Directly to the east of the town is the Ansongo-Ménaka animal reserve, which covers an area of more than 4,300,000 acres (1,750,000 hectares).

Vegetation consists of wooded savanna with dominant species such as acacias, Ziziphus mauritiana and Euphorbia balsamifera.

Animal husbandry includes cattle, camels, sheep, goats, poultry, horses and donkeys.

The number of fishermen is increasing due to immigration of people to Ansongo and fish farms have grown in recent years.

[7] Crafts are mainly practiced by women, and include domestic leather, basketry, forge, pottery, mats, hides and skins for trade at the market in the town.

[7] Some artisans operate in the production of farm equipment, with plows, carts, daba, sickle, picks, shovels, stoves, etc.

A lot of these supplies are brought in from neighbouring Niger, Nigeria, and also from other areas of Mali such as Gao and Bamako.