Mali Adventure Tours: Dogon cliffs (Bandiagara escarpment), Niger River, Timbuktu / Sahara Desert

Saga Tours of Mali - West Africa Adventure Travel
Tel/Fax +223.2020.2708
Fax +223.2020.9002
sagatours@sagatours.com

[Full graphics version]

Mali Adventure Tour :
Dogon Cliffs, Niger River, Sahara Desert & Timbuktu — 15 days

A comprehensive tour of Mali, with a dash of adventure:

· 3 days sailing the Niger River, from Mopti to Timbuktu
· camel caravan in the Sahara Desert, with camping on the dunes
· trekking in Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment

also visit Djenne, Mopti, Segou and Bamako

10 nights hotel, 4 nights camping

Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, beginning and ending on a Saturday in Bamako; there are no fixed-date group departures.

Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify the month/year of travel, and 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.

Day 1 Saturday: Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)

Day 2 Sunday: Bamako - Djenne (570 km; ~7hrs)
Breakfast, then begin your exploration of Mali with a scenic drive through the heartland to Djenne; with sight-seeing en-route; overnight in Djenne (Hotel Campement, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 3 Monday: Djenne - Mopti (130 km; ~1½hr)
Visit Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu, on its colorful weekly market day; see the magnificent Great Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; stroll through the ancients streets and alleys, and visit the tomb of the young girl sacrificed to appease the spirits; drive to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti / Sail the Niger River
City tour of Mopti, also called "the Venice of Mali", because it is surrounded by the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers; see the beautiful Sudanese-style Komoguel mosque, the fishing port (see pirogues being made by hand), and the bustling market where many of Mali's ethnic groups come to trade: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; your boat crew will purchase supplies, and after lunch, begin your sailing excursion to Timbuktu; overnight camping on the riverbank
with Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 Wednesday: Niger River
Full day of sailing: visit Bozo fishermen's villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the shore; see Mali's varied bird life along the shore, and very likely see hippos in the river—do not approach, hippos are dangerous; overnight camping on the riverbank
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Thursday: Niger River - Timbuktu
Final day of sailing to take in the tranquil sights and sounds of the Niger, and arrive in Timbuktu at day's end; transfer from port to town; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
with Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Friday: Timbuktu - Sahara Desert

NB: due to security concerns we do not go deep into the desert.

Visit the legendary city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert: see the ancient mosques and former universities, the museum and the Ahmed Baba Institute's archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, and the market which receives the azalaļs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically, salt from the north was traded for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, depart on your camel caravan into the great Sahara Desert to visit a Tuareg camp; the Tuareg people are known as the Princes of the desert; dinner and overnight camping on the dunes of the Sahara with your Tuareg hosts
with Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 Saturday: Sahara Desert - Timbuktu
Return to Timbuktu; remainder of the day free to relax or further explore this historic city on your own; or visit the artisans' center — see leather workers and jewelers at work; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 9 Sunday: Timbuktu - Dogon country (650 km; ~8hrs)
Interesting drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; lunch break and sightseeing en-route; continue to Sangha, on the edge of the escarpment, for overnight (Hotel Campement Guina, or similar)
with Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 Monday: Dogon Country
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, another Unesco World Heritage site; you will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism; meet Dogon elders, and option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance; overnight camping in a Dogon village
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Tuesday: Dogon country
Continue visiting Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment; see ancient Tellem cave dwellings in the cliff; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel Falaise, or similar)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Wednesday: Dogon country
Visit Songo village, renowned for its circumcision grotto with rock paintings; circumcision ceremonies are held here every three years for all Dogon boys aged 9-14 years old; the rock paintings are historical representations of noble Dogon families; also visit villages in the southern part of the escarpment, including Nando and Niongono; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel Falaise, or similar)
with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Thursday: Dogon country - Mopti (120 km; ~2hrs) - Segou (405 km; ~4½hrs)
Return drive to Mopti, and wander through Mopti's busy and colorful streets on its weekly market day; last chance to purchase local hand-made blankets of cotton or wool; then onward drive to Segou, Mali's second largest city; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 14 Friday: Segou - Bamako (235 km; ~3hrs)
Visit Segou, Mali's former colonial capital; see the interesting mixture of colonial and traditional architecture, and stroll through the pottery market on the waterfront; also visit Sekoro village, former capital of the Bambara kingdom; see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly; return drive to Bamako; rest of day at leisure; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
with Breakfast

Day 15 Saturday: Bamako - final departure
Bamako city tour: panoramic overview of this sprawling city from Point G; visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, and the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure
with Breakfast

1 km ~ 0.6 mile; driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions and stops

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.

NB: Hotels subject to availability; see proposed hotels description.

Tour package includes:

10 nights hotel, double occupancy
day-room in Bamako on the final day
4 nights camping; travelers should bring sleeping bags
14 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D)
bottled mineral water is included with meals while sailing
private ground transportation by 4x4 vehicle, with driver and fuel
3-day Niger River sail to Timbuktu by private river boat with outboard motor, fuel and crew
overnight excursion into the Sahara Desert by camel caravan, to spend the night in a Tuareg camp on the dunes
experienced English-speaking guide throughout
airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako
all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
all excursion, site visit and entry fees as per tour program

Tour package does not include: international airfare to/from Bamako; Mali visas; non-specified meals, drinks/bottled water; tips, sleeping bags, optional items, and personal expenses.

Option: traditional Dogon mask dance performed in a village — upon request

NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.

Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.

Before reserving, please see our Terms and Conditions