The old quarter is a maze of narrow lanes with traditional old mud-brick houses. Here you’ll find the striking 15th century clay mosque of Agadez. The minaret is an amazing 27m tall and is spiked with wooden sticks, like a giant sand castle.

Behind the mosque is a unique three storey sand brick building, the seat of the Sultanate, which is open to the public.

The home of Sahara explorer Heinrich Barth, who lived here in the 1850s, has been converted into a small museum today. You can see several items from that time, as well as old maps that display his route here.

Agadez has the region’s biggest market, visited by hundreds of traders. There is also a colourful camel market close to the main market where tribal traders can be seen in traditional regalia.
Head to the Artisan Centre and watch the local artists shaping chunks of metal into works of art.
When here, plan a desert safari and a camel excursion into the nearby Air Mountains, where the Tuaregs live.

Niamey is a sparkling city with lovely things to visit and enjoy.
The National Museum of Niger, situated right in the middle of Niamey, presents a great variety of the cou...