Land of vast Saharan desert, camel caravans, mystical ancient towns, and bustling West African city life, Mali is a unique destination, offering plenty of unforgettable experiences for adventurous visitors. The French-speaking country is also filled with historically and architecturally interesting sites such as the fascinating mud-built mosques.
City destinations. Apart from Timbuktu, Mali offers also more modern city destinations such as the capital, Bamako. Bustling African city with colorful outdoor markets full of traditional African crafts, Bamako is a place where the modern blends with the traditional. Other interesting places to visit in Mali include the historic town of Djenné with its famous Great Mosque, the Saharan desert with nomadic Tuareg people, and the scenic Dogon Country with its picturesque hillside villages and hiking routes.
How to get there. A landlocked state located in Western Africa, Mali is best reached by air. The main airport of Mali is located in Bamako, the capital city, which also has the best tourist facilities in the country. The airport offers flights to Mali from Air France and Kenya Airways. For traveling around in Mali, you should first check the safety instructions, which usually say that flying is the safest option when traveling long distances.
From desert landscapes to ancient cites: Attractions of Mali
A large West African desert country, Mali is not one of the most common choices for a holiday destination. However, this adventurous African nation hosts well-known and mystical places such as Timbuktu. An ancient trading post along the trans-Saharan merchant route, Timbuktu is often pictured with camel caravans crossing the desert, carrying valuable articles such as salt and gold on their back. Another famous thing about Timbuktu is its mosques, which remind of the times in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Timbuktu was the religious capital of Africa.City destinations. Apart from Timbuktu, Mali offers also more modern city destinations such as the capital, Bamako. Bustling African city with colorful outdoor markets full of traditional African crafts, Bamako is a place where the modern blends with the traditional. Other interesting places to visit in Mali include the historic town of Djenné with its famous Great Mosque, the Saharan desert with nomadic Tuareg people, and the scenic Dogon Country with its picturesque hillside villages and hiking routes.
Mali, an adventurous African country with desert climate
Mali has a hot desert climate with average monthly high temperatures climbing over 30°C all through the year, and with low temperatures staying beneath 20°C only between November and February. Rainy season in Mali is in July and August. Temperatures in Mali are most pleasant between November and February, but if you can take the extreme heat, you can go also travel to Mali during the summer. However, it might be wise to avoid the wettest months of the year, July and August.How to get there. A landlocked state located in Western Africa, Mali is best reached by air. The main airport of Mali is located in Bamako, the capital city, which also has the best tourist facilities in the country. The airport offers flights to Mali from Air France and Kenya Airways. For traveling around in Mali, you should first check the safety instructions, which usually say that flying is the safest option when traveling long distances.
Photo: Ferdinand Reus, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Another options include local buses, shared taxis, and riverboats which operate on Niger River. If you travel by car, a local driver is recommended.
Safety. Mali is a politically and socially stable country in African standards. However, desert areas on the north and west side of Timbuktu, as well as the areas bordering Mauritania, Niger, and Algeria have increased risk of robberies, terrorism and political unrest and should be avoided. Fortunately, Mali has also many safe areas with low crime rates and most visits to Mali are trouble-free. Unlike French, English is not widely understood in Mali. Remember that Mali is a traditional Muslim country where local customs should be respected. General precaution procedures and safety situation should be followed when traveling to Mali.
From French influence to independent times: History of Mali in brief
Mali is an ancient merchant country that was once a central part of an empire controlling trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt and other precious articles. In the late 1800s the country was placed under French control. The colonial era ended in 1960, when Mali became independent from France, first forming a federation with Senegal. Republic of Mali was born soon after that, and a few decades later, in 1991, Mali turned from dictatorship into democracy. Some political unrest may still occur in Northern Mali.hint See also these nearby destinations: Timbuktu
