Mali Nightlife

  Sitting in the dunes around the fire...
by sachara
 
  • Sitting in the dunes around the fire baskets
      Sitting in the dunes around the fire...
    by sachara
  • sunset for two
      sunset for two
    by sachara
  • sunset
      sunset
    by sachara
  • fire baskets at the dune ridge
      fire baskets at the dune ridge
    by sachara
  • sunset on our way from Timbuktu to Essakane
      sunset on our way from Timbuktu to...
    by sachara
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Restaurant Bar Ariane.: Cool evening - Segou.

by pfsmalo

A terrific setting in a lovely garden for this restaurant - bar where they have live music as of Friday through to Sunday. The atmosphere is more cultured than the "Golfe" but the local band, using koras as well as the drums and balafon starts warming up the clientele from about 23.00 onwards.You can eat here beforehand and then get your boogie feet on to dance until the early hours. Count on a kilometre walk from the riverfront. Slightly smarter than the "Golfe" but t-shirts no problem.

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Restaurant "Le Golfe" aka "Le Niger": Thunderous drumming - Segou.

by pfsmalo

This is more a maquis than a restaurant, quite small and intimate. Food is not bad with portions that unless you're famished you won't finish. Practically every night night there is a local group playing, balafon, djembé and other local instruments. It really warms up when the colection hat goes round and the drummers follow it. All good fun. Very casual.

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Typical Mali hotel: Don't stay in the hotel after dark!

by atufft

In Djenne we asked around for live music and found it at an outdoor restaurant, the name of which I don't remember. The town is very small, so it's pretty easy to follow the ears to a drum performance. Anyway, the spontaneity of watching the young men drum traditional beats and young women entertain with a dance competition was simply delightful. The venue in our case was also an outdoor restaurant and hotel, and so we ate dinner and enjoyed the performance. As I recall, their wasn't a concrete or tile patio, and the dancers danced on the gravely surface that was beneath our table. The In Africa, there's no need for any other instrument than the drum--really! These things are highly chance driven in terms of scheduling though so if you are concerned about keeping to a itinerary, you better ask around as soon as you arrive in town. More formal festivals are also a possibility... Relax,...

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All along the river front: Sunset

by grets

Mali is not high on Nightlife as we know it, and no-one in their right mind would go there for that reason. People watching with a glass of beer in one hand at one of the small bars, or as here, just gazing out on the sunset over Bani River (a tributary of Niger) at Mopti is all you need to end another amazing day!

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When in Segou, check out the...

by Nsara

When in Segou, check out the Jardin Mombaso across the street from the Petit Marche and next to Farafina Bogolan. This bar might be the best in Mali, it was absolutely rocking every night during the African Cup, with players, press, and fans from all over Africa dancing there. On Friday and Saturday nights there is usually a live band playing. Some of the musicians are some of the most reknown in Mali. I saw Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare perform here. The bar is outdoors surrounded by an overhang with fans. Beers are freezing which is nice after a day in the hot sun. For food there are brochettes and frites, but you have to try the PIGEON. Yes I know its pigeon, but its delicious really good. For those Americans out there, think of buffalo wings, really really good. The place doesn't get going until midnight, but it doesn't really slow down until 4 or 5 am. Every night of the week...

Outside Timbuktu: An evening with the Touareg

by grets

An intersting evening was spent with the Touareg around a camp fire being entertained by various dances - many involving daunting mock swords fights. No audience participation there!

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L'AKWABA: L'AKWABA

by laetitiad

Nice spot quite expensive for Mali but you can hear live music on week-ends. I saw a concert of Habib Koite, that was just wonderful (and was introduced to Salif Keita !)

Evasion: Evasion

by lalakante

modern little night club with a DJ; 20 and 30-something crowd mostly. dress to impress; I didn't see any traditional dress though.

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Appaloosa: Appaloosa

by laetitiad

Not typical but... with air conditioning !!! When the outside temperature is above 40, you appreciate !!

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Nightclubs and bars in Mali

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Reviews and photos of Mali attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mali sightseeing.

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Nightlife: Cities in Mali
  1. Bamako Nightlife
  2. Timbuktu Nightlife
  3. Lac Faguibine Nightlife
  4. Djenne Nightlife
  5. Segou Nightlife

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Popular Regions in Mali

District de Bamako Nightlife  Region de Tombouctou Nightlife  Region de Mopti Nightlife  Region de Kayes Nightlife 

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Questions and Answers

norrora profile photo

Q:  We are 2-3 swedish women planning on visiting Mali for 14 days including the desert festival in january 2012. I´ve looked at the... 

sphynxxs profile photo

A: you can get to Timbuktou without a tour operator (though you will need to book your flights in time, it might otherwise be difficult as the desert festival is a popular... 

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