Our guides will be Tuareg--those who have turned in their camels for 4wd toyotas are the best guides around. They are also great storytellers around the fire at night.

We will spend one week with the Wodaabe in the grasslands of the Sahel and one week with the Tuareg in the volcanic mountains of the Air and the dunes of the Tenere.

Day 1 Paris/Agadez Arrival at Hotel Tellit Afternoon to explore Agadez, the Tuareg capitol, “the gate of the sudan” . It is inhabited by the Kel oui Tuareg and the Hausa who are the largest group in Niger, of black origin and renowned as farmers and traders. You’ll recognize many of them by their cat claw facial scarification. The afternoon is free to visit Agadez, a small lively town, the color of the surrounding sand. It is dominated by an unusual earth mosque with a towering minaret. Agadez and its mosque were founded in the early 15th century by the Tuareg of the Air and it quickly became the capital of the region. For centuries it was a privileged stop between Egypt and the northern, western and southern oases. The architecture of its old quarters is typical of the Sahel with elegant earth houses. Shopping for Tuareg jewelry and crafts is outstanding. Dinner and overnight at the Pensione Tellit.

Day 2-4 Wodaabe Nomads. As we head south from Agadez we pass nomadic camps, camels, goats, donkeys and the famous lyre horned zebu cattle of the Wodaabe. About three hours south we are now in the area where the Wodaabe festivals are held. We head back off the paved road and back in time, heading for the camp of the Wodaabe and the family of our friend Peroji. Here we will experience the life of a nomad– see their dwellings and the rhythm of their days– the joy and music that fills their lives. Do not expect peace and quiet in a nomad's camp--there is always song at night--sometimes it is the children, sometimes the young men and always the cattle, donkeys and sheep who come in from the fenceless pasture to sit by the fire that is made especially for them so they won’t wander off in the night. I will be in the country in advance so I hope to find word of a festival. We will spend the next three days visiting camps and if we are lucky seeing a Worso or Gerewol festival. We will also see as we go various projects of the Nomad Foundation. Schools, women's co-operatives and wells. For information about projects click here.

Day 5-6 Tuareg Nomads. We head east to the region of Ingall, home of the Cure Sallé where all the nomads gather in the time after the rainy season when pasture is plentiful and there is leisure time to party. We visit Tuareg camps and projects of the Nomad Foundation. Camp en route.

Day 7 Iferouane Morning visit to the Giraffe of Dabous, one of the finest neolithic rock carvings in existance. It is over 14' tall and is more than 5,000 years old. We now begin our overland adventure into the desert with a drive north to the town of Iferouane known for its artisanry. After a visit to the artisans village and a small museum we will continue to sleep our first night in the dunes. Here we have a co-operative of 40 women who make beautiful leather camel bags for sale on this site at the Nomad Boutique.

Day 8, 9 Chiriet, Ilakane, Arakao We will spend the next two days where magestic volcanic mountains of the Air Meet the dunes of the Tenere. Mornings are spent walking through the dunes discovering neolithic artifacts or remarkable geology. After a drive–like flying–through some of the most beautiful dunes of the Sahara we arrive at Arakao. Here a mountain in the form of a crab embraces the Tenere’s second largest dune. Each night we will search for the perfect dune to set up our tents and spend a night under the incomparable stars of the Sahara.

Day 10 Kogo After a morning walk in the dunes we depart for Kogo where blue mountains of marble jut out from the sand. Here we search for the camp of the Tuareg family of Ebayghar. This large family inhabits the last pasture area before the great dunes. They are usually in the region of Kogo. Camp near the blue marble for our last night in the dunes.

Day 11 Timia We continue through the volcanic moonscape of the Air. We pass verdant dry river beds and areas where there is enough water and pasture. Here the nomads who caravan across the Tenere to the salt oases make their homes. October is the season when the caravans begin. We may chance to see one.
Late afternoon arrival at Timia.

Day 12 Timia Morning departure to explore the thriving oasis of Timia a picturesque mud architecture and old French fort. A movie set oasis, there are over 100 palm groves and gardens where we find fresh fruit and vegetables and nearby an underground river pops up to form the "Cascade", a magnificent sculptural waterfall. After lunch in a garden we set out into the air camp en route.

Day 13 Awedenine. The Nomad Foundation has recently dug three well for the gardens of this community. Here we will see a traditional Tuareg Tinde. This celebration is centered around the drum which is made from the mortar in which the women pound their millet for dinner. The mortar is called a tinde as is the drum as is the party. A skin is stretched over it and the women sit in a circle beating the drum to attract the camels. They come running from distant camps and step in rhythm to the drum.

Day 14 Agadez Early morning departure to arrive for lunch in Agadez. Afternoon visits of Agadez, time to shop and dinner at Piliers a great Italian restaurant . Overnight at Pensione Tellit.

Day 15 Agadez/Niamey/Paris We must leave Agadezat 4AM for a 12 hour drive to arrive in Niamey to check in for the flight to Paris at midnight.) Day rooms and dinner at the Grand Hotel.

This itinerary is subject to change due to the ever unpredictable way of Africa and its nomads.

COST OF THE TRIP Land cost $4750

This includes all accomodations, meals and ground transportation while traveling in Niger.
This does not include international or local airfares, or expenses while in Paris, personal expenses, visa fees, travel insurance (recommended) and customary gratuities to local guides and drivers.

With the exception of one night in Niamey & two nights in Agadez all nights will be spent camping. Tents and mattresses and pillows are provided. Vehicles are 4WD Landcruisers and will carry all our food, drinks, safe drinking water, fuel, baggage and firewood.

Accompanying the trip will be Leslie Clark owner of Nomad Adventures Inc. , artist and founder of the Nomad Foundation. She specializes in paintings of Nomads which she sells at her Nomad Gallery in Ojai CA. She has been traveling in Niger for 12 years.

Our Tuareg expedition leader and guide Sidi Mamane is the representive of the Nomad Foundation in Niger.

Nomad Adventures is an arm of the Nomad foundation which is dedicated to the preservation of cultural and artistic traditions in Africa. It is a project within the WILD foundation, a US non profit ( 501c3) corporation. We have adopted many communities in Niger among the nomadic Wodaabe and Tuareg. For each we have or will provide a well, a school, a cereal bank, an animal food bank, a health clinic and a women's co-operative. Each year we hope to add new communities. Your participation in this trip will help. Foundation Projects click here.