 | Mali Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 33 |  |
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (33) Mali has become a gold producer for the past ten years. Major international gold companies settled in the country.
However, gold is abundant and there are some places where the quantity is too small for a heavy exploitation, so local digger create their own mine.
All Malian gold is exported, the jewelery you find in Mali is made of gold from Dubai.
Go and see a small gold mine. Watch people digging with hand made tools, people paddling to produce light inside the tunnels, etc.
PIcture from Kekoro, small village around Sanso-Domba, Region III, on the road Bamako - Sikasso, go to the North at Koumantou, direction Sanso. Leave a Comment |
As soon as you leave Bamako, you are directly in the bush. Only alongside the main road you will find electricity and sometimes phone lines.
In the villages, no electricity, no phone, no water, just earthblock houses.
In the "rich" villages you can buy modern equipment like plastic barkets. Leave a Comment |
There are only few petrol stations in Mali, all in the main cities. On the roads or in the villages, you have some people selling petrol in a bottle. You can buy a bottle of beer full of petrol.
(Don't use this petrol, your engine will be angry with you!) Leave a Comment |
The Touaregs are found throught northwest Africa and are descendants of the Berbers. They have a lighter skin than the majority of ethnic groups in Mali. Although they are often referred to as 'whites', the Tourag call themselves Tamasheq, after their language.
Touaregs number ca. 500,000 in Mali alone.
In 1990 a Touareg Revolt broke out in the north of the country after refugees from Algeria and Libya were returned to Mali. Attacks on the Malian army along the border with Mauretania, they fought for independence.
From Timbuktu many trips are organised to various Touareg camps, usually to a friend or family of the guide, and either travelling by 4WD or camel.
We chose 4WD and travelled a little further into the desert where we visited Khalis' family. We also met Khalis' girlfriend; he explained that in order to be allowed to marry her, he needs to provide a dowry of 100 camels - he currently has 5! Could be a long courtship!
Khalis' brother served tea and we were invited to see the inside of the nomadic camp, try our hand at drawing water from the well and generally observe their way of life. A very interesting experience. Leave a Comment |
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Due to limited time and money we spend in Dogon Country three days only.
DAY ONE: After first night in Dourou on the top we made round trip excursion down to Nombori (some 5 km each way). Walking shoes are required. In Nombori apart from traditional stone granaries and houses we accidentally had opportunity to see mask dances performed for other group (performance took about an hour and they charged from us 5000 CFA for taking pictures – well worth the price). After return to Dourou we saw there in the afternoon colorful local market (markets are in the afternoons and on irregular schedule so it is not possible to plan such visit ahead). Late in the day we took 7-km walk south to the village of Begnimato where we stay overnight. In the villages you have a choice of sleeping in the stone or mud-brick house (mat or hard bunk only provided) or on the roof. Mornings are cool so sleeping bag is useful. Do not expect any electricity to charge your batteries.
DAY TWO: After very basic breakfast (millet cakes) we visited local school (donations are welcome) and walk 10 minutes to the viewpoint on the escarpment. Panorama from the cliff is impressive if not disturbed by harmattan dust. Back in Begnimato we walked 10 km down to Ende – large village at the foot of the escarpment. There are even basic guesthouses and nice artifacts on sale. Each part of the village has his own togina – shaded men meeting place with beautifully carved pillars.
DAY THREE: After one-hour walk along dozens of baobab trees we reached Teli with nice mosque, quite large “maison de passage” and ancient dwellings hidden under the cliff – even better preserved that those in Ende, with intriguing paintings. Continuing our trek at the foots of the escarpment we reached village Kani-Kombole. Then climbing uphill 5 km we finished our trip in Djiguibombo (7 hours from Ende). Djigibombo has interesting stone houses – especially that where local quack treats his patients. Prearranged car took us to Bandiagara and another bache (pickup) - to Mopti. Leave a Comment |
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Take a road trip from Bamako towards the border wirh Guinée, passing by Sibi (the road is south-west ) to see the antiquated way they find their gold in Mali. You will need an experienced guide to take you, as this IS in the wilds. The men dig pits, up to 5 metres deep, and then dig further tunnels to make the pits meet , then haul the earth to the surface for the women to wash and search for the ore. These people risk their lives every day for a pittance, but were amongst the most humble and friendliest we met on our trip. Leave a Comment |
Ouéléssédougou is a small town on the road between Bamako and Bougouni. In the beginning of the raining season 2004, I saw this incredible cloud on the town.
I cannot tell the name of this cloud but It stragely looks like an atomic mushroom Leave a Comment |
The villages that are near Djenne make this stop worth an extra couple of days. Hire a guide, rent a scooter, and off you go across an expanse of earth typically waterborne during the rainy season. I assume that these villages need pirogues to get there then. Some villages are muslim and have their own smaller versions of the great mud mosque. Traditional crafts and tribal costume can be seen in the alley ways. Other villages are animist, and in these you'll find villagers with standards of dress and conduct quite remote from the sensibilities of the industrialized world. I highly recommend Assika Landoura, who also has a Europeanized nickname that he goes by. He'll find you in Djenne or try contacting him by e-mail. He's young, professional, and can arrange everything for you. Leave a Comment Other Contact: assika2001@yahoo.fr |
HomboriThe village is located on the main road from Mopti and Gao. Arriving on Tuesday you can visit the cattle market, where Tuaregs go to sell their animals. The market is worth the entrance fee. Somehow, wandering around the market is the same that walking on the stage where a modern ballet, with a wonderful, colourful choreography, is being performed. I met this man outside the market, while he was going to tie up his stuff, before moving towards the desert, in such a fantastic atmosphere. More pics in my travelogue “Tuareg”. Leave a Comment |
Bike is very well used in the Malian villages, but be carefull, no lights, no brakes, just two wheels, two paddles and a frame... Leave a Comment |
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