In Mali you begin to understand its history with a visit to the fabled city of Timbuktu, once a busy trading post on the trans-Saharan caravan route and center of Islamic culture. From there you venture across Mali's exotic landscape to antique villages as you explore the history and culture of people who brought the desert to life by carving villages out of pink sandstone and shaping castle-like mosques out of mud. You examine striking artwork from wood carvings to rock paintings and observe indigenous mask dances, traditional African medicine practices and ancient ceremonies in this city known as the "crown jewel of western Africa."
Day 1
DEPART U.S.
Day 2
BAMAKO, MALI
Transfer to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport to board your mid-morning flight to Bamako, Mali, arriving in the early afternoon. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Before dinner this evening your guide will give a general briefing about the program and an overview of Mali.
Day 3
TIMBUKTU
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Bamako airport to board your flight to Timbuktu. Upon arrival in Timbuktu you will be met and transferred to your hotel which is situated on a sandy hillock at the western edge of town. Visit Timbuktu's Djingareiber Mosque and European explorers' houses.
Timbuktu's (a.k.a., Tombouctou) name alone conjures up mysterious and exotic images in the mind's eye. As an intellectual capital city and commercial metropolis, Timbuktu was created in the 12th century by nomad Tuareg around a well, "tim," in the Tuareg language whose watchwoman's name was "Buktu." Not being located near a waterway, it was linked to its harbor by a channel dug by hand.
In the early evening take a camel ride into the desert to visit a Tuareg camp and observe the traditional Tuareg dance and sword fight while touring the Tuareg camps. Tuareg men often cover their faces with a blue veil called the taguemoust. Not only does it lessen the impact of the desert's elements, it also highlights the individual's status within the tribe.
Day 4
MOPTI
Following breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Timbuktu airport to board your flight to Mopti. Upon arrival in Mopti you are met and transferred to your hotel situated on the banks of the Niger River. This hotel is one of the best in Mali with recent renovations and offers air conditioning, television and telephone. After settling in, you will tour the Mopti Grand Mosque, the fishing port and handicraft market. You may have the opportunity to watch pirogues (small, flat-hulled boats) being built while at the port. Your guide discusses the local culture, art and architecture of Mopti.
Mopti, "the Malian Venice," is located at the junction of the Bani and Niger rivers. Mopti is completely surrounded by water. As commerce and tourism grow on the Niger, so grows Mopti.
Originally a tiny Bozo fishermen's village, Mopti underwent a great expansion through the 19th century. In medieval times, Mopti was not important and was largely overshadowed by Djenne and Timbuktu, but commerce on the Niger River increased during the colonial period and Mopti's position gave it a distinct advantage. Today, with approximately 100,000 inhabitants, Mopti is a very active place with a large market, a beautiful mosque and the most vibrant port on the Niger River.
After lunch at a nearby restaurant, return to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon. In the early evening you will board your pirogue to cruise the Niger and Bani rivers and explore the fishermen's villages of the Bozo people. Here you will experience magnificent views of the sunset over the river and the port. During the cruise your guide will discuss the importance of the Niger and Bani rivers to the economy and the geologic development of the region.
Day 5
DJENNÉ
After breakfast, drive to the fascinating Djenné, "Jewel of the Niger Valley." Discover Djenné-Jeno, the original site of Djenné, which was created around 300 BCE. Visit the famous archeological site and explore the local museum.
Then drive to the Great Mosque of Djenné, the largest mud brick or adobe building in the world located on an island in the Bani river which is reached only by ferry. Here you visit the famous Mosque as well as one of the most colorful markets in West Africa and the sacred well of Nana Wangara.
After lunch, you will drive to Sevare to visit a gallery with a fabulous collection of jewelry and other decorative items.
Day 6
KONA
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the local Fulani village in nearby Kona and learn about the Fulani wedding ritual.
Return to Mopti and have dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 7
SANGHA
After breakfast this morning drive to Sangha where you enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore this fascinating area. The hotel offers rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a sun terrace overlooking the magnificent plateau.
Sangha is in the heart of Dogon country. Originally, the Dogon people came from the Mandingue Country and they fled to this rocky place to hide themselves from Islamization several centuries ago. Protected by the cliffs of Bandiagara, the Dogon people were almost entirely isolated from the world. Their self-defense comes from their social solidarity which is based on a complex combination of philosophic and religious dogmas, the fundamental law being the worship of ancestors. The Dogons are both Muslims and animists.
