Iférouane

Iférouane sits in a wide valley in the northern Aïr where palms and gardens run along a watercourse that flows underground most of the year, and it is the administrative centre of the Aïr and Ténéré reserve, which at 7.7 million hectares is among the largest protected areas in Africa. Low mud-brick buildings spread along the oued with volcanic peaks standing behind them on every side.

What you actually see

• The oued gardens - palms and cultivation along the watercourse through the town.
• The volcanic peaks - the Aïr summits rising around the valley.
• The reserve headquarters - the administrative base for the protected area.
• The mud-brick town - low buildings spread along the water.

When to go

November to February is the cool season and the practical window. Summer heat in the Aïr is extreme. The Air Festival, when it runs, falls around December.

Honest expectations

Access requires a guide, a permit and four wheel drive arranged well in advance in Agadez; this is not independent travel. Facilities amount to basic guesthouses. Fuel and water must be carried for the whole trip.

Nearby

Temet is northeast, and Timia is south.