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Top Tourist Places to Visit in Ayourou, West Africa, Africa

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Ayourou, West Africa, Africa

Ayourou, also spelled Ayorou, is a town belonging to the Tillabéri Region in the western part of the West African country, Niger. It is situated near the Malian border, around 200 km northwest of Niamey, the capital of Niger. Ayourou is famous among visitors as the site of a large number of hippo population. Island tours and colorful traditional market with a wide selection of handicraft products are the other highlights of Ayourou. Ayourou is also famous for different bird population. The town of Ayourou is located on the River Niger and coordinates with 14.735° N latitude and 0.92° E longitude.

How to reach Ayourou?

There is no airport in Ayourou and the nearest airport to Ayourou is Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, located around 210 km southeast of the heart of the town of Ayourou. This airport covers many important African cities like Casablanca, Algiers, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Ouagadougou and European cities like Istanbul and Paris. At the airport, taxis are generally available and for inexpensive airport travel, visitors can wait until the arrival of buses, served by the bus company Africa Assalaam.

Food and Shopping in Ayourou:

Everything is special in Ayourou, from its market to tourist attractions. The traditional market of Ayourou offers dozens of colorful products, including painted clay pots, plastic bracelets, and pillows. There is a bar and restaurant in Ayourou and apart from it, street food items are also special in Ayourou.

What to do in Ayourou?

Island tours
Traditional shopping
Walking

What to see in Ayourou?

Ayourou Market:

Ayourou is well known among visitors for its traditional market. What special handicraft items available in Ayourou that can be seen only in Ayourou not even in Niamey also. Vendors are very polite, offering great discount on the purchase of a more number of products.

Island and hippo tours:

The River Niger passes through Ayourou, where visitors can see a large number of the 3^rd largest type of land mammal, Hippopotamus. The tour of Hippo and islands can be taken from hotel where tourists stay. One of the major boat operators is Ilou Anafiyou, who generally provides 3-hour motorized pirogue tour at a cost of 20000F.

Niamey:

Niamey is the capital city of Niger, located around 200 km away from Ayourou. Being the capital city, Niamey holds all types of facilities and attractions. Niamey owns a mix of modern and traditional tourist attractions such as the Niger National Museum and Zoo, Grande Mosque, Cathedral de Maorey, a cultural centre Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien and the largest market of the country, Grande Marché. A day trip is not enough to explore Niamey. Buses are generally accessible to travel between Ayourou and Niamey and visitors can also consider a rental vehicle for comfortable travel.

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

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

When to travel Ayourou?

The best time to visit Ayourou depends on visitors’ interest, though to enjoy different outdoor activities, during the months between January and March or from November to December is ideal.

Accommodation options in Ayourou:

It is difficult to find star rated hotels in Ayourou, but visitors can use camping or hotel with beautiful river views for accommodation purpose. Below is a listed hotel in Niamey (around 200 km from Ayourou):

Tenere Hotel
Hotel du Sahel
Hotel Univers
Hotel de la Tapoa
Hotel Terminus
Grand Hotel du Niger
Les Roniers
Hotel Gaweye
L’Ile Du Lamantin
Homeland Hotel
Oasis Hotel
Nikki Hotel
Royal Palace Hotel
Tabakady
Les Collines

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Agadez, Niger, Western Africa, Africa

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Agadez, Niger, Western Africa, Africa

Agadez, earlier called Agades, is one of the important cities of Niger, situated in the northern part of the country, between 16°58′ N latitude and 7°59′ E longitude. It is the administrative centre of the Agadez Region, situated around 950 km northeast of Niamey, the capital of Niger. Agadez is a thriving market town, well known for its camel market and traditional market with genuine silver and leatherworks. Agadez is the second famous tourist destination in Niger, after the capital, Niamey. The highlights are historic mosques and palaces. Agadez is located in the Sahara region, around 520 meters above sea level, between 16°58′0″ N latitude and 7°59′0″ E longitude.

History of Agadez:

The documented history of Agadez says it was founded before the 14^th century and it gained the sultanate status in the 1449 and came under the Songhai Empire’s reign around 1500. In its long and grand history, Agadez also witnessed the rule of the powerful Ottoman Empire and the French colonial empire.

Connectivity to Agadez:

Agadez holds an airport, but currently the airport is not served by any flights. So international tourists are needed to reach Niamey Airport first and then they can take bus or taxi or rental car for airport travel. The Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey is situated around 940 km away from Agadez and operates flights from and to Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Ouagadougou, Paris, Istanbul, Casablanca and Algiers. Agadez is connected to Niamey by bus service.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Agadez:

Agadez is the hometown of many nationally renowned artists, including the guitar player Bombino.

