Bamako, MALI
West Africa
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sagatours@sagatours.com
Photos: SAGA TOURS ©2001
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Horseback Touring in Mali
For a truly unique experience, consider visiting Dogon country in Mali on horseback!
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Every horseback tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify how many persons are in your party—prices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.
The horses are Malian-bred, medium-sized and docile; they will allow you to cover more ground than on foot, yet you will experience a more personal approach to the Dogon people than is possible when touring in a vehicle. The horses will also enable you to visit villages that are inaccessible by vehicle.
Our horseback touring follows Dogon country's Bandiagara escarpment along its base; an escort vehicle awaits us at the rendez-vous point, at the end of every day.
You will accompanied by your guide of course, but also by a groom if necessary, depending on the length of your tour. Your horse will have a local saddle, and you should bring along a water bottle, sunglasses, sun block lotion and a hat. The escort vehicle will carry your regular baggage, plus all of our camping supplies, as necessary.
Horseback touring is done with an eye on daily temperatures—we offer horseback outings only during the cooler months: August through February or March. We cover the most ground during the morning hours, give the horses a break at mid-day which allows us to visit villages, then resume our ride if necessary in the late afternoon.
We offer —
A half-day ride: in the morning, ride along and explore the base of the escarpment, with a village visit; in the afternoon, resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
An all-day tour: ride approximately three hours in the morning, with a mid-day break to visit our destination village, then ride back in the afternoon to our point of origin; overnight there, then resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
A two-day (overnight) tour: a morning ride, mid-day break to visit a village, then continue on to a second village where you will spend the night (camping); next morning, visit the second village, then depart to our mid-day rest point; finish the ride by day's end; overnight camping, then resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
NB: horseback excursions are part of a complete tour - we cannot offer just a horseback excursion.
Our unique 13-day tour with 6-day horseback excursion:Bamako, Mopti, Djenne and 10 Dogon villages
Day 1 : Evening arrival in Bamako; airport to hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
Day 2 : (B) Drive to Mopti; overnight in Mopti (hotel)
Day 3 : (B,L,D) Visit Mopti in the morning, then depart for Dogon country; visit the Dogon village Songo en route (see the rock paintings and circumcision grotto); overnight camping in Tely
Day 4 : (B,L,D) Get acquainted with the horses, and begin the horseback portion of the tour; ride to the village Sagourou ( ~ 17km); after lunch, visit this typical plains village containing large granaries and sculpted toguna; overnight camping in Sagourou
Day 5 : (B,L,D) Ride to Nombori ( ~ 17km); after lunch, visit this fascinating cliff village which features mysterious and unique stone formations; overnight camping in Nombori
Day 6 : (B,L,D) Ride to Yawa ( ~ 8km); visit this highest of all the Dogon villages; opportunity for a spectacular climb through a cleft in the rock face, on an old, traditional Dogon ladder; overnight camping in Yawa
Day 7 : (B,L,D) Ride to Guimini ( ~ 12km); wander around the unique old-style houses; overnight camping in Guimini
Day 8 : (B,L,D) Ride to Doundiourou ( ~ 10km); see the ancestral village fetishes, still revered to this day; after lunch, ride to Yabatalou ( ~ 5km); see another style of village fetishes and meet the fetish-keeper; overnight camping in Yabatalou
Day 9 : (B,L,D) Ride to Ende ( ~5 km); meet the Hogon in his cliff dwelling above the village; see ancient Tellem houses; after lunch, ride to Tely ( ~ 4km; end of horseback excursion) where you will meet traditional healers; overnight camping in Tely
Day 10 : (B,L,D) Day of rest in Tely village; overnight camping in Tely
Day 11 : (B) Drive to Djenne; visit Djenne, see the fabulous Great Mosque, one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (hotel)
Day 12 : (B) Drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
Day 13 : (B) Day-room; visit Bamako: the National Museum, the market, the artisans village; airport transfer for final departure
Each day of the horseback portion of the tour has allotted time on foot, to properly explore each village; the camping is in dome tents with ground mattresses; food is prepared by the camp cook who accompanies the tour group in the escort vehicle; bathing is done via bucket baths—there are no showers in the villages. NB: camping is no frills, sleeping on a ground mattress in a small tent; there are no campgrounds, so no running water, no latrines. Camping in Mali is not recommended for inexperienced campers.
Tour package includes:
- your horse and his care and feeding
- experienced guide for the entire tour
- groom for the horses
- 4x4 vehicle with fuel and driver
- 4 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast (B)
- day-room in Bamako on the last day
- 8 nights camping - bring your sleeping bag; other camping equipment provided
- full board during the horseback portion of the tour: 8 breakfasts (B), 8 lunches (L), 8 dinners (D)
- airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
- all village visit fees, hotel taxes, and local tourism taxes, as per itinerary
Tour does not include international travel to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water, tips, insurance, and personal expenses.
Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.If you would like to sign up for this unique travel experience, contact us at and let us know how many persons would comprise your group, as well as your travel dates.
See our Terms and Conditions
| Please note that while Saga Tours does not require clients to show proof of insurance, we advise that you arrange for medical/repatriation coverage during your visit to Mali. We have never had an incident that required such services, but in case of illness or accident, our liability is limited to transporting you the nearest medical facilities, and/or back to Bamako for an immediate flight home, at your expense. We recommend medical and repatriation insurance in particular for this tour. |
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