Related Mali Favorites Tips

Favorite thing: I can heartily endorse Donko Voyages. Owned by Amadou Traore, they handle everything from upmarket American tour groups to backpackers. The staff all speak excellent English and know the country well. Email contact is infos@donkovoyages.com I have travelled several times in Mali and Burkina Faso with them and all went very well.

Fondest memory: Great people and incredible sights. I miss the color !! The Dogon Country is still virtually as it was before any visitors came along and even Timbuctu still has a mysterious feel, especially in the sandy streets.

Favorite thing: Moussa Timbine' is an excellent tour guide in Mali. He lives in Bamako but will go all over the country. He is also Dogon, and a wonderful guide for seeing Dogon country. His English is excellent.

He has trained extensively for his job, and has a good understanding of different nationalities and what they expect as tourists. He is therefore in a good position to give you an experience that will be enjoyable and rewarding.

Moussa Timbine'
cliffadventurer@yahoo.fr
00223-79-07-49-35

Fondest memory: All the wonderful people--the different tribes, their striking attire, and their beautiful spirit.

Favorite thing: Where others don't go...DHL does. I like to pack light and from time to time send things home.
DHL has an office here in Bamako and can help you get things back to your doorstep. It is not the cheapest way to do it but it eliminates the need to check a bag and have the airline loose it.

Favorite thing: I read countless postings which said ATM access was limited. WRONG!!!!! The Govt. in a effort to encourage more tourism has improved things a bit and I was able to get cash from ATMs in Bamako (not next to a UN office or major hotel..down a regular street) and in Mopti. They took cards with the VISA symbol and I was able to take out the CFA equivalent of $500 USD each time.....I hate taking a wad of cash and or travelers checks. I think I even saw an ATM in Timbuktu but did not try it out. The smaller towns tend to dispense smaller notes like 5,000 CFA as opposed to the 10,000 notes that I got in Bamako. Either way they work. Credit cards? They were a pain even in Senegal.

Favorite thing: I am curious to which guide or tour you took to the Niger Festival? My husband and I are also going for 2 weeks to Mali and the festival on the Niger Jan/Feb, 2009. We are checking out Saga Tours and individual tour guides. Any information would be appreciated.

Favorite thing: Dogon Country is a must, and having a good guide is essential. We lucked out when we arrived in Ségou. We met Boureima Kassogué, also known as Ibrahim from Djiguibombo, a Dogon himself, who became a big part of our trip. He guided us through the smaller villages near Ségou, then later through Dogon Country (4 days, 3 nights) and then arranged a trip for us from Mopti to Ségou along the Niger by pirogue (3 days, 2 nights camping). He speaks French very well, and some English also. A wonderful, helpful young man who took great care of us, and who also gave us unforgottable Djembe lessons by the "babyfoot" machine near the Hotel Djoliba in Ségou. You can find him through the Association des Guides near the wharf, or get his cell phone number from the lists of certified guides posted in the hotels. Tell him DVD and Vera sent you!

Fondest memory: I will miss many things, but by far the most - night falling in Dogon country, when everything is enveloped by what I can only describe as a living stillness.

Favorite thing: As yellow fever is endemic in West Africa it is prerequisite that you get vaccinated before you go there. In fact you need to show a vaccine certificate to get a visa. Otherwise forget it.
Plan to get vaccinated at least 10 days before your trip starts (I would say months). The vaccine is done at your local health authorities (in my case in Athens Public Health Headquarters) where additional information is given concerning health issues for the country you plan to travel. The vaccine was done for free, injected SC and minor adverse reactions might be expected within 5-12 days (I had none 10 days now). The vaccine lasts for ten years (so visit as much of Africa as you can). It was essential to bring along my passport as I was given an international vaccination certificate along.
More on yellow fever: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_fever

Favorite thing: Subsaharan african countries like Mali encounter several precautions:
1. A Yellow Fever is prerequisite and its certificate is expected to be shown if asked. It lasts 10 years (so travel as much in Africa as you can during this period)
2. Malaria prevention is essential. Malaria often a fatal disease if let untreated is prevalent throughout the year in Mali. Either Lariam, Malarone or Vibramycin should be taken as prophylaxis (ask your doctor which suits you best). Mosquito net accommodation should be advisable plus a repellent containg at least 30% DEET (several brands on the internet). It is mentioned long sleeves but I still question if it is tolearable to wear them while touring around under 38o C
Don't be paranoid about malaria prevention, but at the same time don't take it light!