
Le Triskell
Le Sans Souci Guesthouse
Calypha Guesthouse
Beau Sejour
Fond du Sac
Le Surmer
Eden Luxury Apartments
Airport Transit Apartments
Bay View Villa
Bayview Studio
Castaway Fishing Lodge
Le Jardin des Palmes

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Zinder, Niger, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Zinder, Niger, Africa

Zinder is the 2^nd largest city of Niger, located in the southern part of the country at 13°48′19″ N 8°59′18″ E. Located around 480 meters above sea level, Zinder is situated around 230 km east of the country’s 3^rd largest city, Maradi and 860 km east of the country’s capital and largest city, Niamey. Zinder is noted as a tourist destination, mainly for its historic attractions like the Zinder Great Mosque and the Zinder Sultan’s Palace. The city also houses a regional museum, a large market and an airport as well.

History of Zinder:

Historically, Zinder was a grand city being the foundation place of many regional powers, including the Sultanate of Damagaram, which was founded by the Kanouri aristocrats in the year 1736. There was a fortress constructed in the today’s suburb Birini that was mainly used for trading purpose. Zinder became modernized with the introduction of mobile service by telecommunication company Celtel in 2003, which resulted into the communication easier between the regional traders of Zinder.

How to get Zinder?

There is an airport in Zinder but flights are not scheduled. So it is suggested for overseas tourists to reach Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey first and then take taxi or bus from there to Zinder. This airport is situated around 880 km away from Zinder and handles flights from Istanbul, Paris, Casablanca and other European and African cities.

SNTV line is a prominent bus operator connecting Niamey to Zinder, charging around 12,500 francs per way. Two other bus companies are Air and Rimbo.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Zinder:

Zinder is home to the French Cultural Center, named Le Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien, which organizes regular concerts showcasing the blend of French and Nigerian culture. There is also a French private club in the city, situated near the regional museum.

Grande Marche is the main market of the city and also visitors can reach the Artisan Center, where different kinds of colorful products like wallets, silver jewelry, paintings and handicraft items are produced.

Restaurant Mourna is one of the well known restaurants in Zinder and other nice options are Chez Ramatou, Le Palmier and Hotel Damagaram.

What to do in Zinder?

Traditional shopping
Village tours
Walking
Visiting museum

What to see in Zinder?

Zinder Great Mosque:

Like many prominent cities of Niger, Zinder also houses a great mosque. Like its name, the mosque is also great in construction and architecture. The mosque is frequented by both devotees and tourists.

Zinder Sultan’s Palace:

The Zinder Sultan’s Palace is a historic palace, served as the residence of sultans in the past. Most parts of the palace are made out of mud brick that are nice to see.

Zinder Regional Museum:

The Zinder Regional Museum was constructed to showcase the local culture and tradition, especially of Hausa people, who are the predominant ethnic group in the country.

Grande Marche in Zinder:

Grande Marche in Zinder is a large and vibrant market place, with dozens of stalls with a wide selection of colorful local specialties and modern products. The market is located in the new town Sabon Gari.

Birni Quarter:

Birni Quarter is one of the localities of Zinder, famous for its vernacular architecture that can be seen in local traditional houses.

List of other places of interest in and around Zinder includes:

Zinder Airport
Le Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien
Residence of Heinrich Barth
Waterhouse Zinder
The Grand Marché in Maradi
The Artisan’s Center in Maradi
The Katsinawa Provincial Chief’s Palace in Maradi
Dan Kasswa Mosque in Maradi

When to travel Zinder?

As like the rest of Niger, from October to March is the best time to visit Zinder in Niger when the weather will be supportive for outdoor activities.

Accommodation options in Zinder:

Zinder houses a limited number of hotels, so booking hotels well in advance prior to reaching the city is recommended. For more options, visitors can head towards Maradi (230 km). Here are some standard hotels in Zinder:

Hotel Damagaram
Hotel Amadou Kouran Daga
Auberge Gamzaki Hotel
Hotel Central

Tourist Places to Visit in Tessaoua, Maradi, Niger, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Tessaoua, Maradi, Niger, Africa

Tessaoua is a city belonging to the Maradi Region of Niger, located between 13°45′ N latitude and 7°59′ E longitude. It is in the southern part of the country, situated around 120 km northeast of the regional capital, Maradi and 760 km east of the national capital, Niamey. Tessaoua houses a high school and many primary schools, as well as two hospitals, both traditional and modern restaurants and shops. Tessaoua is home to a soccer club, named Tessaoua FC and the regional headquarters of many non-governmental organizations. Tessaoua is also famous for traditional sports like sorro wrestling, horse racing and camel racing.

How to reach Tessaoua?

As its position at the halfway between two important cites of Niger, Zinder and Maradi, tourists are not needed to take more effort to get Tessaoua.

There is no airport in Tessaoua, but visitors can consider Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey to reach Tessaoua. This airport is situated around 750 km away from Tessaoua and operates flights from and to Istanbul, Casablanca, Algiers, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Ouagadougou and Paris. Once getting down at the airport, visitors can hire a car at the local travel agency and wait until the arrival of bus to get Tessaoua. Pre-booked vehicles are more convenient than this.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Tessaoua:

Like the most parts of Niger, Tessaoua is also well known for traditional wresting. Football is also famous among local youths.

Tessaoua houses some modernized shops and restaurants but not in international level, so, visitors can drive towards Maradi (around 120 km) or Zinder (110 km) for standard options.

Things to do in Tessaoua:

Walking
Shopping
Cycling

What to see in Tessaoua?

