Travel Answers

Does anybody have up-to-date information about the situation in Mali? Obviously the north is out of the question but what about the rest of Mali? Are there any problems obtaining visas on arrival at Bamako airport? Is it safe to travel from Bamako to Djenné and onward to Mopti? What about Dogon Country? Cheers!

I am going to Mali in January and plan to visit Tombouctou. I have read there are flights from Bamako to Tombouctou but cannot find any details of their cost or frequency. Can anyone assist with this or tell me how to book in advance?

Forever I have wanted to see Africa and now work will allow me a week or two in Mali. I have not been before, am busy reading books and have had immunization for a few key things. Is it possible to find a guide with excellent English skills, and a good local knowledge for my fledgling visit? I'd really like my first trip to be a great trip so I am not discouraged. I hear so many amazing things about Africa and I ant to see it this way! In China this isn't hard to accomplish, in Mali, I have no clue! Thanks in advance.

We are 2-3 swedish women planning on visiting Mali for 14 days including the desert festival in january 2012. I´ve looked at the tour agencys on the homepage of the festival but they are a bit on the expensive side + it´s can be a drag being led around with a group of people we don´t know. But since the time is short we don´t want to get stuck places. Should we take an arranged tour or try to find our way on our own? Is it possible to find cars to Timbuktu, to find guides and places to stay in Dogon area etc? Any recommendations?

Is there a simple way for me to obtain an entry Visa to Mali? How long does it take? I am a UK citizen.

Learning the Tuareg language How can I learn the Tuareg language spoken in Mali?

Hello, Me and my friend are planning to travel in Mali and burkina Faso for about 5 weeks. We want to go individualy, with backpacks. The dutch embassy gives a negative advice to travel in Mali. They say nobody should travel to the northern region, and timbuktu is not safe to travel because of robbery and car-jacking etc. They say you need escorts and you have to travel in groups. Has anyone any experience with safety in mali or tips to stay safe overthere? And is it difficult to travel without arranged tourgroups? Thanks!

I am a single traveler who has decided at the last minute to go to Mali for only 2 short weeks. I arrive this Saturday night/Sunday morning at midnight from Morocco. I am Canadian. I cannot afford to do any tour by myself. This is my second trip to Mali. I realize most guided tours for people who are unfamiliar with the country and want to have a relaxing stress-free trip. Unfortunately the cost of such a trip is too much for me - a single traveler. If I had known that I was going to Mali 6 months ago I would have time to find fellow travelers and do such a trip. I have been to Mali before and understand the challenges that travelers face. For that reason I ask if anyone has a tour planned in the next 2 weeks and is looking for someone to help share costs. For me my biggest challenge is getting from Mopti to Dogon country and back in a quick amount of time. If I had time I could easily spend a few days in Mopti or Sevare finding fellow tourists for a trek. I don't need guided tours of Djenne and Tombouctou. I've been there before and simply want to return to take beautiful photographs. However in Dogon country I definitely need a guide because I do not know what is sacred or when I can take photos or where the guesthouse is. Comme beaucoup de canadiens je parle francais mais pas une langue Dogon ou Maliene. I really am just in need of help to get from Mopti to the Dogon and back without wasting time trying to negotiate, plan a trek and find fellow travelers. I intend to spend a few days in Djenne and surrounding villages. i don't want a pinasse trip up the Niger to Tombouctou because this is time consuming and I did that back in 2001. I was hoping I could see Djenne, Mopti, Dogon and Tombouctou in a 2 week period but as I remember from 2001 that is next to impossible unless I spend a lot of money for a 4x4. I don’t have enough time to arrange a group over the internet so I am sorry but I think my best plan will be to go to Djenne for a few days and HOPE insha’allah I meet a group going to Dogon that I can join. If not then I’ll go to Mopti and insha’allah see if there is anyone about to leave. If not, I’ll go to Tombouctou. I guess I will not see everything I want but I may return in another 10 years. I get the impression that you are based out of Bamako and the cost of a return trip from Bamako is quite expensive for me alone. Do you know of Dogon tour operators that are based in Mopti/Sevare that can give me a price that won’t charge we for transporting the vehicle from and back to Bamako? Or is my only chance to be extremely lucky and meet with an already organized trip in Djenne/Mopti/Sevare/Bandiagara that could use another paying tourist? If insha'allah you know of people who need another person to join their trek then I am willing to be a member of a larger group in order to save time. Please send any responses to BOTH of my e-mail addresses: phil_marion(AT)otpp.com and philmarion(AT)hotmail.com

Does anyone know where I can get white gas in Bamako for my camping stove? If not, is kerosene easily available?

