Niger Money & Shopping

Nigerien artisanal specialties include:

• intricately imprinted leather boxes (ranging from small 5cm boxes to full-size trunks)

• other leather goods

• silver jewelry

• colorful hand-woven wedding blankets

• colored straw mats (and here, we don't mean the plastic mats from China)

• fabric (only the Enitex brand is made in Niger, but there are many other kinds that are also good)

The currency used in Niger is the CFA Franc (FCFA — XOF) — pronounced "say-fah". $1 = 464 FCFA (as of January 2010).

ATMs — Mastercard/ Maestro withdrawals are available at Banque Atlantique in Niamey.

Credit cards are almost never accepted anywhere.

American dollars and other foreign currency are not accepted as currency, only to exchange into local money via a bank or black market. Exception: near the border of Nigeria, Nigerian currency naifa is accepted.

Bargaining and haggling is essential and expected. It's best to have a low price and a maximum price in mind before entering into a negotiation. If the price is higher than you want, just say thanks and walk away: if you were offering a fair price you will be called back. If you were offering too low a price, you won't be called back, but you can always go back later and offer more.