The Dogon architecture is unique and particular. There are 3 types of villages: the villages from the plateau, the cliff villages and the villages from the low land or plain. The classic Dogon village is laid out in the shape of a human being. Each house is an artery within the body. The design of each house is unique and strives for a Dogon sense of order. The houses in Sangha cling on cliff walls along narrow pathways. Sangha is on the border of the plateau and plain, but nonetheless is considered a plateau village.
Later in the afternoon visit Sangha's village, its famous granaries, fetishist houses and the Toguna or "house of elders." Dinner this evening will be a traditional meal at your lodging.
Day 8
TIRELLI / BANDIAGARA
After an early morning breakfast, drive to the cliffside village of Tirelli located in the heart of Dogon country to discover the Dogon culture and architecture and observe a Dogon mask dance. Return to Sangha for lunch followed by the drive to Bandiagara. Here you will overnight at a unique hotel.
Bandiagara is a reasonably sized, busy town with a large market on the plateau and a picturesque river, the Nyame, which runs on the eastern edge of town. It is believed that the Tellem tribe established the cliff dwellings in the Bandiagara Escarpment before the 14th century. They also established burial sites in the escarpment's caves. The Dogons came to the escarpment in the 14th century to escape from the Muslims. After the arrival of the Dogons, the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Tellems are not known.
Afternoon at leisure followed by dinner at the hotel's restaurant which is known for its wonderful ambience.
Day 9
SONGHO / NIOGONO / MOPTI
After breakfast, drive to the village of Songho, famous for its circumcision cave and rock paintings. Discussion of the ceremony of circumcision will be given by your guide.
Continue on to Niogono, another Dogon village, for a visit and discussion of Dogon agriculture and then on to Mopti and your hotel.
After lunch at the hotel, visit the market to observe the various arts and crafts of the region, including patterned woolen blankets, jewelry and pottery. Dinner this evening at a nearby restaurant. Return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 10
SEGU
After breakfast, drive to Segu, the ancient capital of the Bambara kingdom, stopping to visit a Bobo tribal village along the way. A lecture on the Bobo culture will be given by your guide. Upon arrival in Segu, check into your hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, take a city tour of Segu visiting the fishing port, old houses with traditional architecture, potteries, and the market. Learn about Segu architecture and economy from your guide.
Segu is a large town about 140 miles east of Bamako on the South bank of the Niger River. With several large old buildings and abundant trees on the main street, you can get an idea of how French West African towns appeared in colonial times.
Here you see the red mud houses that are unique to this area. Founded in 1852 by Kaladian Coulibaly, Segu is one of the main industrial and commercial centers of Mali.
Return to the hotel to relax followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 11
BAMAKO
Following breakfast, drive from Segu to Bamako visiting a Bambara village along the way to learn more about Bambara society, culture, and traditions. Lunch today is at Musso Kunda restaurant, which is also home to the Women's Museum. Following lunch, you will drive to your hotel in Bamako and have the rest of the afternoon to relax or explore the area.
Bamako, which stretches across both sides of the Niger River, is the capital city of Mali located in the southwestern part of the country. This ideal position makes it a trading Mecca, bustling with craft and produce markets and street vendors playing a variety of music.
Discussion this evening will be on the variety of music in Mali (Cora players, djembe drums, etc.).
Day 12
BAMAKO
After breakfast, drive to Tandiana and visit the market place where slaves were once sold. Here your guide will discuss the "protecting wall" which in the past completely surrounded the entire village. Before its collapse, it stood 15 yards high and three yards thick, protecting the village against invaders. You also visit the sacred woods where fetishes and masks are kept safe and learn about "karitea" or the shea tree and the processing and uses of shea butter.
Return to Bamako for a late afternoon at leisure.
Day 13
DEPARTURE
This morning is at leisure. In the afternoon you view Bamako from the Koulouba hill for a panoramic view of the city. Dinner will be at a gourmet French restaurant, the Monte Cristo. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Day 14
ARRIVE IN THE U.S.
NOTE: This is just one example of many custom itineraries we can do for you in this diverse country.
GENERAL INFORMATION
There are no set departure dates for this trip. Please contact EXPLORE as to the time you would like to travel and we can book this itinerary or another customized itinerary for you.
Tour Includes:
All air charters and ground transportation, accommodation, all meals; laundry, private guide, entrance fees, and all activities in itinerary (other than the mask dance and other demonstrations).
Tour Excludes:
U.S. domestic and international airfare; airport departure taxes; passport fees; visa fees; medical immunizations; individual transfers; beverages; accident/baggage/medevac & cancellation insurance; gratuities; excursions deviating from the scheduled tour; excess baggage charges; medical expenses; meals not specified in the program itinerary; telephone or fax charges; room service; and other items of a purely personal nature.
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