From here to Timbuktu. It sounds like travelling to the end of the world. A lot of people don’t know that Timbuktu exists. They think it is only part of the adventures of Tintin. In the past Timbuktu was a very important trading place where the camel meets the canoe. From the north camel caravans came and went with salt, gold, ivory and slaves and on the other site goods were transported by boats on the river Niger. Nowadays Timbuktu is a dusty place at the end of the desert (or the beginning). If you are lucky you get a stamp of the major in your passport.

Timbuktu is not the only reason to go to Mali. For me Djenné is the most beautiful place in Africa. The town is famous for its mud brick architecture and hosts the biggest mud brick building in the world, the “Great Mosque”, which was build more than 100 years ago. If you visit Djenné don’t forget to go to the market which is in front of the Great Mosque. Bambara, Songhay, Bozo and Fulani people give colour to the market. Djenné is also a good place to start or end a tour with a pirogue to or from Mopti. On your way you can visit small villages and sleep on the banks of the Bani river. One of the highlights of Mopti is the harbour. From Mopti you can easily go to Dogon country. The Dogon area is marked by a sandstone cliff which is more than 150 kilometers long and up to 300 meters high and starts near the city Bandiagara. It is a fantastic area for a multi day trekking. Visit and stay in Dogon villages like Djiguibombo, Kani Kambole, Teli, Ende, Begnetowo, Dourou, Nombori and Tireli. I travelled 22 days through Mali in the summer of 2005 with Sawadee. If you want more information about this trip click here.

Itinerary