Bilma is an oasis town in north east Niger with a population of around 2,500 people. It lies protected from the desert dunes under the Kaouar Cliffs and is the largest town along the Kaouar escarpment. It is known for its gardens, for salt and natron production through evaporation ponds,date cultivation, and as the destination of one of the last Saharan caravan routes (the Azalai, from Agadez). On June 23, 2010 in Bilma was recorded the highest temperature ever in Niger with 48.2 °C (118.8 °F).

Its population is mostly Kanuri, with smaller Toubou, Tuareg, and Hausa populations, the last being a reminder of Bilma's role as a key stop in the Trans Saharan trade.

Bilma is the administrative seat of the Bilma Department, covering some 260,000 square miles (670,000 km²) of north eastern Niger. While it continues to produce salt in large natron salt pans, and this salt is still sold for livestock use throughout west Africa, tourism (based out of Agadez and the Aïr Mountains some 350 miles (560 km) to the east) is of growing importance.