Unique Places in Mali

I don’t like these touristy programs, I really don’t like them! But after seeing that 2-3 buildings there is nothing else to do in Tumbouctou and walking along the streets has no interest (and it is very stressful because of the Touaregs!) so I had to choose between the pinasse cruises to see the hippos or staying at the hotel. Mali is not a country known for its fauna and nobody wanted to guarantee us that we were going to see the hippos either . . . At the end and after a 3 hours cruise we saw two hippo heads (wow!) and we took some nice sunset pictures as well but it was (for me!) incredibly boring. Next time I will stay at the hotel sleeping.

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This is not recommended for the faint of heart and those that worry too much about their vehicle, as quite often the ferry has to stop 5 metres from the sand. Even with the runways down there are still a few heart-stopping moments as you wonder "Am I going to make it".
Ferry cost is 2.500 cfa per vehicle and includes passengers. The return is also included.

Heavy goods vehicles are too heavy for the ferry so have to try and make it across the double sand-bank at low water. See pic. 5 for the result!!!!!

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This small village has the merit of being probably the cleanest I've ever seen on my travels in Africa. The streets are regularly swept, the houses painted and a real welcome from the village elders under their tree. We were asked by the Imam if we wanted to visit the new mosque, that had only recently been finished. The village chief was proud to tell us that every person in the village helped and only took 47 days to erect. This was quite an event, us being "non-believers" but went off very well. We were allowed to visit the prayer rooms, seperate for the men and women, and also allowed on the roof.
The village is situated on the left coming from Sevaré , back towards Djenné after about 10 kms. A naturally friendly place warrants a visit. Don't forget your cola nuts !!

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On your way down to the gold fields near the border with Guinea is the town of Siby. We were welcomed into town by the village chief who gave us the tour of the market. The market here, takes place every Saturday. Near town you can visit the refreshing waterfalls of Danda and after a stiff walk, the Kamadjan arch. The area is renowned for its mangos, known locally as the "gold of Siby".

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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.

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!)

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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.

Hey look-that's me animating a classroom on the wonders of witchcraft in North America-every week, each group was host to an educational day, and ours was a comparison of witchcraft between here and Africa-Good thing I knew a little bit about the subject, there’s a lot of strange magic around these parts......