Things to see and do Timbuktu

The visit of the mosque was forbidden to the public when the guide was updated. This mosque, built in 1325, is the oldest in the city. It was built by an Andalusian architect and poet, Es Saheli, on the orders of Kankou Moussa as he returned from his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Nearby Korioumé, the port of Timbuktu is a family of hippos. It is the only place where we can observe them from afar. Finally, if you are lucky…

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