Mali

Mali is located south of the Sahara and partly in the Sahel. The country, which is surrounded by Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Senegal, has been in the news a lot in recent years due to the ongoing tensions and political unrest. It is therefore questionable whether you are currently making the right choice when you want to travel to this country. Civil wars, terrorist threat and militant rebels make this country a relatively dangerous destination. Nevertheless, a number of adventurous tours visit the country. Sometimes combined with Senegal or, for example, as part of a longer expedition through the Sahara. 'Tanezrouft' is the name of the road through the Sahara along which caravans pass.

Cities in Mali

If the coast is relatively safe and you take the plunge to this country, you will be faced with many surprises. Think of the desert city of Timbuktu, a name that seems to come straight out of a comic strip. Nothing could be further from the truth, because this impressive city is full of stately mosques while the desert people of the Tuaregs regularly set up camps just outside the city. The capital is Bamako, a place that is located on the Niger River in the south of the country. Other cities are Djenné, Mopti and Segou.

Landmarks in Mali

Of course there are plenty of beautiful attractions in Mali. What about the Cliff of Bandiagara, a plateau of 500 m high. Or the Tombs of Askia, a tomb for the Songhai emperor Askia Mohammed I. Mount Hombori, a mountain in the middle of rock formations, and the nature reserve of the same name is also a beautiful poster for what Africa has to offer.

Timbuktu

Although René Caillié referred to Timboektoe only as 'a small, hot and dusty city', the place is certainly popular with today's travelers. It is called 'the city of gold'. There are beautiful mosques. In Mali's capital, Bamako, you can visit the National Museum. There is also the 'red market', with many handicraft products.