Mali Travel Forum

my name is zak. 18yrs old tyin to figure out how to get to the fesstival on my own... i'm going to bamako to visit a friend. if anyone is going from bamako to essakane can hook me up with some info it would be more then appreciated.

Any input on the festival on the Niger in Segou will be appreciated.

Hi
As a malian citizen, it's a great pleasure for me to help you discovering my country. Did you heard about "the festival of the desert"? " the festival on the Niger"? Feel free to ask, i'll give you further infos and details..
PS/ If you maybe are already on journey here, make a sign, we've a tea and wine party each weekend( just for contact, free of charges)

Mohadib, a friend waiting for you :)

Any advice, pro or con, on the intention to try Nema to Timbuktu?

We will be Nouakchott, Mauritania in 3 days, expect to be there 3 days from now, November 30, and if things look
promising would like to take a shot at Nouakchott to Nema, Nema to Timbuktu if possible.

Today, November 27, travelling south along the coast of Moroccan Western Sahara, approaching Boujdour to spend
the night and continue south to the Mautitanian border tomorrow;

Travelling in a 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, purpose built pickup body - 2WD of course, rather narrow tires though
tall (the widest we could fit while being consistant with the vintage), runs unleaded (lead is no problem though), main
tank capacity app 220 miles (330 km), with another 220 miles (330 km) on board.

So, concerned about road conditions, fuel availability.

Any advice, pro or con, appreciated.

I sign off with a song title from Bruce Cockburn;
"The trouble with normal is it only gets worse."

Tompgs

Does anyone know how we can get to the festival in Essakane near Timbuktu in January?

I need to find out if a travel company named Dougou Dogou Travel at Rue 530 Porte 100, Quinzanbougou in Bamako has an email address so I can contact them directly. Their phone number may be 221 6671.

We are a 50ish couple traveling to Mali in December to visit our PCV daughter for two weeks. Any recommendations on how much cash to take, and in what currency?

Does anyone have an opinion on this hotel? Can someone find out if they have an email address or website to contact directly as I need to make a reservation with this hotel soon.
Thanks.

Hello,

I am a male going to Mali. In a number of other predominantly Muslim countries I've gone to, wearing shorts around was not really well thogut of, even for males. I ended up wearing my long pants most of my journey.

How about Mali?

Hello
I am traveling to Mali with my husband for the first time. Could someone give advice/suggestions on a hotel in Bamako (we arrive in the wee hours of the morning)? Also any advice on guides we are planning on trying to organize there or is that a bad idea? Also most things I have read suggest getting your guides in Segou or Sangha does anyone have any experience in this? We are most interested in the Dogon and Djenne. Any advice on any of this and Mali would be great.

Thanks so much

I'm flying into Bomako and I need to continue on to Timbuktu. I gather that Air Mali is the only carrier by which one can fly into the city.

Does anybody know how I can get in touch with Air Mali? or make arrangements on a flight?

Hi
I'm staying in Bamako at the moment, would very much like to travel to either Dogon country or Tambouctou, but don't want to do it alone, it's much nicer and maybe even more safe to travel togheter. I'm 28 years old, swedish, my malian phone number is (+223)5253467.
There are buses from Bamako, going straight to Timbuctou or Mopti, they aren't expensive at all.
Hope for answers, bye,
Andrada

I was wondering if any of you guys know what business's alot of the foreigners (lebanese, chinese, and americans) have setup up over there? Or know of any business ideas that might be profitable in Mali?

Anybody have any comments on business's they have seen over there? What does the country need or want in terms of business's?

Cheers,
-Ali

Hi people. I am going to Mali Bamako in Nov.

Can anyone suggest locations for the market and jewelry area of business district?

Looking for someone at the market to make me a robe and visit a craftsman for custom work. Actually several robes and I want to ship them out by carrier. Any words on the subject would be greatly appreciated. I leave in Nov 12 to Mali for a while. If anyone else is going around that time and staying it would be cool to travel together around the capital. Take it easy everyone and Best wish’s to all.
-Andrew

We're going to Mali over the holidays here. What goes on in Bamako/the rest of the country over these holidays? Are they celebrated? How?

We are also planning to bring limited medical supplies for the Dogon. Any suggestions?

We are in our late 70's-81 so any special thoughts about our age group in this country? We've arranged our trip thru a Bamako agency and will have guide. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome to write!

Thanks
Judy/Joe shrinkersX2

Hello,

Does anybody know how much the airport departure tax is and what currency they accept? I'm flying Air Maroc and it doesn't look like they charged me for the departure tax, so I'm guessing I'm goign to ahve ot pay it on departure?

thanks!

Hi - It's been my dream for the last few years to go to this festival. I'm packing in my job and going off travelling alone (inexperienced lone woman traveller!!) in west africa for 4 months - arriving in dakar on 27th Dec and leaving Accra on 17th April with Mali and who knows what in between. I'm meeting up with at least one guy from 3rd Jan who wants to do the festival, and another is just making his mind up. Previous plans were to go overland but they fell through. I've read about train and bus/taxi. Can anyone tell me how long it would take me to get to timbuktu from dakar? Festival starts 11th jan. Don't know yet how I'm getting to that. Wanted to do it independently rather than tour - but not sure how to do this. Would be glad of advice/tips and any extra company.
Jane

I would love to travel to djenne, but cannot seem to find the exact details of which airport, where I should go from the airport and how I should get there. please help!

thanks
karen

If you could give me an email-address (or/and other data of contact)to the hotel/camp/restaurant of Douentza, Mali, I shall be happy. I have a telephonenumber - 2452054, but can't get through.Thank you!
Thyge Christensen, Denmark.

