Boubou Hama National Museum — Attraction in Niamey

The museum consists of three parts: the zoo, the art workshops and the actual museum, whereby the parts are mixed and presented in smaller buildings on a large outdoor area. In the zoo, the animals of the country are cruelly kept in tiny pavilions: lions, monkeys and even hyenas, also river animals like hippos and crocodiles. In the art workshops wood figures, silver jewellery and leather products are manufactured and offered for sale. The museum itself shows some of the most typical artefacts, whereby the most impressive one is the replica of a dinosaur skeleton found close to Agadez in the Sahara. Furthermore, there are musical instruments, coins and notes, weapons, traditional clothing and other finds from excavations in the Sahara, thematically arranged in individual pavilions. Then there is a very shady exhibition about the uranium exploitation in the north of the country, but no word about the miners' working conditions and about the conflicts with the Tuareg, on whose grassland the yellow matter is being mined.

The entrance fee is moderate but photo permit is charged on top. You can book a guide at the entrance, which is not necessary but can be helpful and they are much appreciative if they get...

When it comes to a place like this museum/zoo, you have to look at in two ways. If I was to compare it to a museum/zoo in the United States or Europe I'd give it two stars tops. There really wasn't much to the museum part but the stuff they did have was interesting. Even though I don't speak French I still really appreciate the display on traditional garb, the scale model of the oil refinery, and the display on uranium mining (I didn't realize Niger was the fourth largest producer in the world...and the attendant in the room was very enthusiastic explaining it all to me even though I couldn't understand a word he was saying). If you compared this museum to most other museums I've seen in Africa it would get a high 4, maybe 5.

The dinosaur display was incredible! Never in the US or Europe would you be allowed that close to the actual bones. That alone is worth the entrance fee.

The zoo was very sad and depressing. The animals are in way too small of cages in just concrete floors. They also didn't have anything to entertain themselves with. They just laid there bored out of their minds or just extremely agitated. I'm sure they are doing the best they can with what they have but...

The history is great to experience. They have fossils, tribal dress, old tools, agriculture and economical history... the list goes on. If you buy items from the local artisans, they will show you around. Some speak good english, French, and hausau. Unfortunatley, the buildings with the historical stuff are peppered throughout a poorly kept zoo. Some of the animals have open wounds, tiny cages, and dirty water. The place smells atrocious. Avoid the entrance in front of the Gaweye, too much traffic. Instead enter near le petit marché. It's only 1500 FCFA to enter. Also, they don't allow pictures. They may fine you if they catch you. If you're a history buff, it's worth the visit. If you're an animal lover,...