TOURISM IN MALI

Travels to Mali

Travel to Mali

Area: 1.240.140 kmq
Borders: Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Cost, Guinea, Senegal
Population: 12.3 million (50% mande (bambara, malinke, soninke), 17% peul, 12% voltaic, 6% songhai, 10% tuareg, mauri, 5% dogon, senufo)
Capital: Bamako (1.3 million inhabitants)
Languages: francese (official), arabic, mande and beber languages
Religions: 90% muslim, 9% animist, 1% christian,
National holiday: September, 22th
Time: GMT
Telephone access code: 00 223
Money: CFA

Mali is a country of great historic empires and vast deserts. The rich history of Mali begins around 50,000BC when hunter gatherers roamed the once verdant north then rich in wildlife, now the arid Sahara. The great West African empires of Ghana, Soussou, Mali, Songhai, Bambara, and Fulani emerged here. Stories of battles, kings and legendary heroes are remembered in the songs of the “griots” (traditional singers). The architecture of the homes, and the famous Sudanic mud mosques of Djenné and Timbuktu bear testamony to the different eras

In the south Mali is a country of green, tree-lined savannahs peopled by the Bambara, Malinke and Songhai farmers, living alongside the Hausa and Dioula merchants.

The legendary Dogon

The Dogon people live near the Burkina Faso border where the sandstone escarpment of Bandiagara rises. They are a fascinating people whose ancient beliefs and traditions have been little altered by time. The Dogon's incredible and complex beliefs are reflected in the innumerable symbols which decorate and form the architecture of their houses and granaries. In the shade of the “togu na”, the men’s meeting area, the elders gather and debate village business and pass judgement on village affairs. After work stories of yesteryear are shared while they rapidly and expertly braid ropes of baobab fibre. On special occasions in the main square of the village under the sacred caves, once the ancient dwelling places of the Tellem, one can find colourful masked dancers moving to the rhythm of the drums.

Along the Niger

Traveling north, the savannah slowly bleeds into the “Sahel”, a vast flat countryside strewn with thorny acacias and tall grasses which survive throughout the intense dryness and the heavy rains. This is the territory of the Fulani, proud herders who in their traditional songs exalt the beauty of their charming women, the open spaces and their herds of zebu cattle with their crescent horns. Fulani women are renowned for their beauty and the richness of their jewellery.

The Niger River flows through 1700km of Mali giving life to the arid lands along its banks. Opening into an interior delta that periodically floods, the Niger is a lifesaver for the Songhai farmers, the nomadic Fulani and the Bozo fishermen. To sail on the river is a gentle and peaceful experience, bringing the traveller close to nature and the lives of the people along the waters edge. Historic cities are cited at intervals along its banks.

Mopti sits on the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Bani. Its harbour, built by the French, is a hive of activity, large decorated pinasse load up here before starting their journey north or south. Surrounding the boats is the market; everything is sold here, rice, fish, goats, gourds, fabrics and salt slabs, brought from the desert north of Timbuktu. A multitude of ethnic groups come to Mopti to trade. Its newly renovated mud mosque stands proudly at the entry to the old town. Djenne sits on the Bani River and is a mediaeval mud town with narrow streets, declared by UNESCO, the birth place of humanity. In its centre sits the world’s largest mud structure, a mosque of great importance to the whole country

The desert and his people

Timbuktu is a mysterious city. It was coveted by 19th century European explorers. Once a famous commercial, cultural, and religious centre with libraries, banks and universities, the city is now a tranquil place of clay houses and mosques surrounded by the vast Sahara desert. The Sahara is home to the Tuareg, Bella, and Moors. Many are still nomads wandering the great plains with their families, camels, tents and all their belongings in an everlasting search for water and pasture. The rare wells where goats, donkeys and camels are watered are the meeting places of the men.

The Tuareg observe a traditional three-part tea ceremony: the first glass is strong and bitter, the second weaker and sweetened, the third very sweet – like love, it is said. The Sahara stretches to distant horizons where the imagination conjures up caravans of Azalai - men and camels, transporting salt 800 km from the mines of Taoudenni to Timbuktu. The desert is vast and silent – a world so far removed from the bustle of the West that one is reluctant ever to leave. It is said that after Allah created the world he wanted a peaceful place to relax, so he created the Sahara.

For more informations:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mali

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