Located about 200 kilometers Northwest of Niamey the capital and close to the Malian border, Ayorou is an ancient town found close to the banks of the river Niger and it is popular for its animal market. During your visit, one of the very popular activities to engage in here is to take a hippopotamus tour down the course of the river during which you will also visit several islands that are inhabited and get an opportunity to experience their unique lifestyle.
Things to do during a visit to Ayorou town in Niger
Market
Wander to your heart’s content. The market has a big mix of cultures and a selection of goods not available in Niamey or elsewhere. People are a degree calmer and more polite than in other markets, making for a very pleasant morning.
Hippo and island tours
From the hotel, you can arrange a motorized or non-motorized pirogue ride to see the hippopotami and islands. Many boat operators will offer their services. One decent guide is Ilou Anafiyou, who gives a 3-hour motorized pirogue tour of hippopotami and two island villages.
How to get to Ayorou town Niger
Using a 4×4 vehicle you can drive to Ayorou town which is located about 210 km from the main capital Niamey.
Where to stay in Ayorou town Niger
There is one hotel in town, and it is decent, with beautiful river views and shaded areas to have a coke and relax. The hotel has rooms for 10000F and up (but if you pay extra for a fan or A/C remember that power generally gets cut at midnight) or you can camp for 3000F. Camping includes nothing – no tent, mattress, water, or luggage storage. For a different tack, it looks like there is a nice French-run place on a private island downriver.
