Senast uppdaterad: 2011-10-24
Resplan
Day 1
Gathering: The group will meet at our hotel in central Bamako in the evening after arrival of today's Air France flight. After arrival at the hotel you will have an introduction meeting.
Transport from the airport: Most of you will probably be on the same flight from Paris. The tourleader will receive those of you who come with this flight. Or if not, take a taxi to the hotel.
Day 2
In the morning bus to Segou 4 h, 240 km. Segou was the capital for the French during colonial times. See the riverside harbour, the French quarters and the grave of the last Bambara king. Hotel Auberge.
Day 3
Visit women's cooperative and a handicraft centre. At the latter you will have the opportunity to try the painting technique yourself. Here you will see the famous Mali textiles being produced. You may make purchases here, but also later in San, Sevare or Mopti. Bus to San 3 h, 200 km. Hotel Teriah.
Day 4
Bus to Djenne. The mosque is one of the most famous buildings in Africa. Said to be the second biggest mud structure in the world. A masterpiece originally built in the 12th century. The weekly market is on Mondays when there is always a big tourist crowd occupying the whole place. The complete town is under Unesco protection. All buildings are in mud, must only be made out of mud, anything modern is carefully concealed. Just to walk the streets is an enjoyment. Stay at Pondori.
Day 5
In the morning you go by donkey-cart for some 2,5 hours to the village of Sirabugu. Stay at a small campement with four rooms, or sleep in tents. This village is on the banks of river Bani, the biggest tributary to Niger. Three etnic groups live here in peaceful coexistence; Bambara (farmers), Bozo (fishermen) and Fulani (cattle breeders). Food is included during the time in the village.
Day 6
In smaller groups you visit your village and neighboring villages. Each group has an interpreter, probably a local guide from Djenne. Do what you like; perhaps go fishing with some Bozo men or help in agriculture.
Day 7
Return by donkey-cart, boat or car depending on the season to Djenne in the morning. Drive via Sevare to the village Songu up on the plateau in the land of the Dogon ethnic minority. Songu is a village known for its rock paintings. Drive to Bhandiagara for dinner and overnight at Hotel la Falaise.
Day 8
Your bus will take you to the village of Kani-Kombole 25 km away. En route visit Djigui Bombo. Trek to Telli and Ende. Lunch at the campement of Ende. After lunch, walk to Begnemeto 150 m up from the plain for dinner and accomodation at the local campement.
In this area there are campements in each and every village sustained by tourists. It is the French word for hostel. They could be of any standard, from air-conditioned deluxe to sleep on the floor. As a minimum it implies lodging under a roof and serving of basic food. During this trek food is included. Count on basic food with little variation. Do not expect anything culinary, but servings are generous.
Day 9
Trek an easy 10 km on the flat plateau, then decend to the cultivated plain to Nombori. This is another of the famous Dogon villages. After lunch, trek to Komokani. Stay at campement.
Day 10
In the morning we will trek an easy 10 km on the plain to Tirelli. Here you stay for night.
Day 11
In the morning we will arrange the famous Dogon masque dance. After lunch trek to Ireli. On the way you pass the Amandi pool inhabited by some 40 holy crocodiles. If you pay the warden, the crocs will show themselves to you. Yes, this is actually true. Overnight in tents.
Day 12
In the morning trek to Banani. Trek to Sangha on the plateau. You have two alternative routes to climb the escarpment to reach Sangha. One is a little difficult. Stay at a more luxurious hotel.
Day 13
Bus to Mopti 4 h, 130 km. This is the countries second biggest city, still small. Lunch at the Bozo restaurant in the harbor. Maybe this is the busiest river harbor in Africa! Big ferries with a week to go to reach far off destinations, big transport boats, pinasse and small fishing boats, pirogue.
Day 14-16
During three days you will go in a big pinasse down the great river Niger. It has got an intriguing flow - the source is in Guinea, not far from the Atlantic, but instead of going south to the sea, it runs north to the edge of Sahara, noticing its mistake, bends in a wide curve to the south and at last joins with the sea in Nigeria.
Days you will sit idle watching other vessels and villages passing by. Lot´s of birds and occasionally hippos. After some time the river widens into the worlds biggest inland delta. The lake is so big that you cannot see land in some directions. The further you go, the drier the landscape. The last day you will have sand dunes on both sides. Two nights you spend in a tent on the shore. Food is included while on the boat.
On the last day you reach Timbuktu. See this fabled old town, the sandy streets and old mosques built in mud.
In the afternoon you ride on a camel far out into the desert to stay with Tuaregs in Tédené, where you camel guide Mamayti resides with his family. Count on riding for some five hours, something not necessarily a pure enjoyment. But an experience! Your host will serve you dinner, you will enjoy the sunset, and you sleep in Tuareg tents or on the dunes under the stars. No rain, you´re in the desert! In the evening you can help Mamayti's mother and sister to prepare the food or the Tuareg tea, and get an idea about the Tuareg cooking. Count on some Tuareg dancing in the evening.
Day 17
In the morning after breakfast you can visit the new built school and the garden with equally a new built well. In the afternoon you ride another way back to Timbuktu, where you spend the night. On the way you pass two villages, Baïdou and Tintahatène where you will stop and visit some families.
Day 18
In the morning you will go to the airport of Timbuktu. Catch the early morning flight to Bamako. In the airport your bus is waiting to take you south to Kangaba. 4 h, 100 km. Here you will stay at a basic campement in Kela, a village of Grios, the traditional musicians. This is the very village that has produced several of the world renowned kora players. Dinner included.
Day 19
Excursion to the goldfields of Diabano, 15 km further south, time depending on road condition. Now you are close to the border of Guinea. Here thousands of individual gold diggers are trying their luck. Only men, a majority from Guinea. Each one has dug his own deep hole and washing the mud to find a few flakes of gold. An impressive, perhaps scary sight. You will be not only shown around, but also invited to try your luck and to bring back the little gold you may find.
In this mining camp you find everything needed by this armada of gold diggers; traders, bars, shops and all kind of service including prostitutes. Try one of the makeshift restaurants. In afternoon return to Kela.
Day 20
In the morning you will be entertained by a music performance and dance. Return to Bamako for lunch.
Day 21
You have the day to see the capital of Mali with 1,6 million inhabitants. The national museum and the recycling market will be on your agenda. In the evening you will be treated with a farewell dinner at famous restaurant Santosh serving local delicacies. We will also try to invite a kora player.
In the evening, your bus will take those of you who are flying tonight to the airport.
