Zinder

Zinder is a city in Southern Niger.

Understand
Zinder was the capital of Niger until 1927, when it moved to Niamey. It remains the second largest city by population in the country.

By plane
Finding a taxi is next to impossible unless you have someone at hand who can help you find one.

By bus
Taking a bus to Zinder is the best way and, if there are no problems, the trip from Niamey takes 12 to 13 hours. The bus makes frequent stops, about every hour and a half, and a stopover is long enough to buy street food or hit the toilet. SNTV line is the premier one -- they even have a brand new bus, with air-conditioning. It costs 12,500 francs from Niamey, and the return trip is 11,500. "Air" is another good bus line -- they even hand out snacks on the trip. "Rimbo" and the others are sometimes quicker but more dangerous because driving fast in a country with tons of livestock is pretty scary.

Get around
Cabou-cabous (motorcycles; "taxi-motos", in French) are scary, but pretty much the only hired ride available to get around. There are maybe two taxi cabs, but you see them once in a blue moon. The cost of a cabou-cabou ranges anywhere from 150 francs for a short distance to 200 francs for longer ones. They don't have helmets, and don't worry about finding one.

See
There's not much to see in the city, except maybe the 'Sultan's Palace', a pretty cool building. (Made out of mud brick, this Palace is not your typical palace of sorts.) The market looks pretty impressive for its sheer size alone. There is a small museum displaying some genuine articles which speak of an interesting past.

Do
Check out the market and the stadium for wrestling matches.
 * Check out the French Cultural Center (CCFN, in French: Le Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien) on the way down to the market. They have regular events, shows, and decent food/beer in the evenings.
 * Pass by the pool on a hot day, located at the French private Club, near the museum. Small entrance fee.

Buy
In the market you can find a lot of generic Nigerien stuff, but the clothes section is a lot of fun. Called 'Dead Man's' because Nigeriens assume that the only person who'd give away perfectly good clothing is a dead man, chances are you might see the logo of your own college or high school on a shirt. Shirts from Nigeria are also interesting, sporting Sadaam and Osama Bin Laden. Funny, but unwearable in the US, most likely.

Another great place is the Artisan Center, located in Zinder's southeast area, on the road to Maradi. There you can find leather-workers, silver-smiths, tailors and a store that sells shoes, wallets, silver, paintings, etc. If you are in Zinder, you must go to this place. Be sure to haggle though, because they usually charge close to double of what you can get them down to. If you go to the silver-smith Moumouni and say you're friends with Chewbacca, it might be easier to haggle, since I've bought a bunch from him.

Eat
Many good restaurants.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Damagaram now has pizza (some 15 different types of it), a calzone to die for, and other dishes. Drinks are priced very well, and their brochettes (shish-kabobs) are very good.
 * Le Palmier has a great butter and steak, and their cous-cous is to die for. They even have milkshakes. Good prices!
 * Mourna has great pizza and even an English speaker from Kano, who speaks fluently. The drinks are way overpriced, but the food is good. You can get also tuna or ground beef pizzas.

Splurge
Not really any place to splurge.

Drink
Alcohol is hard to find in Niger, as it is a predominantly Muslim country.

Stay safe
Zinder is an incredibly laid-back town. It's not as scary as Niamey, and the most hassle you might get is from the people asking for money or gifts. That's not saying bad things don't happen, but they are incredibly rare. When walking about at night walk with a friend, stay under the street lights or in the well-lit areas.