Description: This is not a museum in the traditional sense of the word - the artwork is being made by artisans while you watch & is available for purchase - there aren't pretty paintings on the walls (most of the museum is outdoors) - and you are bothered continuously to purchase a picture frame or bracelet while on your tour.
This is a living museum - people actually live in houses (grass huts) on the museum property - and you watch them live!!
There is the housing area - various types of housing including grass huts, mud houses
The artisan village - everything from brass camels to wooden masks to wedding rings can be purchased in the artisan village - and you can watch it being made - many of the artisans have spent some time in Canada, courtesy of University of Montreal & the very popular Polytechnique program (not to mention bursaries handed out by the Niger government in cooperation with the Canadian government), so if you know Montreal, you'll make many a buddy here.
There's the zoo - native Niger animals (lions, hippos, monkeys) are on display in too small enclosures - if you have a good guide, they will bother the hippo so he'll open his mouth, or spray down the lions so you can see the babies).
There's the historical displays on the uranium mines and dinosaur.
But the hardest section to free yourself from is the front gate - you will be followed by at least 3 vendors who constantly beg you to purchase one of their wares - this becomes very annoying after 45 minutes - I broke down and yelled at an English speaking guide - IF I WANTED THE PICTURE FRAME I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT LEAVE ME ALONE!! Of course it was 50 degrees celsius that day at it was tirirng walking through the museum (especially when we could see the hotel that I longed to go to for a cooling swim)
This is an interesting place - but don't expect anything by Monet!!
Close