Hi, I'm doing my research on dependable, English speaking, great tour companies/guides for Mali. I'm interested in finding a local operator who knows Mali well and has good connections for the different places in Mali that I want to visit. I'm looking to find ones that are good and ones to avoid. Thanks

Hello Kind Peoples of the Virtual Tourist Forum, I begin my post grad teacher training in September 2011, meanwhile I'd like to realise my dream of living in Timbuktu. I would like to be as useful as possible and hopefully volunteer in a school or in an orphanage. I speak french fluently and a little arabic. I have a degree in english. I've lived in the middle east previously and am in my early 30's. Is there anyone living in Timbuktu that would be willing to chat to me over email? Some of my initial questions are: Is it possible to rent somewhere to live for 6/8/9 months? How much would that be? How safe is it for a woman to live in Timbuktu on her own? How much does food cost (weekly or monthy budget)? Is it possible to get a pay as you go mobile phone? Are there any wifi hot spots (i.e. is it worth bringing a lap top)? Of course i would like to do this as cheaply and naturally as possible.... Thanks for reading! Lucy

I plan to travel to Mali this July. Any advice welcome. I am particularly interested in weather conditions (rain, humidity, etc.). I plan to spend 3 weeks or a bit more. Pleas note that this is NOT my first time in Africa. I've travelled to a few African countries before. Thanks

Hi, Ill go to Mali from Morocco the 10th of April this year, I have to go back to Spain the 25th, but I dont know if I gonna stay all my time in Mali or go to maybe Senegal the last five days or so. Anyway, Im looking for anyone planing on being in Mali the same time. Maybe anyone want to meet up for a trip or just for a day. They say everything gets less expensive when you are more ppl, and it is nice with company anyway :) Please write me here if you are interested! Maybe a trek to Dogon? See you Victor

Has anybody travelled to the festival in the desert in Essakane? I am planning on going next year and wondered if soemone give me some tips on how to best travel there from UK and whether it is recommendable to travel independent? Thank you very much. Uta

1 - I assume best time of year to visit is December-January as it would be coolest - right or wrong? 2 - Any alternative to flying to Bamako and doing the rest by road/river?

I want to travel on my own to Mali, do you think this is wise and possible? do you know any good contact in mali to maybe arrange a walking tour in the dogon valley and how to find good accomodation and transport in the country?

Hi all, Going to Bamako next month and I was wondering if there were any hotels that offered good value. Most seem to be very expensive or quite seedy from what I've read. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom

I am looking for a travel buddy for an adventure trip from Dakar to Timbuktu and back, using train, bus and boat. It will take 4 weeks. The ideal time would be November 2009 but could also reach into December (I am rather felxible). I will fly from South Africa, but we could meet in Dakar, so everybody is welcome. More details on request.

My husband and I, can only take vacation on June/July and we are dying to go to Mali. I have read everywhere that is the wet season. but how bad it is?? Still good to travel? would you recommend not to go at all?? Thanks for your info..

Hello, has anybody information about the Comanav River boat on the Niger river? From when to when is it sailing (season)? At which day does it leave in Kolikouro and arrive at Kouriome (Timbuktu). I plan to take the boeat end of november/beginnig of december and hope it is still running at that time of the year. What are the costs for the different classes? How is the food situation on board and what are your recommendations? Thank you in advance

Hello! I'm travelling to Mali this summer: would you recommend Dogon country? I won't have enough time to do many things so I don't want to waste my time in a very touristic place that has loose it's true and natural charme. Thanks!

