Some Interesting Facts About Mali

Public Holidays

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1 New Year's Day 
January 20 Army Day
January 21 Eid ul Adha
February 10 Islamic New Year
March 25 - 28 Good Friday-Easter Monday
March 26 Martyr's Day
April 21 Prophet's Birthday
May 25 Africa (Freedom) Day
September 22 Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic
November 3 - 5 Korite (End of Ramadan)
December 25 Christmas Day

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday

Customs & Duties

The following items can be taken into Mali without any customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 250 cigars or 2 kg of tobacco; 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

Departure tax at Bamako airport is US$5 for internal flights and US$18 for international flights.

Electricity

220volts/50Hz is the specification available in Mali. It makes a great deal of sense to carry adaptors for your gizmos.

Post & Communications

The postal services of Mali are fairly reliable to and fro Bamako, the capital city. If you need to send or receive a document or parcel that is urgent and important, cities and towns other than Bamako are best avoided. Long distance telephone and telegraph facilities are limited in the country. However, in Bamako there are many private centres where you can make international calls and send faxes. Calls can also be made using phone cards.

Weights and measures

The metric system is followed in Mali. 

Tipping

10% of the bill is the norm for tips in Mali.

English Language Media

There are no English Language newspapers; all the main dailies are in French.