Mali & Burkina Faso
With its giant mud-built mosques, Dogon villages carved into cliff-sides and massive camel caravans traversing the desert, Mali makes for a stunningly surreal destination.
The largest country in West Africa, and home to the famous Timbuktu, Mali's landlocked borders stretch deep into the Sahara Desert. The lucrative trade routes of the Sahara once made the region among the world's richest, and the Niger, one of the grand old rivers of Africa, is still the lifeblood of the country; to journey along it on a slow boat to Timbuktu is one of the continent's great adventures.
And Burkina Faso, or 'the land of honourable men' as it literally translates, certainly captures the imagination - how many of your friends even know it exists? But with its relaxed pace of life, friendly people and wealth of interesting sights it wins the hearts of travellers again and again.
Sleep under the stars in the Gandamia Mountains, soak up the bustle in the unrivalled Gorom-Gorom market in the north and head southwest to green countryside and strange rock formations: Burkina spans a rich variety of landscapes.
The country, too, is home to a fascinating cultural mix, with the Burkinabé (people from Burkina Faso) almost as diverse as the terrain. This may be one of the world's poorest countries, but it's also one of the most stable in the region and runs with an efficiency that's the envy of many of its neighbours.
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What to do in Mali & Burkina Faso
Explore medieval Djenne
Djenne
There are few sights as startling as the Great Mosque at medieval Djenne, the largest mud built edifice in the world. One of Saharan Africa's oldest cities, Djenne served the dusty trade routes between the Sahara and the forests of Guinea, becoming an important centre of Islamic learning. Though non-Muslims cannot enter the Mosque, you can wander the labyrinthine streets, through a maze of painted mud homes, and perhaps share in the thrill of the Monday market too, still one of West Africa's most remarkable.
Take a boat down the Niger
Mopti
The Niger is Mali's greatest artery and travelling slowly by pinasse - a thin motorised local boat - you'll get a true sense of both ancient and modern times as you make your way along this extraordinary river. Navigating narrow weed channels, you'll camp wild on the riverbanks allowing ample opportunities to visit some of the villages encountered en route. The prolific birdlife seen en route is another highlight of this journey.
Trek in the Dogon Region
Dogon Region
The Dogon region often makes its way onto lists of as one of the top ten places to visit before you die. But trekking along the Bandiagara Escarpment, where the Dogon live, is not about summit-bagging; it is instead a chance to enjoy some extraordinary scenery as well as giving you the chance to visit some of the fascinating Dogon villages & Tellem settlements that dot the landscape. It is also a chance to get to see how the the Dogon people live their daily lives from their onion cultivation to their famed masked dances and woodcarvings. This is a truly fascinating and unique part of Africa that should not be missed!
Wander The Streets of Timbuktu
Timbuctoo
Few places on earth can match the resonance of the name "Timbuktu" for signifying the very essence of remoteness. As the sands of the Sahara slowly encroach on this desert city, it is not inconceivable to think that one day it may be lost forever. Today however it is a fascinating and yet sleepy place that from time to time offers up glimpses of the important trading & educational centre it once was. In addition to visiting some of the old mosques around the city, you'll also come across the houses where many European explorers stayed before often meeting their end in the deserts to the north. Timbuktu may not be exactly as your imagination has conceived it, but it is sure nevertheless to leave a lasting impression on you.
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Mali & Burkina Faso
Where to stay in Mali & Burkina Faso
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Mali & Burkina Faso
Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Mali & Burkina Faso
Mali & Burkina Faso Travel Guide
Bamako
A busy hard working city, Bamako may not be geared towards tourists but it is a friendly and safe introduction to West Africa. The City centre is one big market with stalls on every pavement, music blasting from shop doorways and traders selling everything under the sun. Explore the bustling Marche de Medina or relax in the tranquil botanical gardens. The National museum is not to be missed!
Bobo Dioulasso
South-west of Ouga, Bobo Dioulasso is the second largest city of Burkina Faso, and literally means “home of the Jula-speaking Bobo”, Bobo being the main ethnic group in the city. This city is similar to Ouaga, but being the cultural centre of the nation, has a more chilled out atmosphere by day and a lively musical scene by night. Lying on the Houët River and surrounded by bush – known as the ‘bread basket’ – means trekking in the local villages is very lush and with spectacular views.
Djenne
Made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, Djenne was originally inhabited from 250BC but was founded in 800AD by merchants when moved to its present site, and then later converted to Islam. Based between the Niger and Bani rivers meant it established itself as an important link in the trans-Saharan trade industry and its connection by river to Timbuctoo meant the markets flourished. It was not only commercially important but also became the centre point for the Islamic faith in West Africa. Tradition has it that a mosque has been in Djenne since the 13th Century, but the current Great Mosque was finished in 1907. Built on a raised platform, as is the style in the area due to the flood plains, it is considered to be the greatest achievements of Sudano-Sahelian architecture and is awesome to see.
Ouagadougou
Ouaga, located in the centre of the country, is the capital of Burkina Faso, and the largest city in the country. Though relatively small for a capital city, Ouaga has wide tree-lined boulevards and is easily navigated on foot, with several interesting sights including the National Museum of Arts and Craft, the Nouveau Grand Marche and the Moro Naba Palace. The highlight though, is Ougabougou’s Grande Marché in the centre of the city, which is one of the largest and most impressive markets in West Africa. Ouga is traditionally home to the Mossi - the largest ethnic group in the nation - but now all the country’s major ethnic groups, religions and languages live here together with the typical Burkinabé hospitable and friendly nature. It also means Ouga is not predominately Muslim so you can have a cold beer whilst soaking up the bustle of this market town.
Timbuctoo
Though it has a reputation of being a mythical land far away, Timbuctoo, or the “city of gold”, is very much a real city on the southernmost edge of the Sahara desert, with a rich and important history. Founded by Tuareg nomads in the 11th century, it thrived as a crossroad point on the trans-Saharan caravan route where “the camel met the canoe”. Salt was brought from the north and gold from the south but Timbuctoo, in the centre, was considered the intellectual and spiritual capital. The Sankore University, with its mosque, still remains – being rebuilt after the floods each year – and is reminiscent of the Islamic height of Timbuctoo when books were produced and copied in its universities. In 1591 Morocco captured Timbuctoo, with arrests and deaths the city had a slow decline. Unable to protect the city from further invasions it was further conquered until the French took it in 1893 and partly restored the city. In 1960 it became part of the Republic of Mali and then a Unesco World Heritage site in 1988.
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Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Mali & Burkina Faso
Mali & Burkina Faso Travel Information
Visa Information:
Before departure UK passport holders require visas for Mali and Burkina Faso
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required.
Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your tour. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
Visas can be bought either in person at the relevant embassies or through our recommended visa company;
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road
Battersea
London SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
You will also need to send a copy of the tour itinerary.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at w
Health and Vaccinations:
Yellow fever is mandatory for all visitors to Mali & Burkina Faso and you will need to take your vaccination certificate with you. In addition you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend protection against malaria and that you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on [http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk | www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Mali & Burkina Faso
