Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Niamey. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2

NIAMEY-TAHOUA

Short visit of the archaeologic and ethnologic museum of Niamey. Transfer by car to Tahoua on a good asphalt road.

Day 3

3 TO 6: IN SEARCH OF THE FEAST

Peuls live in the so-called Sahel, the savannah of the western Africa which extends from the Senegalese Atlantic coast as far as Chad lake. This area divides the Sahara desert from the Equator.
Bororo people, who have part of culture and traditions different from Peuls, generally live in Niger, between Abalak and Agadez, in the northern Nigeria and in Chad, on the lake shore.

Proud of their beauty and freedom Bororo people do not like the cities and the sedentary life and follow their herds looking for fertile pastures.

During the year, small family groups wander far and wide across this infinite savannah and, at the end of the rain season, they gather in fixed places to start the "Gerewoll Festival".

During this festival men dance and show the beauty of their bodies: slim height, fine articulations, white teeth, round and big eyes.
Women will choose the best dancer. This festival gives the opportunity to find a new partner and spend a whole year, perhaps lifetime, together.

This festival is a coloured and unforgettable spectacle of several days (from 3 to 7).

Our camp will be set amongst Bororo people: we will get some days in touch with Woodabe people making experience of their daily life, watching the care of their animals (zebù and cows) which represent the only wealth of this population, the preparations for the festival (every day from the early morning young people begin to make up), the organization of a camp, the life in the intimacy of the families.

Day 4

3 TO 6: IN SEARCH OF THE FEAST

Peuls live in the so-called Sahel, the savannah of the western Africa which extends from the Senegalese Atlantic coast as far as Chad lake. This area divides the Sahara desert from the Equator.
Bororo people, who have part of culture and traditions different from Peuls, generally live in Niger, between Abalak and Agadez, in the northern Nigeria and in Chad, on the lake shore.

Proud of their beauty and freedom Bororo people do not like the cities and the sedentary life and follow their herds looking for fertile pastures.

During the year, small family groups wander far and wide across this infinite savannah and, at the end of the rain season, they gather in fixed places to start the "Gerewoll Festival".

During this festival men dance and show the beauty of their bodies: slim height, fine articulations, white teeth, round and big eyes.
Women will choose the best dancer. This festival gives the opportunity to find a new partner and spend a whole year, perhaps lifetime, together.
This festival is a coloured and unforgettable spectacle of several days (from 3 to 7).
Our camp will be set amongst Bororo people: we will get some days in touch with Woodabe people making experience of their daily life, watching the care of their animals (zebù and cows) which represent the only wealth of this population, the preparations for the festival (every day from the early morning young people begin to make up), the organization of a camp, the life in the intimacy of the families.

Day 5

3 TO 6: IN SEARCH OF THE FEAST
Peuls live in the so-called Sahel, the savannah of the western Africa which extends from the Senegalese Atlantic coast as far as Chad lake. This area divides the Sahara desert from the Equator.
Bororo people, who have part of culture and traditions different from Peuls, generally live in Niger, between Abalak and Agadez, in the northern Nigeria and in Chad, on the lake shore.
Proud of their beauty and freedom Bororo people do not like the cities and the sedentary life and follow their herds looking for fertile pastures.
During the year, small family groups wander far and wide across this infinite savannah and, at the end of the rain season, they gather in fixed places to start the "Gerewoll Festival".
During this festival men dance and show the beauty of their bodies: slim height, fine articulations, white teeth, round and big eyes.
Women will choose the best dancer. This festival gives the opportunity to find a new partner and spend a whole year, perhaps lifetime, together.
This festival is a coloured and unforgettable spectacle of several days (from 3 to 7).
Our camp will be set amongst Bororo people: we will get some days in touch with Woodabe people making experience of their daily life, watching the care of their animals (zebù and cows) which represent the only wealth of this population, the preparations for the festival (every day from the early morning young people begin to make up), the organization of a camp, the life in the intimacy of the families.

Day 6

3 TO 6: IN SEARCH OF THE FEAST

Peuls live in the so-called Sahel, the savannah of the western Africa which extends from the Senegalese Atlantic coast as far as Chad lake. This area divides the Sahara desert from the Equator.
Bororo people, who have part of culture and traditions different from Peuls, generally live in Niger, between Abalak and Agadez, in the northern Nigeria and in Chad, on the lake shore.
Proud of their beauty and freedom Bororo people do not like the cities and the sedentary life and follow their herds looking for fertile pastures.
During the year, small family groups wander far and wide across this infinite savannah and, at the end of the rain season, they gather in fixed places to start the "Gerewoll Festival".
During this festival men dance and show the beauty of their bodies: slim height, fine articulations, white teeth, round and big eyes.
Women will choose the best dancer. This festival gives the opportunity to find a new partner and spend a whole year, perhaps lifetime, together.
This festival is a coloured and unforgettable spectacle of several days (from 3 to 7).
Our camp will be set amongst Bororo people: we will get some days in touch with Woodabe people making experience of their daily life, watching the care of their animals (zebù and cows) which represent the only wealth of this population, the preparations for the festival (every day from the early morning young people begin to make up), the organization of a camp, the life in the intimacy of the families.

