Things to see and do Mali

They were built along the Senegal River at the time of French colonization. You can even read on the tiles of the houses the date of manufacture and the address of gardens (often late th century, from Marseille or Var).

A beautiful granite hill at the foot of which is a beautiful, malinké village.

Former Place Joffre under the French occupation, she became a place of independence on 22 September 1960. Its central monument is a rider wearing the litham (piece of cloth covering the lower part of the Tuareg face). This legendary face bears the name of El Farouk. According to the local legend, this white man, white dressed, haunting the streets and squares of the city. This protective genius is one of the symbols of the mystery of Timbuktu.

Designed by the Memory of Africa Association, this museum traces the history of the mysterious city from its origins to today.

Khailil Ibrahima Touré is a man of culture. His love of tradition led him to display in this house dating from the th century traditional objects from the Arab-Berber culture. From the women's room to the kitchen, through the arms room, here is a perfect rebuilding of the old way of life. Dames, cowries of divinations, musical instruments, not forgetting arms, handcuffs of traditional prisoners and costumes, the visit is interesting and well explained. It is the most beautiful museum in Timbuktu.

Boubacar is the sole copyist of Timbuktu. In his home, he devotes himself to the ink of the poems and excerpts of Arabic manuscripts dating from the th century, such as the famous «Wind comes from the north, gold comes from the south, money comes from the white country, but wisdom comes from Timbuktu». The tour of the workshop is very interesting, the purchase in no way mandatory, and the price displayed on each copy.

In the centre of the city centre, men do the work of iron, leather, embroidery, weaving. Many objects are there. But prices are often too high.

This is the site where the famous well, disappeared today, kept by the old Buctou.

This Sudan-Moroccan style building is the most beautiful traditional house in the city.

Visitors can see the houses where the great European explorers stayed. The main ones are René Caillié (the house where he stayed collapsed in 2002), Gordon Laing and Heinrich Barth.

Built during the period of the Empire of Mali. It is said that it was an Berber woman who built her. She wanted to do it in the image of La Kaâba (the house of God), based in Mecca. During the th and th centuries, the mosque housed the famous university of Sankoré.

Built around 1400, it is the best maintained of the three major mosques in Timbuktu.

Located in the Abaradjou district north of the city, the monument was inaugurated on 27 March 1996 at the Flame of Peace ceremony celebrating the end of the rebellion in the north of the country. More than 3 000 guests, representatives of the United Nations and the African Union, attended the inauguration. The then President of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konaré, and his counterpart in Ghana had ignited the weapons of rebel veterans to put an end to the clashes. For the people of the city and north of the country, it symbolizes peace finally found. It consists of 3 parts: the walls of the history, the stake and the silhouette of four people who hold the torch of peace.

This documentation centre bears the name of the most famous and prolific intellectual in Timbuktu. There are more than fifteen thousand manuscripts, the oldest of which dates back to 1241. These are carefully restored and archived before being consulted by scholarly researchers. Traités theological treaties, books of mathematics, astronomy, science, philosophical thinking, this library contains universal knowledge. These fragile documents shed light on the new history of the entire region.

Many sands offer a-hour excursion to the first nomadic camp.

A very good agency led by an experience guide, Aly Dicko. This child in the country surrounded by a strong and competent team. In addition to traditional circuits (Timbuktu, Dogon country, Djenné…), the agency offers pinasse excursions and walks in the desert on camel back or in 4 x 4. These tailor-made tours are tailored to all awards and groups.

Alkoye Touré, the representative of Azalaï (which means caravan of salt in tamaschek) is the correspondent of the Nomadic Travel Agency in Timbuktu. It organizes circuits in this region. Chamelières tours can be made to Araouane and Taoudénit.

This small village on the road to Douentza is about 30 km after the ferry.

You can stop at the Ténéré camp for breakfast (see chapter «Tombouctou»).

Village on the cliff of Gandamia. A jewel of the th century songhai culture, this village is renowned for its thirty-three natural sources and the abundance of game in the forest of Inani. Very difficult to access.

This office of guides and interpreters covers the entire tourist area of Mali.

Legend tells that two brothers of the same mother, but not the same father (one songhai, the other tamashek) had decided to fight. The mother tried to interfere, but they didn't hear it. God would then have turned into a rock.

It is a small cylindrical stone. This is where the people came to make sacrifices when the village had problems.

It is said that a prophet came to pray near the cave. When he began his prayers, a dog began to bark and the prophet had no time to finish. By entering the cave, the visitor can discover some paintings that represent the traces of the hands and feet of the prophet. According to legend, the place could have been Mecca if the prophet had finished his prayer.

This crystalline massif, located in the heart of the desert, is located in one of the most beautiful regions of the Sahara. The landscape, lunar, consists of large black rocks and craters. Tuareg huts and wells are one of the few animations in this sorry spectacle. The Tuareg of the Adrar are legendary hospitality.

The Adrar can only be a reason for travel to Mali. The Adrar has many rock engravings of great aesthetic quality that represent the fauna that lived there 6 000 years ago: elephants, rhino, giraffes… Today only few rare headlines still haunt the rocky walls of the massif. They also include gazelles, antelopes, hyenas, and several species of snakes.

Located 6 km from Gao, it contains numerous funeral stelas of the th century. One of them, in marble, was reportedly burned in Almira, Spain.

Excavations revealed traces of a mosque dating from Kankou Moussa in the th century. Counting 500 FCFA for visiting the site, there is unfortunately - for the moment - a lot of things to see.

A dynamic agency that offers stays adapted to all awards.

On the map, jet ski on the river Niger, etc. The offer of Riverside is quite wide.

After higher studies in Toulouse, Hama Bah decided to return to the country a travel agency. Rigour, creativity and dynamism are on the agenda!

A dynamic agency that offers stays adapted to all awards. Mr. Dembélé, the leader, is one of the pioneers of tourism in Mali and will share his passion for his country.

Organizes various circuits throughout the country, especially in the region of Douentza, where Boni originated. It also organizes multi-party travel where you can get involved in local development programmes. Competent and friendly team.

This agency specializes in the organisation of ethno-cultural travel, expeditions or treks. Bambara can organize all types of stays for individual or groups. This agency's fleet is in excellent condition and guarantees maximum security.

One of the best agencies in the country. A lot of professionalism. Organizes various circuits in Mali and neighbouring countries, including Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo. Dependability and punctuality are at your disposal.

The Omatho can help you organise your stay, advise you a guide…

This very efficient agency led by Ablaye Kansaye offers all types of stays and circuits, especially in Dogon Country, but also in the Hombori region to discover elephants.

Good agency. It offers various excursions in Dogon country and can organise solidarity trips. Circuit rates vary according to the number of days and people. For a circuit in motor pinasse, count 400 000 FCFA to link Timbuktu (3 days), 700 000 FCFA for Gao (7 days). This price includes fuel, meals and tents for the night. As for the rental of vehicles, prices are between CFAF 30 000 and CFAF 60 000.

Tourist information on restaurants, bars, leisure areas, transport facilities, excursions in the region.

This excellent guide from the village of Endé carried out visits with journalists and reporters. Circuit from Mopti or Bamako, on foot, by car or in 4 x 4 Dogon.

Located in Bamako, Daouada knows the city as his pocket and will make it discover it in an original way: through the river, the life of the neighborhood, the popular maquis but also the inescapable sights of Bamako. Daouda takes you close to people and their daily lives in all simplicity.

You can carry out "à la carte" excursions on the Senegal River, to the falls of Felou, De, Manantali… Very beautiful islets round the path. Diarra, "Bakary Somono", current president of the Association des transporteurs fluvial, can organize any trip to the map. He does not understand French very well, but he knows his profession. You can give it to the Hotel Khasso. As an indication, it takes CFAF 25 000 per day per person. The more travellers account for travellers, the cheaper the price.

From Kayes, St. Louis's Senegal can be reached in about Two days.

He is called Jacques Chirac, because he is the leader of the guides and loves politics. Honest, he knows very well the city and its history, but it is a little more expensive than others. If you are several, do not hesitate to negotiate.

We strongly recommend this specialist guide on Djenné. Moctar is a true knowledge well, it can also organize circuits off the beaten tracks (Markala, Macina, Saro, Say…).

The museum opened in 2010. It shows an exhibition called "Sikasso: Crossroads of civilizations», composed of objects of rites, ceremonies and also of everyday life. Through its various parts, this museum recounts the history and customs of civilizations that founded the Sikasso region as it is now: green attic in Mali, mainly sénoufo, but not only.

Kola is a small village situated less than 10 km from Bougouni towards Sikasso, 1,5 km from the tar. This museum, all in the nubiennes valley and vaults, houses old fetishes of ceremonies, old masks and tam tam, and other weapons and grey-grey chasseurs. There is a warm welcome and a lot of legends. The villagers have not set entrance prices to the museum, so it is the visitor's goodwill.

Kola is also a site of traditional merchants.

Dissan is a small village between Bamako and Bougouni. From the capital you have to leave the tar on the left just after the village of Sido. In the other direction, it is indicated by a sign of the OMATHO, the Malian Tourist Office. To make good use of these reptiles, come before 16 pm, they are couche. The kola are always welcome to offer the old ones. Also provide a small ticket to leave for the visit.

The market for pottery is located along the river in the city centre. If you don't have time to go to one of the potters villages, this market houses part of their production. You can buy fine plates, vases, canary pots, terracotta pots for a small amount.

This space dedicated to music was created by the success of the festival on Niger. You are invited to discover the Music and Heritage Museum where the traditional Instruments of the Region are grouped: goni, ouadi-ouadi, indétrônable kora and many others… Another room is planned to host performances, artists'residences and other exhibitions. The goal of this centre is to promote local cultural actions, live arts and visual arts. With this in mind, the structure is also equipped with the best recording studio in the country, a state-of-the-art tool to best accompany regional musicians. Cultural entertainment is also planned every weekend.

The Marché market is held on Monday, but already the day before you can see the first traders arrive, Canary canoes crossing the river. This market is very colourful and attracts people from all over the region. It is one of the largest in the country.

We recommend this guide that can also greet you in your family. 2 500 CFA per night on the roof and 3 000 FCFA in a ventilated chamber.

Tuareg Tours is a good agency that works in both Malian and European partnership. They offer several types of travel: festivals (the agency is the main partner of the festival in the Desert in Timbuktu), custom trips and circuits. Tuareg Tours has its own car park and also has a guest house in Bamako. In short, it is a solid agency that you can count on.