Mali Shopping

  artisan market
by sachara
 
  • artisan market
      artisan market
    by sachara
  • Touaregs in their tent
      Touaregs in their tent
    by SirRichard
  • Express tailor Timbuktu
      Express tailor Timbuktu
    by SirRichard
  • You can literally buy anything at the market
      You can literally buy anything at the...
    by ZeekLTK
  • Two craftsmen building a table
      Two craftsmen building a table
    by ZeekLTK
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Siaka: My favorite vendor of local art

by Alpha_Ghana

I have spent almost two years in Mali. I like local craft and Dogon antiques. Siaka is my special provider. You ask him what you want and he can provide. You want local tourist craft, he can provide. You want a real Dogon mask or a Touareg old saber, he will bring it to you and the best prices of the country. I bought a real Kanaga mask, Bogolan, masks and Touareg arts, etc. Anything from the country. Tell him you are the friend of Frédéric and Juniana, you will have a better price

Local crafts

by sociolingo

Local crafts in Mali are rich and varied, differing from one region to another. All craft products are made by hand, often in villages. By buying local crafts you are helping to keep these traditions alive and also helping the local economy. Many of the crafts take their influence directly from nature. One of the most famous is the bogolan fabrique or mudcloth. The 'mud' is mined on the banks of the river Niger. Designs are painted on the hand dyed cloth. The designs are nature based and are symbolic. Often families have their own special designs. Jewellery is a major craft industry in Mali. Both silver and gold is worked. Most of the gold is mined in Mali. The designs are intricate and again take their influence from nature. The cost of articles is the cost of their weight. The price is fixed so you usually don't bargain for these. There are one or two really innovative designers in...

Supermarché or epicerie

by sachara

Everywhere in Mail you find supermarchés or epiceries, where you can buy mineral water, softdrinks, sugar, coffee and other stuff, like in this shop in Kayes.I asked the shopkeeper, if I could make a picture of his shop. He gave me permission and was very proud. I liked these shops, especially the way the products are heaped on shelves along the wall, forming almost a wonderful piece of art. In this shop in Kayes we bought boxes with bottles of mineral water, trays with tins of coke and sprite. Some of my fellow-travellers were very excited, because they saw bavaria beer. It turned out to be non-alcoholic beer with a caramel taste !

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Fruit and vegetables

by tini58de

We usually went shopping for our group and went to the local markets. It was not only interesting to see, what was offered, but also to see the differences as we progressed further north. Up in the Sahel there was not much choice left - some tomatos, cucumbers, millet - and that was about it. Plus the people were more "aggressive" trying to get us as their customers....

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Bamako market

by sachara

In the centre of Bamako are a lot of market stalls and shops, where you can buy nearly everything like clothes, indigo, beads, music, music instruments, jewellery... name it.In 1993 the Grand Marché burnt down, so this picture of 1989 of the market can be history now?

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Markets

by tini58de

Since we visited many many markets throughout Mali, we could not only enjoy the people there, the colors, the art of piling up their fruit and vegetables, but also notice the differences: the further north we moved (and that means, the poorer the people), the more aggressively they tried win us as customers - it was so sad to experience!. Fruits and vegetables - some are rather exotic, like for instance yams.... You will definitely have to bargain!!! It is part of the culture and is a lot of fun!.

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Dogon Country - Ende village: Bogolan Mud Cloths

by jeremy73

Prices for bogolans are cheaper (and arguably nicer) in Dogon country than in Djenne or Bamako... although quality is probably best in Djenne (but you pay for it). We bought a large for CFA20,000, a medium for CFA7,500 and a small for CFA3,000

Markets

by seratonin

A great experience is to go to the local markets in Mali. They are very colorful and have a great atmosphere. You can normaly buy clothes and live stock. Sometimes it is not so easy to communicate with the dealers, as not everybody understands french. But you will find ways to deal with this problem...

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Pottery

by tini58de

In Mopti we saw this part of the market with lots of the most beautiful pottery! I wish I could have taken some, but it was a little bit too heavy..... It was a joy to look at, though!

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various markets: Bogolan mud cloth

by laetitiad

Bogolan mud cloth are specific to black Africa. You can find nice objects made of it : bags, scarves.You can find as well beautiful colorful cloth.

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Stores, Malls or Markets in Mali

Top 3 Hotels in Mali

Radisson Blu Hotel, Bamako  Bamako

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Laico l'Amitie Hotel  Bamako

 3 Reviews and 22 Opinions  Now Libyan owned and abandoned by the Sofitel hotel chain, the lobby in the late afternoon and... 

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Hotel Mirabeau  Bamako

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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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Shopping: Cities in Mali
  1. Bamako Shopping
  2. Timbuktu Shopping
  3. Lac Faguibine Shopping
  4. Djenne Shopping
  5. Bandiagara Shopping
  6. Kani Kombole Shopping

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Popular Regions in Mali

District de Bamako Shopping  Region de Tombouctou Shopping  Region de Mopti Shopping  Region de Kayes Shopping 

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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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