Niger invites you to cherish the unspoilt solitude of the beautiful, undeveloped countryside with the true feel of Africa. It a fascinating place to visit with much to offer tourists interested in learning about the history and culture of this part of Africa. Niger preserves some incredible evidence from its ancient past when the Songhai, Mali, Gao, Kanem, Bornu and Hausa states ruled over the region. The country was dominated by nomadic Tuareg tribes when European explorers reached it in 19th century. It was incorporated into French West Africa in 1896 and was transformed into a colony after various rebellions were suppressed in 1922. Niger became an autonomous with a constitution on December 4, 1958 and achieved full independence on August 3, 1960.
Named after the great Niger River that flows through its terrain, Niger is located on the western fringes of the African continent. The country dwells on the bordering region of the Sahara and Sub-Saharan terrains and so, remains covered with sandy surface in most of the areas. This geographical fact justifies Niger's subtropical climate that is mainly hot and dry and supplements desert-like conditions. However, tropical conditions are experienced by the Niger River Basin and there are also hills on the northern parts of Niger.