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Latest Bamako hotel reviews
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The BCEAO Tower sits right in the heart of Bamako, along the Niger River, and is really a nice site to behold. It's the Malian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States, and has some ATM machines outside. I never went in, and I'm not really sure if there is anything to do inside besides banking, but the building itself is something to make a point of seeing and probably taking a few pictures of (especially since several other impressive buildings in the city are off limits to photography, such as the presidential palace and whatnot).
Written Jan 12, 2012
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Something to keep an eye out for as you as making your way around the city is all the monuments that are scattered around Bamako, usually in the center of a roundabout.
The types of monuments vary greatly, ranging from war memorials to a soccer mascot (built for the 2002 African Cup of Nations, which Mali hosted). There are some pretty interesting ones, so definitely check these out as you go around town.
Written Mar 4, 2011
There is a lot to see in Bamako. You can call upon the city's many taxis to get to all of the sights. They should never cost you more than 1500 FCFA (3$ US). I recommend a visit to the National Museum, the Botanical gardens and to one of Bamako's many markets.
Nevertheless, I also want to recommend a small art gallery, FERE KENE, in the district Hamdallaye ACI 2000. This gallery space showcases the work of local artists. It was created in 2001 by the organization AJA MALI to provide local artists with a space to sell their goods, thereby appealing to a larger market. The organisation, more generally, works with the artists on a long-term basis and teaches them the importance of creating their goods according to fair trade standards, and the essentials of running their own business.
AJA's main goal is to eradicate unemployment in Mali by equipping the local population with the necessary skills to become self-sufficient and generate income. They provide training sessions to youth ages 15-35 in the arts, woodwork, tourism, metalwork, as well as instruction on how to run a small business
A trip to this gallery is well worth it as it offers tourists a chance to enjoy the wonderful artwork of local Malians and an opportunity to support the domestic economy. It is also a chance to do some one stop shopping at fixed prices in a tranquil environment before heading home!
Written Nov 3, 2010
Address: Street 432 Door 1102
Phone: +223 20295821 Cell: 66822217
Website: www.ajamali.org
There is a lot to see in Bamako. You can call upon the city's many taxis to get to all of the sights. They should never cost you more than 1500 FCFA (3$ US). I recommend a visit to the National Museum, the Botanical gardens and to one of Bamako's many markets.
Nevertheless, I also want to recommend a small art gallery, FERE KENE, in the district Hamdallaye ACI 2000. This gallery space showcases the work of local artists. It was created in 2001 by the organization AJA MALI to provide local artists with a space to sell their goods, thereby appealing to a larger market. The organisation, more generally, works with the artists on a long-term basis and teaches them the importance of creating their goods according to fair trade standards, and the essentials of running their own business.
AJA's main goal is to eradicate unemployment in Mali by equipping the local population with the necessary skills to become self-sufficient and generate income. They provide training sessions to youth ages 15-35 in the arts, woodwork, tourism, metalwork, as well as instruction on how to run a small business
A trip to this gallery is well worth it as it offers tourists a chance to enjoy the wonderful artwork of local Malians and an opportunity to support the domestic economy. It is also a chance to do some one stop shopping at fixed prices in a tranquil environment before heading home!
Written Nov 3, 2010
Address: Rue 432 Porte 1102 near the ABK 6 building
Phone: +223 20295821 Cell:66822217
Website: www.ajamali.org
There is a lot to see in Bamako. You can call upon the city's many taxis to get to all of the sights. They should never cost you more than 1500 FCFA (3$ US). I recommend a visit to the National Museum, the Botanical gardens and to one of Bamako's many markets.
Nevertheless, I also want to recommend a small art gallery, FERE KENE, in the district Hamdallaye ACI 2000. This gallery space showcases the work of local artists. It was created in 2001 by the organization AJA MALI to provide local artists with a space to sell their goods, thereby appealing to a larger market. The organisation, more generally, works with the artists on a long-term basis and teaches them the importance of creating their goods according to fair trade standards, and the essentials of running their own business.
AJA's main goal is to eradicate unemployment in Mali by equipping the local population with the necessary skills to become self-sufficient and generate income. They provide training sessions to youth ages 15-35 in the arts, woodwork, tourism, metalwork, as well as instruction on how to run a small business
A trip to this gallery is well worth it as it offers tourists a chance to enjoy the wonderful artwork of local Malians and an opportunity to support the domestic economy. It is also a chance to do some one stop shopping at fixed prices in a tranquil environment before heading home!
Written Nov 3, 2010
Address: Rue 432 Porte 1102 near the ABK 6 building
Phone: +223 20295821 Cell:66822217
Website: www.ajamali.org
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This is one of the main attractions of Bamako. Not really a treasure inside, but it's got interesting pieces of tribal cultures and some peculiar fabrics. In the gardens you can see reproductions of various malian monuments, such as the Djenne mosque...
