MALI Visit Mali with TransAfrica

Mali is a country of grand historic empires and vast deserts. Tradition sits proudly and nobly on the shoulders of its ever-smiling men and women. The history of Mali begins in the final centuries before Christ and continues until the arrival of the French, encompassing the great empires of Ghana, Soussou, Mali, Songhai, Bambara, and Peul. Stories of battles, of kings and legendary heroes, are remembered in the songs of the “griots” (traditional singers), in the architecture of the homes, and in the white mosques of Djenné and Tombouctou.

In the south Mali is a country of green, tree-lined savannahs peopled by the Bambara, Malinké and Songhai farmers, as well as the Haoussa and Dioula merchants.

Near the Burkina Faso border rises the Dogon city of Falaise de Bandiagara. The Dogon are a fascinating people whose ancient traditions have been unaltered 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 “togunas”, which are niches for speeches, the elders tell stories of yesteryear while rapidly and expertly braiding ropes of baobab fiber. On special occasions in the main square of the village under the sacred grottos, which were the ancient dwelling places of the Tellem, one can find masked dancers accompanied by tom-toms.

As you travel north the savanna slowly bleeds into the “Sahel”, a vast flat countryside strewn with acacias and grasses which survive in both the intense dryness and the ravaging rains. This is the territory of the Peuls; proud shepherds who in their traditional songs exalt the beauty of the open space, the herds of zebu with their crescent horns, and their charming women, always splendidly attired in jewelry.

Traversing all 1,700 km of Mali, the Niger River gives life to these arid lands. Opening into an interior delta that periodically floods, the Niger is a lifesaver for the Songhai peasants and nomadic Peuls, as well as the Bozo fishermen who spend their lives in canoes. To sail on the river is to live a moment of peace, allowing you to become one with nature and the simple people: water, grasses, birds, small villages and straw or banco canoes. Alongside the river one finds historic cities. Mopti: from whose harbor arrives and departs the large decorated pinasse; a harbor full of people and wonderful bric-a-brac of items for sale – drinks, vegetables, rice, goats and chickens, pots and fabrics. Djenné: its mosque, the largest in the world, was declared by UNESCO the birthplace of humanity; the cities narrow streets remind us of centuries now extinct. Tombouctou: this mysterious city was coveted by 19th century European explorers. Once a famous commercial, cultural, and religious center with banks, libraries, and universities, the city is now a tranquil place of clay houses and mosques surrounded by the menacing desert.

After passing through Tombouctou one encounters the Sahara desert land of the Touaregs, Bellas, and Moors. Many of these peoples are still nomads wandering the great plains with their families, camels, and tents, in an eternal search for wells and pastureland. The Touaregs observe a traditional three-part tea service: the first is strong and bitter, the second weaker and sweetened, the third very sweet – like love, it is said. The desert begins north of Tombouctou. Flat and infinite countryside wakens the senses to the caravans of Azalai - men and camels, transporting salt 800 km from the mines of Taoudenni to Tombouctou; to the rare wells, meeting places of men and the goats, donkeys and camels; and on to the white tents of the nomads which dot the inaccessible horizon; and to the ever present meandering soft dunes made somber by the red of the setting sun, presenting to us a surreal design. The desert is a place of the void and of vast spaces and big silences – a world so far removed from the bustle of the West that one never wants to leave.


msn Encarta Mali    Maps

 

 

     
Single departure Travels Arrival Departure

Transahara - From Morocco to Mali

 

Morocco - Mauritania - Mali • 22 days

 

A new, great adventure! An expedition for true travellers!

A journey of three weeks from Mediterranean to the very heart of West Africa, from the sea to the desert, from Morocco to Mali through Mauritania, to discover Aoudaghost, a ghost town of the V century b. C. An unforgettable experience!

Tour leader: Alberto Nicheli

Great Expedition

description

 

Fez

from

21/9/2008

Bamako

till

12/10/2008

In Mali with the photoreporter

 

Mali • 13 days

The second travel with a photoreporter: Bruno Zanzottera, journalist, photorepoter of ParalleloZero, drive the participants to discover not only a wonderful country, ma how to take picturs during a trip!

Nearly two weeks to know one of the most beautiful country of West Africa: crossed by the river Niger, mostly desertic, Mali is famous for the mithycal town of Timbuctu and for the Dogon, ethnic group living since centuries on the Bandiagara falaise, preserving unique traditions.

 

Special Trip

description

 

Bamako

 

from

 

11/11/2008

 

 

Bamako

 

till

 

23/11/2008

 

 


Essakane Music Festival

Burkina Faso - Mali • 15 days

Descrizione Viaggio

From savanna to desert, two weeks which highlight is Essakane Festival, this year from 10 to 12 January: an extraordinary experience full of life, color, emotions.
It is the more untypical, inaccessible and uncomfortable Festival in the world, two-hour drive from Timbuktu, in the very middle of Sahara.

 

 

Special Trip

description

 

Ouagadougou

 

from

 

5/1/2009

 

Ouagadougou

 

till

 

19/1/2009


Segou Festival, music along Niger

 

Burkina Faso - Mali • 15 days

Descrizione Viaggio


Two weeks of journey in the occasion of Music Festival in Segou, along the banks of the Niger. Music, rithm and dances in one of the most colourful regions of Western Africa, rich in arts and traditions.

Special Trip

description

 

Ouagadougou

 

from

 

23/1/2009

 

Ouagadougou

 

till

 

6/2/2009


Only Mali and Segou Festival

 

Mali • 8 days


Only one week in Mali with the possibility of partecipating to the Music Festival of Segou, along the banks of the Niger. Music, rithm and dances give another occasion of interest to one of the most colourful regions of Western Africa.

 

Special Trip

description

 

Bamako

 

from

 

25/1/2009

 

Bamako

 

till



1/2/2009


Several departures travels Departure Arrival

In the middle of Sahel

 

Burkina Faso - Mali • 15 days

Two weeks in Burkina Faso and Mali: two countries of Sahel in the center of West Africa, visited with a particolar look to the cultures and local traditions, in order to have a rich experience, full of emotions, with people living in the region.

Departure granted for minimum 2 participants.

Special Trip

 

description

 

Ouagadougou

 

from

 

1/8/2008

17/10/2008

7/11/2008

26/12/2008

Ouagadougou

 

till

 

15/8/2008

31/10/2008

21/11/2008

9/1/2009


Only Mali

Mali • 9 days

A wonderful trip in a wonderful country, one of the most interesting of West Africa, very rich from an anthropological point of view, with colourful markets.

Mali, with his river Niger and his deserts, is also famous for Timbuctu, the legendary Saharian town, and for Dogon people, who have been living for centuries beside Bandiagara.

Departure granted for minimum 2 participants.

Special Trip

 

description

 

Bamako

 

from

 

1° and 3° Friday of each month

 

 

Bamako

 

till

 

next Saturday

 

 


Between savanna and forest

 

Guinea Conakry - Guinea Bissau - Mali • 15 days

A real african experience in a country never touched by tourism, very rich in wild nature with his savannas and forests, and with interesting populations which still have their traditions dating from centuries.

For African lovers, for those who know Africa pretty well and want to discover a new aspect, for those who wish to plunge in a magic athmosphere of warmth, colour, life.

Tour leader: Alberto Nicheli

Great Expedition

description

 

Bissau

from

January 2009

dates to be defined

Bamako

till

January 2009

date to be defined