What to pack for Mali

Luggage and bags: Backpack is the best for this place. Depending on how you travel it is easier and cheaper to carry your own stuff.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Good pair of walking shoes, light clothing and rain gear for the wet season. I took my boots and they proved to a bit of over kill

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: If you cannot read or understand French...bring what you need. Chances are you can get the French version of many drugs here but communicating what you need can take some time if you do not speak it.

Photo Equipment: Bring a few plastic bags or things to keep the red dust out if you plan on treking..I still had some of the red stuff on my bag a month after I got home.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Most camp grounds have mosquito nets and 3-4" foam mats to sleep on. Don't forget some TP as this is often the last thing you will see at a campsite

Miscellaneous: Bring some patience......nothing happens fast here...Rushing will just cost you $$$

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Luggage and bags: I prefer reinforced cloth sided luggage (with sturdy wheels and collapsible handle) over backpacks. In Africa, there is plenty of help hoisting your belongings wherever you need them. Backpacks can't be easily locked, and wherever you go expect whatever luggage you choose to be put to the test. You'll want your collectibles bargained for to arrive back home undamaged.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Lonely Planet recommends light colors and thin fabrics. I prefer the sturdiness of Levis because I don't know what mess I'll sit on next. In Africa, men and women should generally dress in a conservative manner. You'll get used to the heat. Having sun glasses, and maybe a hat are pretty important. Also, having a collapsible umbrella or poncho for that unexpected sudden downpour of rain can be useful. We didn't carry any rain gear, and go soaked on the day we crossed the Ghana-Burkina border

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Unless you are stingy with accomodations, a mesquito net is rarely needed as somewhere in town, AC will be available. Even so we still took a collapsible self supporting net. Don't forget the mosquito repellent. Consult your physician for full details.

Photo Equipment: I bought a Panasonic eWear photo printer which takes my camera's SD card and produces a passport sized photo on the spot. The ability to give away images in the field really helped me improve my people pictures, even if the photos are too small to keep. The printer is about the size of my iPod, maybe a little thicker, and has a good lithium battery. Stock up on the special ink cartridge and paper supplies.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: If camping in Mali, you'll want the open air mosquito net. Sleeping outside can be risky though as a sudden thunderstorm can surprise one during the middle of the night.

Miscellaneous: Don't be afraid to load the knapsack up with electronics. We had no fear of robbers during our entire trip. Keep the packpack colors cool and without brandname badges though. If you take the public transportation, you may be carrying more in value than the annual salaries of the rest of the passengers combined.

Luggage and bags: A sturdy piece of luggage. Day sack for trekking.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Walking boots, modest clothing for visiting Dogon Villages. Light, cotton clothing as it will be HOT!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Mosquito repellant, antimalaria tablets, a good first aid kit, all toiletries you may need, Wet-wipes are very useful. A good sunblock is essential.

Photo Equipment: As much film as you need, a plastic bag or waterproof housing to protect your camera from sand.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Most local operators provide tent and sleeping mat, but if you want a little more comfort, an inflatable mattress would be usefull. Sleeping bag and pillow.

Miscellaneous: Water carrier, ideally a 'bladder' with drinking hose.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: We were extremely lucky to help a military post and the health center there with some cannulas! We donated about 5 of them - which was a year's supply for them!!! And our sick passenger was happy to get an infusion with a sterile cannula!

Luggage and bags: Be careful packing your fragile items; the airport in Bamako really knows how to bash up some luggage. Here's a picture of my giraffe that they broke the nose off of, haha.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: light clothing, try to cover up as much skin as possible at night so you don't get eaten by mosquitos. When you're travelling long distance make sure you bring a scarf or something to cover your face to filter the dust. Don't wear shorts (not culturally accepted, but they won't throw things at you if you wear them). ;)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: lots of bug spray! The mosquitos at night are rediculous. Also if you have hemmerhoids, bring some ointment because it's very hard to find, even in Bamako.

Photo Equipment: Make sure you have a power converter because the wattage in Mali is different than it is in N. America. (I can't remember what it is off the top of my head...) Also make sure you keep your equipment in it's case when not in use and keep it clean as the great amount of dust in the air can damage the internal parts of your camera.

Luggage and bags: We took 4 large duffel bags and folded 2 up into the other 2. One bage was for our stuff, and the other was stuffed with bubble-wrap and scotch tape to protect the art we would buy. Gave us plenty of room to bring back things. There are always people to carry your bags. Porters are very plentiful in third-world countries.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Adventure Travel

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Take a little spray bottle with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and citronella oil. It won't irritate the skin. There are all sorts of inset repellants out there but I prefer citronella because it is a natural essential oil and is not toxic. It will evaporate in 4 hours so use it repeatedly. Spray your clothes and your bed, windows, all over. We took a mosquito net but didn't use it. Had no problem with bugs.

Photo Equipment: Canon rebel with 28-200 zoom lens. Kodak 100 Royal Gold film 36 exposures.

Luggage and bags: Handlers tend to throw baggage around and leave them on trolleys in the open, so make sure bags are sturdy with padlocks, and tuck black sacks around the zip area if travelling in the rainy season.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Women:
Take some short sleeve tops and skirts or trousers. Trousers are OK in Bamako.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Malaria tablets; diarhoea tablets (e.g. Imodium);
Water purification tablets/iodine or even better a Katadyne water filter.

Photo Equipment: APS film is difficult to find and process.

Miscellaneous: Mosquito net ...get the rectangualr kind as a lot of places have ceiling fans and it is almost impossible to hang a single hook one up.

Miscellaneous:
Instituut Geographique National
Mali

ISBN: 3-282118-50081-9

scale 1 : 2.000.000