Niger – Gerewol Festival 2024 – 11 days
Once a year, the largest and most important celebration of the Wodaabe people belonging to the Fulbe ethnic group takes place – the Gerewol festival. To get to the agreed festival location, nomads must traverse long distances amidst the Sahel wilderness together with their herds.
Presence at this festival is an exceptional experience that will remain in your memory for a long time. The festival that takes place in Niger is much larger and more spectacular than that in Chad. Moreover, the expedition to the Republic of Niger provides a unique opportunity for meeting other ethnic groups integrated in the population of this African country. . During the expedition we will visit Agadez with its extraordinary historic sights and the capital of Niger, Niamey.
itinerary
Flights to Niamey usually take place in the afternoon and evening. After arrival, visa formalities. Transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, an organisational meeting and dinner
D.
After breakfast we plan to visit Niamey: the local museum, the market, the grand mosque. We will also have an opportunity to see the Niger River. We will be able to see for ourselves how the Niamey inhabitants can benefit from the riches of this major river in the African continent. We will also see freely living hippopotamuses and local fishers from the Djerma ethnic group. For lunch, we will go to a restaurant After transfer to Niamey In the evening dinner in one of local restaurants.
B. L. D.
After breakfast, we will depart for the town of Birni N’Konni. A city located southeast of the capital of Niger. Birni N’Konni has a very long history. Afterwards, we will visit the old part of the city with monumental gates, city walls, and a labyrinth of winding streets. The old buildings were built during the reign of Tanimoune. Dinner and overnight stay in one of the hotels in the town.
B. L. D.
An early breakfast, after which we will set off for Abalak. On the way, we will stop in Salama for a short rest with a meal and replenishment of supplies. We will leave the town with our military escort. Next stop in Tahoua. In the afternoon, arrival in Abalak, where we will have dinner and spend the night in tents.
B.L.D.
Early breakfast, after which we will set of for the journey to Agadez. In the afternoon transfer to the hotel. After a short rest, we will set off to explore this legendary city in the Sahara. In the evening, dinner at one of the local restaurants. overnight stay at a hotel.
B.L.D.
After breakfast we will set off for a whole-day visit in this city whose history dates back to over 100 years ago, and old town historic sites were entered in 2013 into the UNESCO World Heritage list. We will admire the Grand Mosque and then we will go to the Sultan Palace with a tower made of sun-dried bricks in its courtyard. After lunch, we will go for a walk through the labyrinth of streets. In the evening dinner in one of local restaurants.
B.L.D.
Early breakfast, after which we will set of for the journey to Abalak. We will stop there for a short rest and a meal, and we will replenish our stocks. Then we will set off for the location of the Gerewol festival. Dinner at the festival camp. We will sleep in tents.
B.L.D.
We will spend two days at the Gerewol festival which is an annual meeting of the nomadic Wodaabe people belonging to the Fulbe ethnic group. During the festival, we will be able to see traditional dances of young men wearing traditional robes, with faces painted according to the tradition of their clan. We will also visit the Wodaabe camp and learn about their everyday life. We will sleep in tents. B.L.D.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will start taking down the camp and we will set off to the town of Tahoua. We will stop on the way at Yaama Hausa village with a typical local architecture, with a Sudan-style mosque. Lunch in one of the villages or en route. In the afternoon we will drive to Dosso where we will stay in a hotel for the night. In the evening dinner in one of local restaurants.
B.L.D
In the morning, we will set off for the Niger capital. We will drive through Dosso where we will visit the Djermakoye Palace belonging to the Dosso sultan. The place of the next stop will be Kouré where we will see the last herds of wild giraffes in West Africa. After lunch, the last opportunity to purchase souvenirs and local handicraft products. In the evening we will go to the airport. Flight home from Niger
B.L.
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 11 days in Africa;
- start of the trip: Niamey;
- end of the trip: Niamey;
- the highlights of this expedition The most important event during the trip will be the stay at the place of organisation of the annual Gerewol festival at which the nomadic Wodaabe people gather. It is an exceptional opportunity for a close encounter with the unique Wodaabe culture, mainly music and dances, during their annual celebration. Moreover, we will see the outstanding architecture and buildings that remember the times of ancient kingdoms that once existed in West Africa.
The tour will be an expedition to one of the regions of the world least visited by tourists. The tour is oriented on sightseeing and cultural tourism. Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers are required to be physically and mentally fit. You must prepare to long drives amidst the desolations of the Saharan wilderness, often at more than +40°C. At the Gerewol festival, we will sleep in tents. No long hikes or activities that require strenuous physical effort are envisaged during the tour. The itinerary was designed to enable best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting basic safety standards and ensuring comfort to the travellers. Bear in mind that the Republic of Niger is mostly inhabited by Muslims, which means the need to respect cultural differences and adhering to the appropriate dress code.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
- Before departure, you must obtain the tourist visa at one of your nearest embassies of the Republic of Niger. You may buy the visa at the airport but if you choose this option please contact our office. To obtain a visa, you may use the services of visa agents.
- You should take with you for the tour a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Take with you for the trip the yellow vaccination booklet with certified valid yellow fever vaccination – it is impossible to enter the Republic of Niger without this document and vaccination.
- Vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, meningococci, typhus and meningitis is recommended.
- Despite a low risk, it is worth preparing to malaria prevention (Malarone or Lariam).
