Niamey

France

Denmark

Post/Courrier

The main post office is located on rue de la poste halfway between the place de la concorde/assemble national and place monteil. dhl express is located on boulevard de la liberte.

Internet

slow modem and satellite connection. rate - about 500 fcfa 1€ / hour. wi-fi is emerging in the city and can already be purchased on a 'pay as you go' basis with scratch-off cards in the better hotels and in the city center.

General: Niamey is a safe city but be aware of several things:

Carry as little as possible.

For guys, watch your wallet in your back pocket.

For girls, be aware that they can cut the strap of your bag and run.

The most dangerous places are anywhere the road crosses the ravine that runs through town, including next to the Stade between the Stade and Katako, and between the Musée and Hotel Gaweye. Robberies are more common there because the bad guys can disappear into the ravine.

The water in the city is usually ok to drink, but sometimes not. To be safe, you can buy filtered, sealed PureWater pronounced Pure-Watta for 25 CFA per small bag. Outside of the city it may be either 25 or 50 CFA. Ask at any stall that has a fridge.

Con artists: A frequent scam, anywhere in town but especially near Petit Marché, involves someone coming up to you and acting like he knows you well. He says his car or motorcycle got in an accident and he needs 10,000F to fix it, or variations on this theme. If you don’t know the person beyond a shadow of a doubt, don’t believe him or her.

respect

Proper attire: Dress is much more conservative than other West African countries. Look around to see how the majority of local people dress, and you can see it is offensive if you are not dressed conservatively. Shorts, above-the knee skirts, and tank tops should basically never be worn in the capital, in Hausa regions, or up north. This will also help cut down on harassment. Note, as well, that people in Niamey dress up as nicely as they can afford to, so it's not recommended to dress like you are "slumming."

Giving gifts: Think carefully before giving out “cadeaux” gifts or money to kids or even adults that you do not know personally, especially those that ask for one genuine beggars excepted. Be aware that after you give out cadeaux, future travelers after you for the next 10-20 years will be targets for unceasing and increasingly obnoxious demands for cadeaux, and Westeners will be seen only as a source of gifts. The annoyance you cause future visitors is probably not worth the trinket. Instead, give it to a reputable local charity or school to be distributed, or a family that has done something nice for you.

visa extensions

Visa extensions are granted at the Direction de la Surveillance du territoire on Rue Heinrich Luebke. Bring two photographs and the appropriate fee. Expect one day service, although a small gift could probably get you same day service.