Mali Warnings Or Dangers

 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Be careful taking pictures

by ZeekLTK

In Mali, especially Bamako, it is a big "no-no" to take pictures of "important" buildings such as military complexes or government buildings, including the presidential palace.Basically, if you see guys in uniforms standing guard outside, do not point your camera at them! If they see you try to take a picture of them or their building, they will confront you and possibly try to confiscate your camera unless you can prove that you didn't actually take a picture. It's best to just keep the camera out of sight when around these places.On one of my first days in the country, we were in a van driving around Bamako when we went by the presidential palace. I stuck my camera out the window and snapped a quick picture as we passed. The guards blew their whistle and pulled us over. I had a digital camera, so I quickly deleted the photo I had just taken. They asked me to step out of the van and had...

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LOCALS AND MEDECINES

by Elisabcn

While our excursion to the Dogon country it happened many times that people came to us showing their wounds assuming that we could heal them. Be wise and don’t start giving your medicines just because you see them injured. I assisted to two people and even if I have worked in first aid for several years the only think that I could do is to clean well their wounds using bottled water and sterile lints and suggest them to go to the nearest hospital because the wounds were too infected. And please, don’t work without gloves!!!!

TUMBOUCTOU

by Elisabcn

I did not like people in Tombouctou because they asked me for money for everything!! Everywhere i went i had to pay something!!Touaregs were very persistent too: they wanted to sell me anything even if I never showed any kind of interest for their gifts!!!There is one new trap in Tombouctou that my guide did not know (yet): they ask tourists to go to the police office just to check their passports and there they inform them about an "non-existing tax" to be payed for staying in Tumbouctou . . . At the end there was a long line and we promised them to come back later. . . :-)

VISA PROCEDURES

by Elisabcn

Europeans can get their tourist visa directly in Mali. If you arrive to Mali by plane the first thing you have to do at the airport is your tourist visa. Europeans only need:-passport (6 months validity)-1-2 passport size pictures-about 15euros-some patience (people in Mali do things veeery slooooowly...)This visa IS ONLY FOR 5 DAYS so remember to renew it, otherwise you'll have problems when leaving the country!. There are some offices in the main cities where you can do it, just ask. To renew your visa you need to show your passport with your first visa, other 1-2 pictures and about 25 euros (more). This time your visa will be for one month

Bargain for your guide in Dogon Country

by atufft

We found guides from Segue, Djenne, and Mopti all claiming to be native Dogon guides "wanting to go home", but in reality, the prices and reliability only gets good when you get to the immediate area. The hotel can provide good service, but so can others in the know. Bargain carefully. The guides will tend to rush you past major stops without concern for your interest in them. Once you are actually in Dogon country itself however, the guide may claim he doesn't have the money to pay for your encampment, and since you are now a long way from nowhere, you have the choice of arguing, paying, or leaving the guide behind, all of which are expensive. The good side is that the most you'll likely lose is a hundred or so dollars. The con games here aren't like elsewhere.

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Human sacrifices

by Alpha_Ghana

In Mali, some people still proceed to human sacrifice. The country is supposed to be muslim, but many people still mix Islam and ancestral beliefs. Don't be alone in the Bobo regions (between Segou and Mopti for instance), if you hear the drums (tam-tam), they might look after you. Do you think it is a joke? Do you think it does not happen in the 21st century?In 2005, the old "wises" of the village of Mahou (close to the border with Burkina Faso, coming from Koutiala) were convinced in court of human sacrifice. The best people to please their gods: people with clear skins like Albinos and Caucasians.

Result of dust and a hole in the bottom of the car

by co48

The unpaved road from the Senegalese border to Kayes was very dusty. It was the worst part of our trip, during our transahara trip from the Gambia to Morocco !The heavy traffic at the road caused so much dust, that at the end of the day in Kayes I came out of the car with totally red clothes, a red skin and red-coloured hairs more than my fellow travellers. Even my nose and throat was full of red dust !What was the case....I was sitting at the seat in the car just above a big hole in its bottom.

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Pollution

by zrim

In the capital city of Bamako the pollution is down right horrific. It is not much of an exageration to state that it is possible to cut the fumes with a knife. Much of the problem comes from substandard vehicles and no emissions standards. But fires and blowing dust from the Saharra also contribute to the poor air quality.

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Hawkers

by zrim

Everything is for sale in Mali and always at a small small price--at least according to the hawkers whose only goal is to separate the traveler from his or her cash.At the end of a hike to the remotest Dogon village, you can be sure to encounter a merchant peddling his wares and for you, he is willing to give his best best price."No thank you, I don't want any of your crap" the weary traveler insists. "No problem, just look, no obligation" the hawker responds. "For you, it is cheap cheap."And so on, and so on, and so on. Everywhere you go, products you don't want will be offered.

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The Heat

by zrim

Even in the cool season Mali is extremely hot and dry (into the 90s F and 30s C in December). In some places shade is a precious commodity. Forget about cloud cover--we didn't see more than two or three wispy clouds in two weeks.Take a hat to keep the sun off your head. And always have plenty of water at hand. It is literally impossible to drink too much water. There were days that I went through two liters of water and several beers and did not ever have to find a W.C. to relieve myself. Dehydration is a distinct possibility for anyone who is not careful and I suspect that dehydration is particularly unfun in a place like Mali where medical facilities are few and far between.

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Safety Tips in Mali

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Warnings Or Dangers: Cities in Mali
  1. Bamako Warnings Or Dangers
  2. Timbuktu Warnings Or Dangers
  3. Lac Faguibine Warnings Or Dangers
  4. Djenne Warnings Or Dangers
  5. Bandiagara Warnings Or Dangers
  6. Mopti Warnings Or Dangers
  7. Yougopiri Warnings Or Dangers

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Popular Regions in Mali

District de Bamako Warnings Or Dangers  Region de Tombouctou Warnings Or Dangers  Region de Kayes Warnings Or Dangers  Region de Mopti Warnings Or Dangers 

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Questions and Answers

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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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