Day 7

7-8: HAUSSA ARCHITECTURE

The tour continues southward crossing a land inhabited mostly by Haussa farmers.
In this region we can also admire the particular fanciful and very little known "banco architecture" (a mixture of straw, clay and animal excrements) of Haussa population; numerous villages fill up this monotonous landscape of savannah with its typical barns and the small houses gathered together: we will stop in Bouza, that is surely one of the most beautiful villages of Niger.





After the decline of Songhai rule (1541), Haussa territory became a big centre for trade and for islamic culture too; near the rural society started a kind of well organized urban civilization.
Like many other Haussa villages, Bouza was exposed to numerous cultural influences but also to a succession of invasions that explain its overhead defensive position at the top of a rocky hill.
The consequence was the creation of a society founded over the connection between the city and the country, where the city became the power centre and, at the same time, the seat of the regional trade.

Day 8

7-8: HAUSSA ARCHITECTURE

The tour continues southward crossing a land inhabited mostly by Haussa farmers.
In this region we can also admire the particular fanciful and very little known "banco architecture" (a mixture of straw, clay and animal excrements) of Haussa population; numerous villages fill up this monotonous landscape of savannah with its typical barns and the small houses gathered together: we will stop in Bouza, that is surely one of the most beautiful villages of Niger.





After the decline of Songhai rule (1541), Haussa territory became a big centre for trade and for islamic culture too; near the rural society started a kind of well organized urban civilization.
Like many other Haussa villages, Bouza was exposed to numerous cultural influences but also to a succession of invasions that explain its overhead defensive position at the top of a rocky hill.
The consequence was the creation of a society founded over the connection between the city and the country, where the city became the power centre and, at the same time, the seat of the regional trade.

Day 9

TARKA VALLEY-DAKORO

In this southern area we can meet the so-called "groupements du sud" and live a few days again with the Bororos.
Very interesting are also the numerous markets of Tuaregh, Bororo and Haussa people.

Day 10

11TO 12 : ZINDER

After the area of pastoralism peulhs we will be in Zinder, the first capital of Niger. Here the center of Hausa trade and city of the Sultanate of Damagaram located in an old neighborhood built earthen architecture style Sudan.
Visit the market and the Sultanate of Zinder. Overnight at hotel

by following our route we will pass Tirmini-Maradi - Madaoua to reach the city of Konni, we visit the traditional sultanates and the attics of the Hausa ethnic group.

Day 11

11TO 12 : ZINDER

After the area of pastoralism peulhs we will be in Zinder, the first capital of Niger. Here the center of Hausa trade and city of the Sultanate of Damagaram located in an old neighborhood built earthen architecture style Sudan.
Visit the market and the Sultanate of Zinder. Overnight at hotel

by following our route we will pass Tirmini-Maradi - Madaoua to reach the city of Konni, we visit the traditional sultanates and the attics of the Hausa ethnic group.

Day 12

11TO 12 : ZINDER

After the area of pastoralism peulhs we will be in Zinder, the first capital of Niger. Here the center of Hausa trade and city of the Sultanate of Damagaram located in an old neighborhood built earthen architecture style Sudan.
Visit the market and the Sultanate of Zinder. Overnight at hotel

by following our route we will pass Tirmini-Maradi - Madaoua to reach the city of Konni, we visit the traditional sultanates and the attics of the Hausa ethnic group.

Day 13

KONNI- KANAZI

On the way back to Niamey to stop Kouré which is the area last giraffes in West Africa at large. NIGHT Camp Kanazi A 15K NIAMEY AT THE EDGE OF THE RIVER NIGER

Day 14

RIVER SAFARI

aboard our boat (canoe) will sail on the Niger River meets the fishermen and hippopotamus. visiting villages Pottery Boubon - Island Kanazi songhai to meet the lord of the water. Short visit of the archaeologic and ethnologic museum of Niamey.

Day 15

Hotel rooms at disposal for a shower; dinner at the hotel and departure for Europe .

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Tents accommodation during the festivalfestival site ( 3 breakfast, 3 lunch, and 3 dinner

Extras -

This trip does not allow a daily program. Changes of the itinerary during the expedition can be made.