Mali Sightseeing Guide: An Overview

Bamako, the capital, is a dusty city without the high rises associated with business hubs. Take in the Botanical Gardens, the zoo and the ‘Musee Nacional’ with its interesting exhibits and the craft centre at ‘Maison des Artisans’.

The plateau above Bamako at ‘Point G’, affords a superb panoramic view of the city and the River Niger with quaint pirogues afloat. Make the most of your stay by touring the ‘Grand Marche’ (market) where you will get the distinct feel of a bustling African market.  

Make the effort, but go to Timbuktu! Synonymous with inaccessibility (now just a flight away from Bamako, the capital city), this place was so rich at one time that stories say its streets were paved with gold! Don’t be disappointed when you see the dusty alleyways of today – at least, you’ll have the distinction of being a traveller who’s been to Timbuktu!

 The doors of the houses have ornate heavy frames with plaques of explorers such as Rene Caillie, Heinrich Barth and Gordon Barth who had supposedly dared to take the caravan route to this back of beyond in the 1800s. If you’ve come this far, the three mud and brick mosques of Djinguereber, Sankore and Sidi Yahya are worth a visit. 

Djenne, called the ‘jewel of the Niger’, is as ancient as 1250 but the 15th and 16th centuries saw the city in all its glory. Surprisingly, it is still impressive today with its mud brick houses and monuments. Apart from the main attraction of the Grand Mosque, the atmosphere of the town makes it important on the sightseeing agenda.

Market day is Monday and the area around the Mosque is alive with the sights, smells and sounds of an African market. The alleyways and narrow streets of Djenne make for an interesting walk. UNESCO lists Old Djenne as a World Heritage Site.  

Another town that developed at the same time as Timbuktu along the trans Saharan trade route is Gao. Also famed for its riches, it now boasts of two excellent markets, the mosque of Kankan Muossa and the tombs of the Askia dynasty. Close by is the National Park of La Boucle de Baoule, which boasts of a wide array of wildlife including the giraffe, leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and hippo.

Mopti, dubbed the ‘Venice of Africa’, is on the confluence of the Bani and Niger Rivers. The town is built on three islands joined by dykes. This is definitely the place to shop for your souvenirs.

The Marches (market) des Souvenirs is in the centre of the town and sells anything from carpets, beads, and silver jewellery to masks, pottery and the famous Fulani wedding blankets. The area around the port is fascinating and particularly lively in the early mornings and sunset. A pirogue (boat) trip to the nearby fishing villages and Tuareg camps cost around US$2 per hour.