Maradi:

Maradi is the third largest city of Niger, situated around 120 km west of Tessaoua, embellished by many recognized tourist attractions like the Dan Kasswa Mosque, Katsinawa Provincial Palace, Artisan’s Center and Grand Marché (a traditional market). Buses regularly ply between Maradi and Tessaoua.

Zinder:

Being the 2^nd largest city of Niger and the former capital of many regional powers, Zinder houses many modern and historic tourist attractions such as the Zinder Great Mosque, Zinder Sultan’s Palace and the suburb Zengou, where many historic attractions of the city are located. The city is also home to a museum that showcases the Zinder’s culture and history with well preserved objects. Zinder is situated around 110 km east of Tessaoua.

Agadez:

Agadez is a historic city, situated around 560 km north of Tessaoua. This northern Nigerian city holds many specialties, of which most came from its religious and historic sites. The recommended sites to visit in Agadez are Kaocen Palace, Agadez Mosque, Sultan Palace and Heinrich Barth Residence.

List of the other places of interest in and around Tessaoua includes:

Zinder Sultan’s Palace
Zinder Great Mosque
The National Museum of Niger
Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda
Cathedral de Maorey
Grande Marché in Niamey
Grande Mosquée in Niamey
W National Park
Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve
Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien
Aïr Mountains

Best time to visit Tessaoua:

Tessaoua can be visited year round, although the recommended time to visit Tessaoua is from October to March.

Where to stay in Tessaoua?

There are no star rated hotels in Tessaoua, but visitors can adjust themselves to traditional accommodation options. Standard options can be found in Maradi or Zinder, located around 120 km west and 110 km east from Tessaoua respectively. The prominent hotels in Maradi, Zinder and Niamey (around 760 km from Tessaoua) include:

Hotel Jangorzo in Maradi
Hotel Damagaram in Zinder
Hotel Amadou Kouran Daga in Zinder
Hotel Central in Zinder
Auberge Gamzaki Hotel in Zinder
Hotel Terminus
Grand Hotel du Niger
Les Roniers
Tenere Hotel
Hotel du Sahel
Hotel Univers
Hotel de la Tapoa
Hotel Gaweye
Oasis Hotel
Homeland Hotel

Niamey Tourist Places to Visit in Niamey, Niger, Western Africa, Africa

Niamey Tourist Places to Visit in Niamey, Niger, Western Africa, Africa

Niamey is the capital and largest city of the landlocked western African country, Niger. It is the commercial, administrative as well as the cultural centre of the country, holding population around 1,302,910 people (as of the 2011 census). Niamey is situated on the bank of the Niger River, covering a total area of 239.30 sq. km. Being the capital city, Niamey offers different attractions for tourists, including the Niger National Museum and Zoo, the Grand Mosque of Niamey and the Cathedral de Maorey.

The climate of Niamey is hot semi-arid, while Niamey experiences a short rainy season, from June to September, with an average annual rainfall of 550 millimeters.

History of Niamey:

Although Niamey was founded in the 18^th century, the city came to limelight in the 1890s with the initiation of the French colonial rule in Niger. The developments happened in the city promoted Niamey as the capital of Niger under the French rule. After the country’s independence (on 3 August 1960) also, Niamey has continued to serve as the capital.

Getting Niamey:

Niamey holds the prime airport of the country, Diori Hamani International Airport, located around 10 km southeast of the midpoint of the city. The airport operates international flights to Istanbul, Paris, Casablanca and Addis Ababa. The airport travel can be done by taxi or bush taxi or bus.

There are buses frequent between Niamey and other major cities of the country, including Maradi, Zinder, and Agadez.

Taxis are the convenient options to get around Niamey, costing 200CFA per person (shared taxi).

Culture, Shopping and Food in Niamey:

Other than the Niger National Museum, Niamey is also home to two other grand cultural centres, the Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda and Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien, with regular activities.

Grande Marche is the focal point of Niamey’s shopping and apart from this, the city also houses many independent modern shops all around.

Niamey houses numerous excellent food corners with incredible and unique dishes made with a mix of European and African styles for visitors.

What to do in Niamey?

Watching Music performances
Swimming at swimming pools in Niamey
Shopping

What to see in Niamey?

The Niger National Museum and Zoo:

The Niger National Museum and Zoo is the most famous tourist attraction in Niamey, situated in the French colonial complex built in 1959. The museum exhibit the country’s culture and history, while the zoo shows a wide range of wildlife, mostly sahelian animals. There are also traditional abodes, handicraft shops and a bar. Common entrance fee is 1000F.

Grande Mosquée:

The Grande Mosquée is a landmark structure, situated at Avenue de l’Islam. The mosque itself is imposing and also features a minaret that is very tall, can be climbed up through a guided tour. visitors should pay 1000F entrance fee.

Grande Marché:

Located in the heart of the city, the Grande Marché is the commercial centre of Niger, holding the title of the largest market of the country. The market is wide, housing around 5000 different stalls, which takes around a half day to explore.

Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien:

The Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien is a place blended the culture of France and Niger with the exhibitions of musical acts, debates and plays. The centre also features a cybercafé, a bar and most importantly, a large library.

Cathedral de Maorey:

The Cathedral de Maorey is large and famous cathedral, reserved to the small Christian population in the city. It is great to see the unified French and Nigerian architecture and décor in the interior and exterior designs of the cathedral.

Other tourist attractions in Niamey:

Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda
Palace of Sultan
W National Park
Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve
Mosque of Agadez
Aïr Mountains

When to travel Niamey?

From October to April is the best time to visit Niamey, when the weather remains dry.

Where can stay in Niamey?

Hotels are limited in Niamey, around 20, but services are memorable as hotel employees show great warmth towards visitors with a wide range of facilities. Some modern and tourist favor hotels in Niamey are listed below: