national museum of niger (musée national du niger)

As a museum, this place was quite sad indeed. I was unaware that I was in a museum until quite a while later. As stated by many, the live exhibitions are just sad and miserable. What for me was interesting was the art market, with all sorts of artifacts...leather products, bronze, silver, stone, and even the old old beads that were used as currency before coins in West Africa. Bargaining prices is an art that one masters very quickly at this market. Artisans are cheerful and good-humored. I learnt that after the market inside, it is always better to buy your items just outside the fence there. The artisans here know they compete with the inside market, and lower their prices. Actually, by about half. So, look at the wares outside before entering the museum and market.Then come back to buy outside on your way out.

The museum has about six attractions on the premises. One building displays the traditional formal outfits for the major ethnicities found in Niger. Another outlines the history of uranium mining and a third building shows a model of Niger's refinery built in recent years in the East of Niger. In addition there is a zoo and an artisan market. Not to forget the dinosaur bones on display which are impressive.My favourite is the only three in the desert. It stood in the middle of the Sahara, all alone, and had acted as a landmark for travelers for ages. Till it was one day run over by a truck... They put up a bronze three in the desert to replace it while the three itself can be seen at the museum.

I agree with all the reviewers, the zoo is really sad. The animals look well fed but the cages are so small. The hyenas cage was just as big as the Guinea Pigeons cage! The exhibits were really out of date. The one on mining's most recent data was ... From 1984! The artisan workshop was nice. Some cool guys there. I overpaid for a few trinkets but I thought it was my good gesture for a Sunday The architecture of the pavilions is nice though. Really lovely traditional stuff and they are building a traditional village to showcase their architecture. I'd say it is worth visiting if you are in town.

A great part of it was great but parts were just sad. The zoo part of it was sad. All of the animals were living in poor conditions and had only a small living space. The artisan part was great. They had tons to show you and sell to you. The prices for the artwork, is high to begin with but if you know how to bargain, you can get it for a price you like.

Great shopping area for local crafts as artisans work on site.Zoo is sad, poor conditions. One of the hyenas has barely enough room to turn around in her cage. Dinosaurs remains may be under a tin roof, they are still outside and subject to erosion. Exhibitions on nuclear and petrol are sponsored by foreign mining companies and have more financing to update their exhibits. Other pavilions lacked in investments. Right across the Gaweye hotel. You may get harassed at the door for hiring a guide.

I love going to the Museum to see all of the artisans at work. They produce really good leather and metal work. loved the dinosaur bones found in the desert. like other reviewers have said the zoo is quite sad but you do get to see a hippo quite close at hand

Just Ok but many things I saw there the first time. I took some time to take pics for a white bull with giant horns cuz it seamingly not cooperative for fotos. And we stayed quite some time with the hippos.

The best thing about the museum is the chance to see some local artisans at work and talk to them about their work, but the zoo is truly awful to see. Niger has such a wonderful and rich culture, but this will give you little insight into this fascinating country

The museum's grounds are quite interesting (quite big) but everything in there is a bit sad. They have a very poor collection of what could actually be associated with art or history, and the rest is rather strange, with a room for uranium and some sad looking animals... I guess it's still to be visited in you find yourself in Niamey

The Museum is a nice place to see a hippo upclose and one of the few kids related things to do in town. However, the animals live in awful conditions and that is sad.

I went late so the 'pavillions' with the neolithic history artefacts were closed but I visited the rest. I went to the zoo where I saw animals in really tiny quarters. The museum needs lots of help. To say that it's in shambles is an understatement. An authority needs to take care of it. Especially during this time when it's difficult for foreign visitors to go up country, the museum should serve the purpose of informing about the country. However I liked the artesan markets and left with a few goodies. There are some nice guides who will escort you around and explain things to you - the best things about this country are its people.

I was a bit surprised when I got there, because the attractions include lots of live animals (mostly in small cages), dinosaur bones, and a few artifacts. No paintings and very little about the history of the country. There is a large artisan market where you can see artisans working on their craft and pay top dollar for purchases.

On of the most beautiful museums in west Africa. The biggest Dinosorus and crocodile squeletton are available, the tenere tree, traditionnal costumes, animals, etc.

The Museum is a must-see for any tourist, mostly because there are very few other tourist attractions in Niamey. There are interesting displays about Niger culture, model houses, and sad looking animals in small cages. In the middle of the Museum grounds is an artisan market, which offers good quality silver, leather, wood, and cloth, and shouldn't be missed when souvenir shopping. The restaurant has been recently redone and is said to have good food.Other places for souvenir shopping include the shops in Chateau 1, the stands along the road opposite La Cloche, and the Wadata Artisinal Center.

Если у вас мало времени, то легко можно пропустить это место Для иностранцев билет 1500 сефа/2,3 €, за право фотографирования - еще 1000. в музее фотографировать нельзя, можно только снаружи и в зоопарке, посещение которого входит в стоимость билета. Проблем сделать пиратский снимок в принципе не возникает. Как и особого желания. На музей ушло около часа, наибольшее впечатление произвели скелеты динозавров.