Humanitarian Expeditions

Experience the life and land of the nomads of Niger. The nomadic Wodaabe and Turaeg, whose cultures are among the few thriving nomadic cultures of the world. This condition is precarious as the recent famine in Niger proved. You can help the Nomad Foundation in its goal to help cultural and artistic traditions survive and seek long term solutions to help them weather the next crisisThis expedition will visit the projects of the Nomad Foundation and allow you to see the progress of our efforts to sustain the nomadic lifestyle. We will explore the lands and experience the traditions we are trying to preserve. We will meet with the locals and evaluate their needs and look for ways to solve their problems. This trip is more than an adventure, it is an immersion into the lives of the nomads, complete with their joys and problems and a partnership to try to solve them.

For detailed information about projects click here.

Kiki is the beautiful daughter of the tuareg chief, Akenan. We have built a school at their well of Aboye. It just opened in October of 2005. They have never had a school before and it is an exciting and terrifying experience for them. We will visit and see how it is going and what they need.

Ehalgene is another nomadic group that we have adopted. There was a school already built by the government, but abandoned because the government stopped providing a teacher. We are hoping to find a teacher and start the kids back in school. The parents want to settle part of their family around the school to take care of the children, but there was no well. We are digging a well now which will be finished when we arrive.

Water is life, as the nomads say. A nomadic well is like a vision from the Bible. The nomads are dependent on their wells. We have a listed of over one hundred wells that need to be rehabilitated. If a well collapses a new one needs to be dug at great expense. We hope to repair as many traditional wells as possible before they collapse and the people lose their access to water. We will also put in a cement rim and watering troughs away from the mouth to keep the water clean. We will decide on the trip which are the priority wells.

Sidi at right is the representive of the NOMAD Foundation in Niger. He is with the children of Peroji, a Wodaabe with whom we have worked for a long time. They are relocating from an area where the pasture is insufficient to a new well we have purchased for them. We opened a school in March and will visit to see the childrens progress. Here we will also visit the women’s co-op who have been doing embroidery for 5 years. Their work is made into fashions and handbags for sale in Nomad and Barbara Bowman’s in Ojai.We are always looking for new ideas for products to market in the US.

See Nomad Boutique

Herd replacement is an important part of the recovery from the famine. Economic stability is essential for the survival of their culture. At left are two donkeys purchased for Jame, the wife of Peroji, our Wodaabe friend.

Day 6 Iferouane We begin our overland adventure into the desert with a drive north to the town of Iferouane known for its artisanry. Overnight camp.

Day 7,8,9 Chiriet, Ilakane, Arakao After a visit to the artisans village and a small museum we will continue to sleep our first night in the dunes. For the next three days we explore where the magestic volcanic mountains of the Air meet the dunes of the Tenere. Mornings are spent walking through the dunes discovering neolithic artifacts or remarkable geology. After a drive–like flying–through some of the most beautiful dunes of the Sahara we arrive at Arakao. Here a mountain in the form of a crab embraces the Tenere’s second largest dune. Each night we will search for the perfect dune to set up our tents and spend a night under the incomparable stars of the Sahara.

Day 10 Kogo After a morning walk in the dunes we depart for Kogo where blue mountains of marble jut out from the sand. Camp near the marble for our last night in the dunes.

Day 11 Timia Early morning departure to continue through the volcanic moonscape of the Air. We pass verdant dry river beds and areas where sufficient water and pasture support the nomads of the region. Here the nomads who caravan across the Tenere to the salt oases make their homes. Arrival afternoon to camp at Timia.

Day 12 Timia Morning to explore the thriving oasis of Timia’s picturesque mud architecture and old French fort. A movie set oasis, there are over 100 palm groves and gardens where we find fresh fruit and vegetables and nearby an underground river pops up to form the “Cascade”, a magnificent sculptural waterfall.

Day 13 Awedenin Morning departure from Timia to arrive at Awedenin. Here we will visit gardens which are another project of the Nomad foundation where we have cemented 3 garden wells, started a cereal bank and hope to start a school.

The Tuareg culture is dependent on the camel for survival in the arid Sahara. They love, respect and need this animal. All of their festivals are centered around camel races or displays of beauty and good training of their camels. The camels come running in response to a group of women who sit in a circle singing and beating a drum called the Tinde. It is made by stretching a skin over the mortar in which they pound the millet for dinner. As the women sing, the camels race in rhythm to the drum. During the expedition we will be invited to partake in one of these festivals, but the date and location will be a surprise.

Day 14 Agadez Early morning departure to arrive around noon in Agadez. Afternoon visits of Agadez, time to shop and dinner at Piliers a great Italian restaurant . Overnight at a hotel.

Day 15 Agadez/Paris Charter flight leaves at midday for evening arrival in Paris.

This itinerary is subject to change due to the ever unpredictable way of Africa and its nomads.

COST OF THE TRIP Land cost $4700

This includes all accomodations, meals and ground transportation while traveling in Niger.
This does not include international or local airfares, or expenses while in Paris, personal expenses, visa fees, travel insurance (recommended) and customary gratuities to local guides and drivers.

With the exception of 2 nights in Agadez all nights will be spent camping. Tents and mattresses and pillows are provided. Vehicles are 4WD Landcruisers and will carry all our food, drinks, safe drinking water, fuel, baggage and firewood.

Accompanying the trip will be Leslie Clark owner of Nomad Adventures Inc., artist and founder of the Nomad Foundation. She specializes in paintings of Nomads which she sells at her Nomad Gallery in Ojai CA. She has been traveling in Niger for 12 years.

Our Tuareg expedition leader and guide Sidi Mamane is the representive of the Nomad Foundation in Niger.

Nomad Adventures is an arm of the Nomad foundation which is dedicated to the preservation of cultural and artistic traditions in Africa. It is a project within the WILD foundation, a US non profit ( 501c3) corporation. Your participation in this trip will further our goal to help the nomadic populations retain their traditions and lifestyle.

Day 1 Late morning arrival in Agadez from Paris. Agadez the Tuareg capitol, “the gate of the sudan” is inhabited by the Kel oui Tuareg and the Hausa who are the largest group in Niger, of black origin and renowned as farmers and traders. You’ll recognize many of them by their cat claw facial scarification. The afternoon is free to visit Agadez, a small lively town, the color of the surrounding sand. It is dominated by an unusual earth mosque with a towering minaret. Agadez and its mosque were founded in the early 15th century by the Tuareg of the Air and it quickly became the capital of the region. For centuries it was a privileged stop between Egypt and the northern western and southern oases. The architecture of its old quarters is typical of the Sahel with elegant earth houses. Shopping for Tuareg jewelry and crafts is outstanding. Afternoon is free to shop and explore Agadez. Dinner and overnight in a charming auberge.

Day 2 Early morning departure to start our exploration of the nomadic camps to visit the projects of the Nomad Foundation.

Days 2-5 Visit the projects of the Azouag, the most important Nomadic area. Our projects focus on two nomadic groups, The Wodaabe and the Tuareg.

After 4 days of visiting the camps of the Wodaabe and Tuareg in the Azawag, the most important area of nomadism, we will continue to explore some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Sahara.

Our partner and guide Sidi with Leslie proudly showing off a new Nomad Foundation well at Awedinine.

Marla Mott Smith visits the womens co-operative at Iferouane making leather camel bags.