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REPUBLIC OF MALI
Welcome to the Republic of Mali (officially République de Mali), one of West Africa's most interesting, compelling, and adventuresome destinations.
A beautiful and culturally diverse country, Mali will forever touch you with lasting impressions of its colorful and diverse mix of landscapes, peoples, cultures, music, and products.
From the bustling capital of Bamako and the fabled town of Djenné to the unique Dogon country along the Bandiagara escarpment and the lost city of Timbuktu on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Mali has a great deal to offer curious visitors.
TRAVEL TIPS AND TREASURES
For travelers who love to shop for arts and crafts, Mali's talented artists and craftsmen have a great deal to offer. Best of all, you are likely to leave Mali with many special treasures - textiles, carvings, jewelry, art, antiques, metalwork, handicrafts, souvenirs, and music - that will remind you that this was indeed a very special place you were glad you visited. Hopefully, we assisted you along the way with several useful travel-shopping tips for navigating Mali's many touts, markets, and shops.
SHOPPING FOCUS
Join us on a unique travel-shopping adventure to surprising Mali, a place where few English-speaking tourists venture. In the following pages we will do something new - put a shopping face on this fascinating and challenging country.
With the help of a rugged vehicle navigated by a trusted driver and guide, we'll - explore markets, towns, and villages
- travel bumpy highways and streets
- cross the Niger and Bani rivers by ferry
- traverse deserts and forge streams by 4WD
- visit fabled Timbuktu and Djenné
- trek into ancient cliff-side Dogon villages
- go sleuthing through urban jungles to find some very special treasures to enhance our home and wardrobes
Along the way we'll visit a few museums and mosques, poke into the private lives of Malians, meet many interesting people, and observe a fascinating Dogon cultural performance.
We'll also deal with some inevitable hassles that come with travel in Mali, especially pestering hustlers - primarily shopping touts and wannabe tour guides - who want both your time and money.
But make no mistake about our focus - we're primarily interested on finding the good stuff (things discerning visitors can buy and take away) in Mali's many homes, streets, markets, and shops.
Please browse through the following questions for information and tips, as well as photos and videos, on how to best experience Mali's many unique treasures and pleasures.
- What's so great about Mali?
Challenges, approach, history, area, geography, environment, borders, climate, population, cities, religion, economy
- What do others see in and say about Mali?
Special place, photos/videos, travel feedback, photo gallery
- Is Mali a safe and secure place to visit?
Safety/security, travel warnings, pickpockets, traffic, women, health, news alerts
- Will I have language problems?
Language issues, local guides, basic French, online translators, music
- When's the best time to visit?
Climate and seasons, public holidays, Ramadan, annual international festivals
- How much time do I need?
Distances, sample itineraries, travel-shoppers
- How do I get there?
Visas, airlines, airport to city, roads, train, departure taxes
- How do I get around?
Taxis, buses and minibuses, rental cars, car and driver, air, boat, roads, tours and tour groups
- Where should I go and what should I do?
Great destinations Bamako, Segou, Mopti and Sevare, Djenne, Dogon Country, Timbuktu, what to see and do, top 10 destinations
- Where are the best places to stay?
Realistic expectations, Bamako and beyond, book with tour operators, Bamako, Mopti, Timbuktu, Djenne, Sanga, Bandiagara, Segou
- How's the shopping scene?
An outdoor activity, shopping preparation, entrepreneurs and attitude, 28 shopping realities and rules, what to buy, buyer beware, where to shop, shopping Bamako, shopping Segou, shopping Mopti, shopping Sevare, shopping Djenne, shopping Dogon country, shopping Timbuktu
- What about dining and entertainment?
Food, meat smothered in flies!
- Any good resources I should know about?
Print and online
- What will it cost?
Airfares, car rentals, accommodations, food, tours, entertainment
- Frequently asked questions and tips for success
Culture, hassles, neighbors, environment, budget travel
- Mali in brief
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