Safety Tips in Mali

One aspect of Mali was particularly difficult for me to get past--the strewn garbage in almost every neighborhood. I realize that there is undoubtably a severe shortage of landfills and very little organized garbage pickup. But to see the landscape given over to trash piles is disheartening. The average African seems very meticulous and fastidious when it comes to dress and grooming, yet thinks nothing of wading through the trash heaps that abut his or her home.

Let's face the facts here: if you are used to a comfortable life in America, Europe or Australia and then travel for any extended time in an underdeveloped place like Mali-- sickness of some nature is almost a given.

I was as careful as I could possibly be. I did not eat raw vegetables or salads. I checked to make sure that the meats were cooked through. I ate plenty of bread. Drank only bottled water. And ate only fruits that come with a protective shell--like watermelon or citrus. But eight days in, I became very ill with some sort of food poisoning. For the next 96 hours my food intake consisted of a total of five pieces of bread. I was continually on the verge of dehydration because I could not drink enough water to compensate for that which was being lost on the other end. Quite a miserable time when combined with the blaring sun and heat in the Dogon country. But I knew going in that such an illness was probable and I did not sit around feeling sorry for myself. I continued with the explorations of the Dogon culture and made the best of it.

Pack pepto bismal, imodium and cipro. If you are lucky your bowels will clear in a day or two (like Becky). If you have worse luck (like me) you will at least want the imodium so that you can venture more than twenty feet from your bathroom.

The British Embassy in Bamako closed on 31 May 2003. There is a new British Embassy Liaison Office (BELO) in Bamako offering consular and commercial advice and assistance. For passport and visa services, applications should be made to the British Embassy in Dakar. Forms are available from the BELO, which is located in the Canadian Embassy.

You should register at the British Embassy Liaison Office in Bamako.

Bureau De Liaison de l'Ambassade de Grande Bretagne
Enceinte de l'Ambassade du Canada
Route de Koulikoro
Hippodrome
BP 2069
Bamako
MALI

Telephone: 00 223 277 46 37
00 223 674 90 77 / 674 82 08 Mobiles


Facsimile: 00 223 221 83 77

There has been an outbreak of cholera in Segou district, central Mali. You should be aware and take precautions. Two cases of polio have been reported in Mali since May.

Medical facilities outside of Bamako are limited. Make sure all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. Take prophylaxis against Malaria.

Crime rates in Mali are not high but you should take sensible precautions. Do not carry valuables in public.

There have been incidents of armed banditry, carjacking, and kidnap by extremist groups in northern Mali, including the brief capture of tourists north of Timbuktu by a heavily armed extremist group in January 2004, and earlier instances of banditry between Douentza and Mopti/Sevare. Because of the increased risk of banditry and kidnap travel to the north of Timbuktu, the western border area with Mauritania and the eastern border with Niger is not advised. Bandits and smugglers are also active across the Algeria-Mali-Niger border and constitute a real risk to travellers, especially after dark. You should be vigilant, especially when travelling in the north.

It is strongly advised against travelling outside Bamako after dark.

We found the fastest visa response ever from the Honorary Consul in Basle, Switzerland. He returned our passports by return post. BUT you need to send actual money with your passport! Its best to send 50 SWISS FRANCS. they don't accept cheques! You also need tosend a stamped addressed enveloppe. for return postage. You should also make sure that your passport is valid for at least six more months.

You can print out the forms on the consul website
Honorary Consulate of Mali
Spalenberg 25, Ch-4001 Basle, Switzerland
Fax:(+41-61)2511314

A list of all consular and embassy sites for Mali is available at:
http://www.sagatours.com/traveltips.html#entryvisa

Do not underestimate the importance of well-worn walking boots. I thought mine were, but what I didn't take into consideration, was the fact that my feet swelled enormously in the heat which resulted in 14 blisters.

Pack plenty of Compeed. Duct tape is another good idea - great for protecting the feet where the skin hasn't broken yet, or to hold other plasters in place! I also ended up losing three toe-nails.

Towards the end of the dry season, the water in the Niger River becomes dangerously low, and sand banks begin to apprear in the middle of the watercourse. The captains try to steer clear of these hazards, but every now and again you nedd to get out and drag the boat of the bank. As you can see from the picture, the water is only waist deep.