Bamako Off The Beaten Path

The National Museum of Mali is well worth a visit. It is housed in a traditional mud brick building and has a wide range of archeological and ethnographic objects including masks, weapons, tapestries and funeral objects. The Museum struggles to pay the bills for keeping the artifacts in good order and to pay the electricity bill, so any visitors are most welcome and you can know that you are really contributing to preserve Mali's past. It is considered to be one of West Africa's best ethnographic museums.

Bamako is surrounded by hills on all sides. Its quite spectacular. These hills have been inhabited since the dawn of time and there are still caves to be found which bear witness to this inhabitation. The caves at Point G have rock paintings. From there you will have a great view of the city.

If you travel towards Kita out of Bamako centre you will find signs to the Zoo, the Museum and the Caves at 'Point G'. Follow a single track dirt road to the caves. Expect to pay a small sum, about 250 cfa to the guardian for him to 'look after' your car. This is not a rip off .. it's normal practice in Mali. Regard it as a parking fee.

Mali has become recently a big producer of gold, however local jewellers don't use this gold which is fully exported.
Close to the Marche Rose, there is a long street where you will only find small jewellery shops.
Material is mainly yellow gold, red gold and white gold, silver.
It is a very fine work, I particularly like the jewels made of the three golds.
Prices are very good, almost market price.