- There is a risk of dengue and tuberculosis at the places planned to be visited during the trip.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods. Only private medical care exists in the Republic of Niger, and this only in the capital.
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good general health and physical fitness are necessary. Furthermore, your patience will definitely be tested and you should prepare for hardships of long journeys, lassitude and discomfort.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- insect repellents – absolutely necessary
- high sun protection cream (recommended SPF 50)
- disinfectants, wound dressing materials
- analgesics and antipyretics
- antibiotics, as a precaution
- anti-diarrhoeals, electrolytes and vitamins
- The Republic of Niger is a country characterised by political instability and a major risk of an armed conflict. However, the actual terrorist threat or armed conflict risk is nowadays relatively low in the region where we plan our expedition. We design our itineraries so as to avoid places that are potentially dangerous (northern part of the Republic of Niger).
- Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
- During the tour, please take seriously the instructions of our contractors, guides and tour leader.
- It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws and regulations. You will receive the necessary information on an on-going-basis from your local guides and the tour leader.
- It is strictly prohibited to take photos and make video recordings at military and police installations and at airports. You are also not allowed to take photos where people in military/police uniforms are present!!!
- Photographing people is possible only when they expressly agree to it. Taking pictures when the subjects have not allowed it often ends up with escalating aggressive behaviours.
The legal tender in the Republic of Niger is the Central African CFA franc. Currency exchange is possible only in the capital – at the airport and in hotels. You cannot change money anywhere else. Using payment cards is impossible outside the capital. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros. US dollars or UK pounds are not generally exchangeable.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
The official languages in the Republic of Niger are French and Arabic. Several dozen local languages are also spoken. In the case of a group tour, the tour leader will speak English or French. For self-guided tours, you must speak French, while English-speaking travellers must hire a local guide with a command of English.
The Republic of Niger is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. The southern part is inhabited mainly by Muslims. Women do not have to wear headscarves but this is much appreciated by the locals, especially in larger towns.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
The tour dates are proposed in periods of the best possible weather conditions at the sites included in the itinerary. The best time for expeditions to Niger is the period between October and December. Temperatures exceed +40°C during the day and +25°C at night. Occasional showers are possible. High density of dust particles is a major issue. Sandstorms may appear.
For detailed information see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages but absent in many areas, especially outside larger towns. Purchase of a local SIM-card is complicated and of little benefit. Before the trip, please enquire with your mobile network operator whether they have a contract signed with operators in Niger and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise, we recommend disabling mobile data usage.
- Wi-Fi is available only in hotels in the largest towns: Niamey and Agadez, and in a handful of restaurants.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank, solar charger or car charger. In the course of car rides, it will be possible to charge electronic equipment only from vehicle power supplies.
- Power sockets of type D, E and F. Voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz.
For climatic and cultural reasons, loose garments will be most appropriate: long trousers, long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, which can be easily washed and will quickly dry. The most comfortable footwear for the tour will be lightweight boots. Palladium brand boots are recommended. You may walk in open sandals but in towns as well as in savannas and desert regions this may be uncomfortable because of stones, thorny plants and sharp grasses. Hiking boots are not necessary. The following are worth taking:
- aluminium sleeping pad or light self-inflating mat and thin summer sleeping bag; we provide a mattress during the trip but taking your own pad or mat will improve your sleeping comfort at the Desert expedition.
- sachet for documents and money
- wet wipes for body cleaning and antibacterial gels
- dry shampoo
- polar fleece jacket or warmer blouse, especially useful at evening and night times
- head cover and sunglasses – mandatory, the sun is no joke!
- comfortable summer clothes, useful during practically the whole trip
- light T-shirts/shirts
- useful odds and ends: torch, Swiss Army knife, sewing kit (usually is not needed but is not heavy and does not take much place), chargers, mug (for special occasions); inflatable neck pillow, useful on the plane and during car rides; small wallet for the local currency; books to pass the time on flights and car rides
Price
Price depends on number of participants. Please refer to list below:
- £ 3590 p/p – group of 6
- £ 2890 p/p – group of 8
- £ 2690 p/p – group of 10
During the expedition, we will travel by 4WD vehicles. Expected number of travellers in one vehicle: 3 + the driver. Our cars may not be equipped with air conditioning or the air conditioning system may be switched off because of too much dust particles in the air. Speed depends on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in the Republic of Niger. Our priorities are your comfort, appropriate location, character of the site as well as historical and cultural values. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section.
Two overnight stays in 2- and 3-star hotels (African standard) are planned during the trip.
During our stay at the Gerewol festival we will sleep in tents.
Meals are included in the tour price, as specified in the itinerary. B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner. Breakfasts will be provided at the hotel. We will go for lunches and dinners to local restaurants. The cuisine of Somalia is very varied, similarly as the culture and history of this part of Africa.
For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Services of a tour guide and local guide throughout the tour
Professional armed security
Entrance fees and permit charges.
The price includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
Trip preparation, visa mediation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Republic of NIger
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
Visa costs and visa services.
Visa to the Republic of NIger 150 €
Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Surcharge for a single room: 300 €
Personal expenses and souvenirs.
Final notes
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling through this little-frequented and extremely interesting country.
We can arrange a self-guided tour – if you are interested, please contact the office.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE.
2690 £ Per Person for 10 person group