Hi, am weading for Bamako early October from the U.S. then to Mopti to catch a float up the Niger to Timbuctu then to the salt mines. Am hoping to have a 4 wheel pick me up from there and take me into Muritania. Does anyone have any knowledge on hiring a vehical and costs involved for such an extended trek. Will they require two vehicals for break downs? If anyone can shed some light on this or any other portion of this 6ish week journey please let me know. Thank you

I am off to Mali in November, Bamako, Timbuktu then Dogon Region. Hope to take boat from Mopti to Timbuktu.
Several Questions:
1. Good cheap place to stay in Bamako (I arrive at 2:30 am with Air Maroc)
2. How easy to handle trip by boat Mopti to Timbuktu?
3. I want to spend time in Timbuktu area but know that the town itself isn't too exciting. Suggestions off the beaten path that can be done from Timbuktu? Especially into desert would be good. But not a touristy camel ride.
4. Best way to do Dogon walking tour for about a week? (again, not tourist route)

Thanks!

Hi
I am planning to travel from Kayes to Kiffa in January 2007.
Then I will go back to Mopti and plan to travel from Hombori down south to Djibo in Burkina Faso.

I have a 4x4 but I dont know the condition of the roads. I will be alon
Any technical difficulties I should be aware of?
Shall I exepct to be stuck in the sand or the road is just dusty but still doable ?
Thank you
Ciao
Fabrizio

Hiya,
I'm on a low budget but want to travel to the festival in the desert this year. Has anyone got any good tips or advice? Im travelling alone but would be happy to make contact with any one from Ireland who has gone (or who is planning on going, or in fact anyone from anywhere!) I reckon that to fly from UK is the cheapest option but if anyone knows better..? Is it safe for a woman to travel alone there? Whats this about sleeping on roofs? Sounds interesting, tell me more! Thanks and looking forward to some interesting replies.S.

Hello,

Im thinking of going to Bamako for a holiday and i've seen the Hotel La Chaumrie that you posted.
Got a few questions for you, if you don't mind.
1. Is the US$ 120 per night?
2. Is it on Full Board?
3. What are the rooms like?
4. What are the people like?
5. Are things expensive there?
6. Would I need a VISA, if im from europe?

Sorry about all these questions, but i have never been there and would love to go!
It would be nice if you could share with me anything about the place.
Thankyou and hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Paul.

hello..

well i know there has been a lot written on mali (thx for all those infos they are really precious and i am definitely going to use them too;)....but this time i would like to know some things that i have noticed that were not answered before...(at last i hope so;)

-well in second part of september i am planning to go for two months and half to senegal (i am flying to and from dakar), gambia and mali...where do you advice me to go 1st (ps: i am planning to stay 4 weeks mali and 3+3 senegal&gambia (circa))?

-i noticed that the cheapest way to spend the night in mali is staying on roofs....does anyone knows prices (circa)? and do you know where you can leave, put the luggage then during the nigh, day or you have to have it all the time with you? what's the average temperature during the nights? do you recommend me to bring matrix too or i get them there? how about mosquito web, is it possible to place it somewhere?

-how about sleeping outside or with people? has anyone done it?

-i am also planning a visit to dogon country (of course as most of people;). i already noticed some recommendations on guides and also days of trek? i am just wondering how much a guide per day cost (circa)? and what all is included in the price? and most of you recommend 3 days right;)?...but can you also pick up the villages by yourself or the guide does all that?

-and i am also planning to do the way up from mopti to tomboctou by boat.
which one (public bac (ferry) or pinasses) do you recommend more? do you in both cases sleep on them and have to have all food and water with you?

i think for the first time those are all my questions...thx really a lot for taking time and answering them...
enjoy...
jana

i am landing at 8:30PM and have a 7AM flight out the next morning. anyone know of a hotel close to the airport so i don't have to go all the way to town?

tcoohill@siena.edu

thanks

Hi there,

I am planning on going to Mali around November. I’m considering the Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca (Morocco) to Bamako, but it lands on Bamako at 2:30 in the morning!

Generally it seems to me that landing at 2:30am in a foreign land is a really bad idea. I’d then be taking a taxi to my hotel (which hopefully would be open 24 hrs).

Do you think taking a taxi from the Bamako airport at 2:30am would be unsafe? Would they try to rip me off?

I don't know of many airlines that fly to Bamako. I know Royal Air Maroc does and I know Air France does as well. I'm coming from Seattle, USA so I'm open to other ideas, but I can use my frequent flier miles to get to Morocco for free, and that seems like the cheapest way.

Any advice welcome!

Cheers,

Carlos

What are bus prices like in Mali, I want to travel from Bamako to Gao, any idea how often buses go? how long the trip is? Costs?

Greetings - my friend and I are PCVs in Mauritania and planning on travelling to Timbuktu from Nema in Mauritania; we already will be at the other end of the Nema - Nouakchott road of hope. If any of y'all yens has made the trip before, a few pointers would be appreciated. If not, we shall boldly go whichever the PC bureau here will let us go.

Hi:
Im planning to go to mali from senegal
Anyone can tell me if its easy and quik to get the visa at the border or in dakar?
Thks
Luis