Niger is the largest country in West Africa and is roughly twice the size of France.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, and in the region and is generally not recommended as a travel destination.
Niger has the worlds most remote memorial to victims of an aircraft disaster. The UTA flight 772 memorial in the Sahara Desert is so large it can be seen from space. 170 people died in 1989 when a UTA DC-10 exploded due to a bomb planted in a suitcase.
Talking of remote places, there was a well known, solitary tree in Niger. It was located in the desert and was over 400km from the next closest tree. A remnant of a forest swallowed up by desertification, the last tree of Ténéré survived until 1973 when a drunk truck driver mowed it down. Now the remnants of the tree have been relocated to a museum and in its original place is a memorial.
On the subject of trees, one plant particularly common in Niger is the Moringa tree, and I just realised it’s also in the shower gel I’m using at the moment. It’s a hardy, drought-resistant plant that is used in several dishes. Moringa is now being used to help poorer, remote communities become more self-sufficient in Niger
I'm writing about every country in the world. One a day for 195 days. Learn more