NIGER, BURKINA FASO (information) stay: (NIGER) 2004/Mar/31..2004/Apr/3, (BURKINA FASO) 2004/Apr/3..2004/Apr/10 general view ********************************************** Poor countries. You need much water everyday because of the climate. You'll find big pots filled with water. Sometimes you may be at a loss whether to drink the water or not. I got a '5 countries visa' at Bamako (MALI) / CFA25,000 (in GHANA you can also get same one). (refer to 'Mali.doc','Ghana.doc'). climate ********************************************** Dry and hot while I had been. But when I was in Ouagadougou (BURKINA FASO), I met a heavy shower. money ********************************************** (NIGER) Not sure, but there may be ATM in the capital. (BURKINA FASO) ATM are in the capital. CitiBank card maybe also available. food ********************************************** Spaghetti and omelet are expensive. People meal might be around 200/meal. accommodation ********************************************** They have enough parking space as long as there's no note in the followings. But the security is your own responsibility. You can find bush-camp places easily. (NIGER) in Niamey (capital) Camping Touristique tent ? / big camping site *'AFVP Rest House' on 'lonely planet AFRICA 9th' is not for tourists. (BURKINA FASO) in Ouagadougou (capital) Fondation Charles Dufour tent ?, room ? (you may discount!) / shared toilet&shower Very small, so you may feel uncomfortable. town ********************************************** (NIGER) in Niamey (capital) There is a net-cafe at the roundabout (= maybe 'Round-point Monteil'). (BURKINA FASO) in Ouagadougou (capital) At the market, they require tourist price. You'd better check the true price in advance. There is a net-cafe where you can type Japanese. Along 'Av Yennenga', north block of the junction crossing 'Av Houari Boumedienne'. The shop name is '888', if I remember correctly. A Japanese tourist could get an ALGERIA visa here. It was difficult to get it at another ALGERIA embassy. stand; (spaghetti&omelet) 600, (people meal) 200?, pool; (Hotel Independence) 1500 GHANA embassy: single 3 month, validity for entry 3months, photo ?, CFA15,000, issue: two days later (In Japan, same one costs 8,000 yen.) border ********************************************** (NIGER) Bani-Bang (entry from 'Menaka', MALI); No money is required. Near the border (but no sign), there is a military control at a village. Two poles are on both side of the road. You need a sign on your passport from them. The immigration and customs are at Bani-Bang village. (When I visited the customs, no one was there. I had to visit a customs in Niamey which was close to the museum and zoo.) Niamey (leaving for BURKINA FASO); No money is required. But the road to the border, there were non government people who blockade the road and demand money. You have to pass there following a car in front of you or showing empty wallet. (BURKINA FASO) Ouagadougou (entry from 'Niamey', NIGER); No money is required. Po (leaving for 'Bolgatanga', GHANA); No money is required. The street changers at GHANA side are better rate than at BURKINA FASO side. road ********************************************** Menaka(MALI)--(border)(PC)--Bani-Bang--Niamey(NIGER)[450km?]: earth road. Some places are rough, sandy. But not difficult for driving. At a village between the border and Bani-Bang, you have to get a permission if you buy petrol there. Getting a permission there is easy. They will tell you what you should do. Niamey(MALI)--(border)--Ouagadougou(BURKINA FASO)[500km?]: pavement (if I remember correctly). Ouagadougou(BURKINA FASO)--Po--(border)[250km?]: pavement (if I remember correctly). There is a tollgate between Ouagadougou and Po. ************************************************************ (End) (English Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index2.html / (Japanese Home) http://www.seagulljapan.info/index.html All Rights Reserved: (c) seagull (seagulljapan@gmail.com) Copying is free as far as my copyright is specified. That's welcome to leave the copy at accommodations.