Geography
The huge landlocked West African country of Mali is one of the world’s poorest and has the lowest population density in the region. The country as it exists today has only a short history, having come into being in 1960, when France granted independence to the former territory of the Sudanese Republic. Mali has borders with Mauritania to the west, Algeria to the north, Niger and Burkina Faso to the east, Cote d’Ivoire to the south and Guinea and Senegal to the southwest. The Sahara Desert occupies vast tracts of the northern part of the country and south of this lies the extensive semi-desert belt known as the sahel. The River Niger runs west to east across the country and is the lifeblood of the central regions. At the point where the Niger meets the Sahara, before turning southwards (into Niger), there is the most famous town in Mali, certainly the only one which is a household name worldwide – Timbuktu. Formerly an important centre of learning and a wealthy market place for gold, salt, slaves, ivory and spices, the streets and mosques of this intriguing, ancient town are steeped in history. There is more to Mali than desert, however. Known as “The Jewel of West Africa,” Mali is noted for its wonderful blend of cultures, surprising variety of landscape and unhurried pace of life. Amongst its great cultural variety, one of the most distinctive of Malian peoples are the ancestor-worshipping Dogon, who inhabit a series of hundreds of small settlements which are concentrated beneath the 200 kilometre-long (125 miles) Bandiagara Escarpment, close to the border with Burkina Faso. The cliffs of the Bandiagara Escarpment are up to 600 metres high (2000ft.) and provide a dramatic backdrop to the unique beehive-like mud, stone and thatch houses of the Dogon. 85% of the population of Mali is Moslem and the country has a number of very impressive mud-built mosques, notably at Timbukru and at Djenne. The capital city of Bamako has fewer than 1 million inhabitants and is located in the southwestern corner of the country. It is only in this region that there is sufficient rainfall to allow a range of crops to be grown successfully, with cotton being the country’s dominant commercial resource.

Time Zone
The time in Mali is GMT + 0 hours.

Climate
The southern part of Mali has a rainy season between June and October, but the influence of this becomes less marked towards the north. It is relatively cool following the rains, from October to February, after which the temperature begins to build up. In the capital, Bamako (altitude 340m. – 1100ft.) the maximum daytime temperatures vary between 30 and 40 degrees centigrade (86º - 104º F) throughout the year, with nighttime temperatures of between 16 and 24 degrees centigrade (61º - 75º F).

Rough guide to temperatures in October

Currency
Mali’s unit of currency is the CFA Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine). This Franc is now linked to the value of the Euro. As of October 2003, the exchange rates are:

€ 1 = CFA 656
£ 1 = CFA 953
$ 1 = CFA 563

Your travel money should be carried as cash in Euros, as this is the most easily exchanged currency. Credit cards are of limited use in Mali, but it is a good idea to carry one in case of emergency.

Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity is required. All nationalities require a visa for entry into Mali. Rates vary depending on your nationality. Full details of current rates and the visa application process will be sent to you when we confirm your booking on a KE trip.

Vaccinations
You should attend your own GP and dentist for a check-up. A ROUGH GUIDE for an immunisation programme is as follows: (We must stress that this is only a basic guide - and you must abide by the advice of your local GP).

(a) Yellow Fever. A Yellow Fever innoculation and a certificate to show that this has been administered is ESSENTIAL.
(b) Polio. Normally you will just need a booster.
(c) Tetanus.
(d) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(e) Hepatitis (A).
(f) Anti-malarial prophylaxis: Please refer to your GP (or to one of the agencies listed below) for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication for the areas that you will be visiting.
(g) Meningitis A+C.
(h) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your GP (or to one of the agencies listed below) for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. This vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment, in the unlikely case of your being bitten. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your GP will be able to administer all the above.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Dogon: Africa’s people of the cliffs. Van Beek and Hollyman.
In Griot Time: An American Guitarist in Mali. Banning Eyre.
Mali: The Bradt Travel Guide. Ross Velton.
West Africa – Lonely Planet Guides.
Nomads of Niger. Carol Beckwith.
The Deserts of Africa. Michael Martin.

Maps
Michelin Map 953: North and West Africa.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com