Hi! since 19th to 25th july i'm doing a short trip from toumbouctou to bamako. i don't know if it would be better staying in tombouctou and surrounding area and take a flight to bamako, or travelling by land visiting the villages on the way and using public transport to get to bamako. i'd prefer this second option, but i'm not sure if i have enough time to do it. can anyone recommend anything? any other suggestion? (bamako's surroundings, etc) thanks a lot!! Natalia.

Hi there! We are two travelers looking to find a couple people to join in on a pinasse trip on the Niger River from Mopti to Timbuktu. Apparently because the river is lower than usual, there are not that many public pinasses running this route, and you have to book a private one. If you have any suggestions on how to do this, or would like to join the more the merrier. We will be in Mail from March 22 - April 8th, so if the dates work out anywhere in between to join up, please respond to this thread with your email, or send over an email at :pleagnavar@hotmail.com thanks!! Happy travels! :)

I am looking for travel companions for any leg of a budget trip from Ghana (starting at Mole Park), going north through Burkina Faso, and into Mali, in February 2009. I may be leaving Mole Park around Feb. 11. My main goals for this trip are a camel trip overnight into the Sahara, Timbuktu, and Dogon country. Anything else will be gravy. Other secondary interests are traveling on the Niger by pinasse boat, Djenne and Mopti. I would like to be back in Ghana around Feb. 25. I am volunteering in Ghana right now, training teachers. I do not have a lot of money, and none of my Ghana travel buddies want to do this trip. I would like to keep costs down by traveling with people (it's more fun that way too!) and staying in low-cost places, and/or camping or sleeping on the roof of hotels. I'll even share a bed to save money, in a platonic fashion of course. I do like food and would like to eat something nicer than street food most of the time, if convenient. I am 36, American, female, and am easygoing, no dietary restrictions, no special requirements, and I speak a little high school French. I have traveled in Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Canada and the U.S. I don't have any requirements for my travel companions. I am just looking for someone, or a group of people, who are interested in doing the same things, and who will be honest and reliable on the trip. If you or your group are going to be in Mali or Burkina Faso at any time between Feb. 11 and approximately Feb. 25, and will consider letting me join you, please contact me ASAP. I would appreciate it and we would have fun! Jessie

Hi there, I'm looking for someone traveling between January 18-30 to Mali and who would be interested in sharing a guided tour with me (decreases the expense per individual). I am in communication with someone that has been recommended and so am planning a 4 day hike. If interested, let me know! :) Thanks!

Does anyone know the bus schedule for Gana Transportation- Bamako to Dakar? If not Gana Transportation then any other bus transport from Bamako to Dakar and prices?

I read in this forum: " the road between Bamako and Timbuktu is excellent" How exellent? Does anybody know if that road is possible to overcome by camper (motorhome). It is not 4X4. I would like to reach Timbuktu by such a car from Morocco, through Mavretania to Senegal and at the end to Bamako and Timbuktu. Any sugestions?

Hey, I am planning a trip to Mali and would like to team up with others. I would like to go around the 20th and stay for about 3 weeks. Festival au Segou, Djenne, Hiking in Dogon etc. Who has similar plans?

Sorry. I pushed send without finish: Segou - Hotel Djoliba Mopti - Hotel pas de probleme Tomboctou - Hote Colombe Bandiagara - Hotel de la Falaise Ouaga - Hotel Central Gaoua - Hotel Allah Banfora - Hotel Allah Bobo Hotel Relax Segou - Hotel Relax Have somebody stayed recently in the listed hotels? - Any special recommendations of things to do or not to do and safe restaurants? Many tks in advance travellers. Enjoy yr trips around the world. Guillem Mas

Hello VT. I will travel to Mali and Burquina Fasso next week staying in: Bamako-Segou-Djenne-Mopti-Tomboctou-Bandiagara-Telly-Ouagadougou. Somebody of VT community have arrived recently from this places? Pls I need know what is the actual situation, comments, recommends and safety information in this places. I wil stay in hotels: Bamako - Hotel Plazza Segou