Agadez is famous for its traditional market, where typical products like beaded necklace and other silver and leatherworks are available at affordable prices.

Le Piliers is a famous Italian restaurant and another popular restaurant in Agadez is Maquis Emiskini.

What to do in Agadez?

Visiting historic sites
Village tours
Shopping

What to see in Agadez?

Agadez Mosque:

The Agadez Mosque is one of the landmark sites of Agadez, constructed originally in the year 1515 and reconstructed in 1844. The mosque is especially noted as a structure made up of full of clay.

Kaocen Palace:

The Kaocen Palace is a historic palace, now has been converted into a hotel. Both interior and exterior designs of the palace are dynamic, attracting tourists from all around the country year round.

Palace of Sultan in Agadez:

The Sultan Palace in Agadez is one of the iconic structures in the city, holding hundreds of years grand history and is still good in condition. Visitors can take the suggestion of taking aid of locals for easier exploration of the palace.

Heinrich Barth Residence:

The Heinrich Barth Residence is located in the old quarter of Agadez. This house belonged to a well known personality, Heinrich Barth and now it has been converted into a small museum with old maps and many other historic objects.

Mano Dayak International Airport:

The Mano Dayak International Airport is a well constructed airport in Agadez, named after the famous the Tuareg leader, Mano Dayak. There are no flights serving airport currently but tourists are allowed with a prior permission.

Other places of interest in Agadez, Niamey and other parts of Niger include:

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

When to visit Agadez?

Probably the beginning months of the year are ideal to travel Agadez in Niger, when the weather will be in condition.

Where to stay in Agadez?

There is a limited number of accommodation options in Agadez, not more than 10, so it would be better if visitors book hotel rooms well in advance prior to reaching the city through online. Some nice hotels in Agadez in Niger are listed below:

Hotel Tidene
Pension Tellit
L’Auberge d’Azel
Auberge Taguelmoust
Etoile du Tenere
La Tendé
Hotel de la Paix

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

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

Niger is a western African country, sharing its borders with Chad to the east, Algeria and Libya to the north, Mali and Burkina Faso to the west and Nigeria and Benin towards the south. It is the largest country in West Africa, spanning over an area of 1,270,000 sq. km. Niamey is the capital and largest city of Niger, situated in the southwestern part of the country. Niger is a developing country, following the unitary semi-presidential republic system. The tourism of Niger is characterized by its Mountain ranges and desert region. The geographical coordinates of Niger are 16.1833° N, 9.6167° E.

History of Niger:

Before falling under the French rule in the beginning of 20^th century, Niger had come under the reign of many powerful empires, including the Songhai Empire and the Dendi Kingdom. Following the independence from France on 3 August 1960, Niger fell under the control of single-party civilian regime led by the president Hamani Diori. Niger has turned as a democratic country in 2010 after the military revolution.

Getting Niger:

The Diori Hamani International Airport is the gateway to Niger, situated around 10 km southeast of the centre of the capital city, Niamey. The airport handles flights from and to Istanbul, Casablanca, Algiers, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Ouagadougou, Paris and many other African cities. Niger has no railway transportation but buses are accessible to travel between the major cities of the country.

Cars can be rented in the capital city Niamey and Agadez, which is not recommended as it is not safe.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Niger:

Islam is the predominant religion of Niger, covering around 95% of the total population of the country. Although French is the official language, People in Niger speak their own dialects like Hausa, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma and Kanuri.

The shopping of Niger is concentrated in Grande Marche in Niamey, which is the largest market in Niger. It is especially famous for sports apparel and baby clothes.

The cuisine of Niger is diverse, different from region to region and some specialties of Niger are kilishi, fari masa, dumbou, koudagou and chichena.

What to do in Niger?

Desert tour
Trade fair
Traditional shopping

What to see in Niger?

Grande Mosquée in Niamey:

The Niamey Grand Mosque is situated along Islam Avenue, featuring a minaret that holds 171 steps. This landmark mosque is the largest in Niamey, built with the financial aid of Libya.

The National Museum of Niger:

The Niger National Museum was constructed during the French colonial period in 1959. It is one of the top tourist attractions of Niger, showcasing the history and culture of the country with a large collection of traditional instruments, costumes and artifacts. There is also a zoo adjoining museum.

Cathedral de Maorey:

The Cathedral de Maorey is frequented by both locals and visitors. The structure of the cathedral is a blend of the local and European architectures, which can be seen in both lively interior and exterior designs.

Grande Marché:

Being the largest market place of the country, the Grande Marché is one of the identities of Niger, holding around 5000 different stalls, of which around 1500 are covered. The market is very much colorful and vivacious. This market is located in Niamey.

Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda:

The Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda is a renowned cultural centre in Niamey, featuring a large library, a bar and around 5000 spectators holding amphitheater.

What remained to see in Niger?

Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien
Palace of Sultan
Mosque of Agadez
Aïr Mountains
W National Park
Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve

When to travel Niger?

The climate of Niger is classified as a subtropical, with very hot and dry weather year round. The best months to visit Niger are January, February, March, November and December.

Where can stay in Niger?

Niger holds a moderate hospitality industry and most of its large scale hotels are in the capital city, Niamey and apart from top end hotels, Niamey houses many camping and vacation rentals that are on the outskirts of the city. Some standard hotels in Niamey in Niger include:

Hotel de la Tapoa
Hotel Terminus
Grand Hotel du Niger
Les Roniers
Tenere Hotel
Hotel du Sahel
Hotel Univers
Hotel Gaweye
L’Ile Du Lamantin
Homeland Hotel
Tabakady
Les Collines
Oasis Hotel
Nikki Hotel
Royal Palace Hotel

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Pointe Noire, Congo, Central Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Pointe Noire, Congo, Central Africa, Africa

Pointe Noire is the 2^nd largest city of the Republic of the Congo, covering an area of 1,144 sq. km. It is a port city, situated on the southwestern part of the country, between 04°46′43″ S latitude and 11°51′49″ E longitude. Pointe Noire is an autonomous department, located about 560 km west of the national capital, Brazzaville.

Pointe Noir is the commercial hub of the country, home to two upgraded railway stations, an international airport and spectacular beaches as well as many entertainment centers. Pointe Noire features a tropical hot and humid climate with heavy seasonal rainfall as like the rest of the country.

History of Pointe Noire:

It is believed that, the name Pointe Noire may be derived from the black rocks on the headland that were recognized by Portuguese navigators when they reached the area in the year 1484. The name Pointe Noire literally means ‘Black Point’. Pointe Noir gained prominence from the French forces when they occupied the town along with the rest of the country in the late 19^th century.

How to reach Pointe Noire?

Pointe Noire holds an international airport, situated around 5 km south of the midpoint of the city. The airport receives flights from Abidjan, Cotonou, Libreville, Paris, Kinshasa, Lome, Douala, Malabo, Port and many other domestic and international cities.

Buses are regular between the airport and city centre and if one booked private transfers that would be more comfort for airport travel.

Taxis generally charge not more than CFA 1000 to move within the city.

Food and Shopping in Pointe Noire:

Being a commercial centre of the country, Pointe Noire holds an upgraded shopping industry with both traditional and modern shops.

The major tourist favor restaurants in Pointe Noire are as follows:

Cercle Naval
Le Derrick
La Cite
Gaspas

Things to do in Pointe Noire:

Beach exploration
City tours
Shopping

Places to see in Pointe Noire:

Notre Dame beach:

The Notre Dame Beach is one of the highlights of Pointe Noire, frequented by tourists from all around the country during dry months. Other than exploring beaches, visitors can also have nice traditional crispy and crunchy delicacies at restaurants located on the beach.

Diosso Gorge:

The Diosso Gorge is a striking natural tourist attraction, situated few kilometers away from the city border. It takes around a half day to explore, although worth a watch. One can get it by rental vehicle.

Mazra Club:

Mazra Club is a beach club, situated in the district of Songolo, 3 km away from the centre of the city. It is in isolated area, though it can be found through a guided tour. One can also taste a local beer at this mangrove ecosystem at a cost of 1000 XAF.

Conkouati-Douli National Park:

Situated to the north of Pointe Noire, the Conkouati-Douli National Park is spread over an area of 5,050 km². The park is rich in vegetation and also houses a wide range of animal species such as elephants, buffalo, gorillas, leopards, Chimpanzees, sitatunga, mandrill and bushpigs. It can be explored best through a guided tour.

List of other places of interest in Pointe Noire includes:

Cote Sauvage
Pointe-Noire
Reserve de Faune de Tsoulou
L’arbre de Brazza
Église Saint Paul
National Museum of Congo
Basilique St. Anne
Congo River
Odzala National Park
Charles de Gaulle House
Mami Wata
Louana National Park
Congo Gorilla Safaris

Best time to visit Pointe Noire:

The best and most popular time to visit Pointe Noire is from July to September.

Accommodation options in Pointe Noire:

Pointe Noire houses around 20 modernized standard centres including vacation rentals, hotels and BB and inns with different upgraded facilities and services, although many hotels don’t take credit cards, so keep local currency in pocket. Here are some nice hotels in Pointe Noire: