Basics of Mali Tourism

The basics of Mali tourism are their unique culture and heritage. Mali is a beautiful place which is well worth a visit; although tourism is slow due to lack of basic infrastructure.

Tourism in Mali is still very much in the 'developmental' stages. Mali has some of the most wonderful cultural sites and places of interest, but the development of the tourist industry is severely hampered by the poor transport infrastructure and lack of hotels and places to stay. This is being addressed as much as possible and the government of Mali is doing it's best to promote the country as a potential tourist destination, but without much needed investment progress is, of course, slow.

Places of Interest in Mali

Timbuktu – almost everybody has heard of Timbuktu, but maybe not so many people know where it is. Well, it's in Mali. A historic post on the trans-Saharan caravan route located on the southern edge of the Sahara desert, it was originally founded in AD 1100 to be a seasonal camp by the Tuareg nomads. It was an important point in the 14th century for the gold-salt trade, and small salt caravans are still known to arrive there in the winter although there is no longer any gold to trade there. Timbuktu is quite rightly one of the most popular cultural destinations in Mali.

Bamako – the capital city of Mali offers a great and colorful introduction to this wonderful and friendly country. With the Musee National, Maison des Artisans, zoo and botanical gardens and lots of colorful markets, it really is a great and popular place to find out about Mali, the jewel in West Africa's crown.

Mopti – lies about halfway between Bamako and Timbuktu and is basically three islands at the junction of the Bani and Niger rivers. Mosquito repellent is an absolute necessity here, but once you've been squirted and sprayed you'll marvel at this lively and colorful town. It's also a good place from where to visit Dogon country, where the Dogon tribe, the original settlers on the Niger valley built their villages on the cliffs of the Bandiagara escarpment, which has since been declared a World Heritage site. This really is a site to behold and well worth the trip, but be warned, part of the reason that it has remained so unspoiled is its inaccessibility. Don't expect a smooth passage to see this remarkable place.

The Festival in the Desert

Mali is renowned for some of the most exciting and joyful festivals in Africa. Held annually in January, The Festival in the Desert is held in desert oasis of Essakane, around 65 kilometers from Timbuktu. It is modeled on the traditional gatherings of the "blue men of the desert" the Tuareg tribe. This is the opportunity to witness a great cultural experience but don't expect to be kept in the lap of luxury. There are no hotels here, only tents and ground mats. Bring your own sleeping bag, it gets pretty cold in the desert on a January night. Expect temperatures to range from around 35 degrees in the daytime (that's really hot) to minus 5 degrees during the night (that's really cold).