Nomade Sahara Expedition

Cure Salée and Géréwol Annual Events

Agenda

• Day 1: Arrival in Niamey, transfer from the Niamey international airport to a hotel in town.
• Day 2: Early departure from Niamey by jeep, arrival at Ingal in the evening; over night in a Tuareg camp with traditional tents and beds. Camel dances and singing accompanied by drums to welcome our guests.
• Day 3: Attendence of the official opening of the Cure Salée.
• Day 4-8: Attendence of the annual festivities that follow: beauty contests, camel races, singing, dancing, and various expositions of artisanal art objects.
• Day 9: After the closing ceremonies, departure in the afternoon for the historical city of Agadez; over night at a hotel in town.
• Day 10: Visits to various sites in Agadez: palace of the sultan of Aïr (possible meeting with the sultan himself), livestock market, Tuareg artisans and blacksmiths. Departure in the afternoon for Niamey, late evening arrival; over night at a hotel in town.
• Day 11: Various visits in Niamey: Grand Marché, National Museum and zoo, Wadata artisanal center, Niger River. Late evening departure for the airport.

Every year as the rainy season draws to a close in September, Wodaabe and Tuareg pastoralists leave their traditional grazing areas with their livestock and head for Ingal in search of the region's fertile land and salt water, a natural cure for the animals. The area around Ingal is particularly rich in pasture lands and salt water, which is necessary for the animal's health. This seasonal pilgrimage of nomadic pastoralists and their livestock to the healing waters of Ingal is called the Cure Salée (literally: the Salt Cure). It is this reunion of the Tuareg and Wodaabe that is celebrated during a week of festivities in Ingal, including the tinde-a camel dance, traditional singing and dancing, camel races and beauty contests. Every year, the Wodaabe women choose the most beautiful male from a group of competitors wearing ceremonial costumes and make-up that exaggerates the whiteness of the men's teeth and eyes-known as the Géréwol. This festive reunion often gives rise to marriage engagements and other forms of courtship. Other main events are the election of a Miss Cure Salée, distribution of prizes for the most attractive camel and cow, and a ceremony decorating the first three winners of the twenty-five kilometer camel race. Today, the Cure Salée has become a cultural event of international fame attended by thousands of tourists and spectators from all over the world each year.

Nomade Sahara Expedition, whose owner is a native of Ingal, enjoys the great pleasure of introducing you to this impressive cultural event and of sharing with you the joyous reunion of the Sahara's last pastoralist nomads-known as the "Blue Men of the desert" for their indigo robes. Over the years, the Tuareg have resisted various attempts at religious and cultural imposition and have fought for the survival of their traditions of which they are proud.

After the closing ceremonies of the Cure Salée, in the afternoon we will head for the historical city of Agadez, one of the ancient centers of the trans-Saharan trade routes, where we will visit the palace of the Sultan of Agadez, the mosque, the livestock market and artisans' shops; over night in a hotel. Early the next day, we will head south towards Niamey where we will arrive in the evening; over night in a hotel. Before leaving for the airport, we will visit some sights in the capital city Niamey including the National Museum and zoo, the Niger River and the artisan village of Wadata.

Tour Prices

These prices include:

• Hotel accomodations and three meals a day
• Full lodging while during the desert expedition
• All entrance fees to museums, zoo, etc.
• Gratuities

These prices do not include:

• Airfare
• Airport taxes
• Travel or health insurance