Niger

Niger is one of those countries that most people struggle to place on a map, yet it's the largest nation in West Africa and more than twice the size of France. The northern two-thirds sit squarely in the Sahara Desert, while the southern strip along the Niger River sustains most of the population. This is the land where Tuareg caravans still cross dunes that haven't changed in millennia, and where some of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever found were pulled from the desert floor.

Despite being consistently ranked among the world's poorest countries, Niger has a cultural richness that defies its economic statistics. The Cure Salee festival brings thousands of Tuareg and Wodaabe nomads together each year in a spectacular celebration of salt, cattle, and courtship dances where men wear elaborate makeup to compete for attention. Niamey, the capital on the banks of the Niger River, is a surprisingly vibrant city where traditional wrestling matches draw bigger crowds than football, and the Grand Mosque's single minaret watches over markets selling everything from spices to silver Tuareg jewelry.