Entrance: 2500 CFA
Written Sep 28, 2008
Address: Av. de la Liberté
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Maybe one of the few things to see in Bamako. The Cathedral is a red stone gothic style church in the middle of Bamako. Nearby is one of the few public gardens in the city, a good place for a rest after a morning in the market. The crocodile's fountain was really interesting...
Written Sep 28, 2008
National Museum is interesting and it's absolutely worth a visit. It's modern and nice. The museum is inspired from Bambara traditions, with the exception of the workshops.
The museum houses one of the best ethnographic collections in West Africa. The masks and statues collection is particularly interesting. You can find Bambara and Dogon masterpieces.
National Museum is open from 09:00 to 18:00 and It's closed on Mondays.
The entrance fee is about 2500 CFA
Updated Nov 22, 2005
Address: Avenue de la Liberte
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Mali has no money to take care of the incredible history of its people.
France financed a new museum in Banco in 1892 but the largest part of the collections consists of ceased items by the French custom.
It is a fact that many thieves visit Mali, helped by local populations who is one of the poorest of the world and come to illegaly search archeological sites to take the patrimony of the Malians and sell abroad.
It can take three hours to visit. I could make correlations between the old local people and some ancient Greeks or Yemen/Syrian history.
Conservators are not professionnal. Explanations are made sometimes on a too scinetific writing for a usual tourist to understand, and texts don't always keep the neutrality of the historian.
There is also a permanet exhibition of the Malian fabric (batik, bogolan, etc.).
The price is 2500 CFA for foreigners and if you add 500 CFA you have a good guide.
Written May 21, 2005
Address: Ministries road to hill of "point G"
Phone: +223 222 3486
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There are a number of cinemas dotted around Bamako of varying degrees of comfort. I'm going to update this entry as I try them out and find out more information. Here's what I have so far...
Well, the local advice is to go to the Babemba Cinema. Find the French Cultural Centre in the centre of town, turn left and follow the road round. (Or ask a taxi driver to take you there!) The showings are at 4 pm (kids films); and 9 pm. At weekends there are showing at 4 pm, 6.30 pm, 9 pm, and 11 pm. The costs start at 1,000 cfa and go up to 2,000 cfa for the late night showings. This is now showing all the latest American/European films ... in French. We went to see the newest Harry Potter film there this weekend. We found the seats comfy, but don't expect the usual multiplex standard from home. There are two auditoriums, a large one seating 300 + and a small one seating 50. The films start in the big auditorium and then go to the small one the second week. They do publish a little booklet with the films but it's hard to find a copy.
In the Badalabougou area the Palais de la Culture shows Malian cultural films from time to time. The upcoming films are shown on posters put up around town.
Some of the hotels have their own cinemas. The Hotel Amitié (Sofitel) shows regular French language films, and occasionally English films. These are advertised in the Hotel foyer.
In the quartier commercial there are the Club, the Vox, and the Rex cinemas. These show mostly French language films. In the quartier Oulofobougou the Soudan Ciné, and the Bademba cinemas show French films. In Médina Coura the El Hilal and the Salle Omnisport also show films. In Lafiabougou the Banankokou shows French films and in Badialan, the ABC shows French films.
Written May 3, 2005
Address: Bamako town
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Reviews and photos of Bamako attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Bamako sightseeing.
There are a number of cinemas dotted around Bamako of varying degrees of comfort. I'm going to update this entry as I try them out and find out more...
11 members live in Bamako
Q: Forever I have wanted to see Africa and now work will allow me a week or two in Mali. I have not been before, am busy reading...
A: Mali is francophone Africa, so the excellent English skills can be a bit hard to find. There are English speaking people - but let´s say, their language skills vary...
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1
A large town? No, it is rather a very large village. When you climb one of the very few storey building, you can see the whole Bamako. You are well in Bamako, not in Holland. As far as you can see,......
2
Most people visiting Mali just pass though Bamako on the way to Timbutou or Dogon country. But, to my mind, and I'm biased because I live here, Bamako is one of the nicer cities in West Africa. Small,...
3
If you arrive In Mali with an international flight, your acquintance with Mali starts in the capital, Bamako... Bamako is a lifely city with a lot of cars and motorcycles. In central Bamako south of...
4
During the summer of 2006 I spent 6 weeks in Mali, 5 of which were in the capital, Bamako. We stayed in the dorms of the University of Mali, near Badalabougou. I ended up joining a local club team to...
5
Bamako is usually the starting point of your trip to Mali, as most planes arrive there. It has nothing really not to miss, maybe the market is a good place to wander around and do some shopping, and...
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