| HIGHLIGHTS: Bamako - Mopti - Niger RIver Journey - Djenne - Dogon Country Trek
This journey through some of the most diverse and renowned regions of West Africa is spellbinding from start to finish - Get into the rhythms of West Africa with a drumming session, see shea butter being made, get lost in a swirl of colour and trade at Mopti's Ladies' Market, take a classic cruise down the Niger River then get amongst the heady bustle of Djenne's Monday Market in the shadow of the grand mosque. Camp on the rooftops of the old town then head out to trek for three unforgettable days through Dogon Country - the home of fascinating tribes, customs, architecture and landscape.
Day 1 - 2 Bamako. Your tour begins in Mali's capital, Bamako, on the banks of the Niger River. The market town was long ago named for the crocodiles in the river, but is now the fastest growing city in Africa. In the evening, we delve deeper into West African rhythms via a fun drumming session. After free time in the morning, we head out to Kalabankoro to visit a local school and micro - credit organization - two of Mali's development initiatives. Kalabankoro is a fast growing community of families who have moved from rural Mali to the 'city' in the search of employment and a 'better life'. For the poor living in Kalabankoro, sending their children to school was once a far - off dream but is now possible though the efforts of local community leaders and the Mali's Initiative program.
Day 3 - 4 Bamako - Mopti. Following our stay in Kalabankoro, we drive to Mopti, with brief stops to admire the adobe buildings of the former riverside capital of Segou and at a small village to watch shea butter being made. The following day, we explore Mopti, the 'Venice of Mali', including the grand mosque and bustling port replete with salt slabs arriving from Timbuktu. The day's highlight, however, is getting amongst the swirl and colour of the ladies' market, where women from across the region buy, sell and trade goods. There are captivating scenes and people at every turn - perfect for photos and getting amongst the local people.
Day 5 Niger RIver Journey. Take a classic journey by local 'pinasse' down West Africa's grandest river. Watch the sun set over tiny fishing villages and spend a night camping on the river's remote banks. A cruise down the mighty Niger is perhaps one of the great journeys in Africa - beautiful, iconic, mesmerising and perhaps one of the best ways to see this part of the world.
Day 6 - 7 Djenne. We arrive in Djenne in the morning, the sister town of Timbuktu and one of the oldest in Africa. It is built on an Island in the Niger Delta. On the afternoon of our arrival, we visit the colourfully adorned Fulani people at a nearby village. The Fulani women are celebrated for their beauty and grace and are known for their attractive dress and hairstyles. Most famously, the women wear exquisite adornments of large, heavy gold earrings known as 'kootone kanga' and often have coins attached to their elaborate braiding. Like the men, the women also have markings on their faces around the eyes and mouth that they were given as children. The following day, we get to wander through Djenne's rich mix of tribes at the Monday market beneath the huge mud walls of the Grand Mosque. The market sells an incredible array of goods, from exotic fabrics to spices, goats and watermelons. With the surrounding street stalls selling local treats too, the city is bound to captivate. The afternoon is free to wander this exotic river - island city - walk through narrow, winding streets amid the beautiful clay architecture that makes Djenne such a unique place. Watching the sun set over the impressive mosque from one of Djenne's ancient rooftops is yet another unforgettable experience - we camp on the rooftops in the heart of the old town.
Day 8 - 9 Dogon Country Trek. On leaving the ancient city of Djenne, we cross the Bani River by ferry and continue to the unique Pays Dogon region. A 200 - kiLometre long escarpment forms the stunning spine to this World Heritage-listed region of great natural and cultural significance. It is still used extensively as a place of field study by anthropologists around the world. In the afternoon we begin by trekking down the escarpment and through a breathtaking gorge - Falaise de Bandiagara. This trek takes two to three hours, over rocky terrain and can at times be strenuous. However, the rewards are worthwhile: the glorious sands of the Sahel stretch before us to the horizon and the tiny unique villages of the Dogon await. A further walk on flat, sandy terrain (approximately 90 minutes) takes us to the Dogon villages, where we spend an unforgettable night sleeping on the rooftop of the chief's compound. Tents and or extremely basic rooms can be hired locally if preferred, but the normal practice is to sleep on mats on the roof. Although some of the village 'campements' do have shared shower blocks (cold water only), we cannot guarantee that you will have access to showers for this night. We are awoken at first light by the resident roosters and donkeys - but you will want to be up early to witness the early sun bathing the rocky escarpment in golden light. We then trek among the northern Dogon villages, while viewing some of the best - preserved examples of the habitats of the Tellem and Dogon peoples. The trek is on flat, sandy ground and takes us though the surprisingly lush vegetable gardens of the Dogon people. After some time exploring the villages, we are treated to the sights and sounds of the incredible Dogon Masked Dance ceremony - an energetic, ritualistic dance featuring elaborate masks and dancers on stilts. The trek is not strenuous, however temperatures can be high, so there is the option to take a ride on an ox or cow - cart between villages if you choose to do so. Another unforgettable evening is spent gazing at the stars from the rooftops of a Dogon campement.
Day 10 - 11 Dogon - Mopti - Bamako. We visit one final Dogon village before trekking back out to the top of the escarpment. The walk takes us through a beautiful valley with many Tellem houses and takes approximately 2 hours. We farewell those continuing on to Burkina Faso then take an unescorted private transfer to Mopti. After a night in a hotel, board a flight to Bamako, where the tour ends on arrival.
Revel in the history and lively culture of Mali, from the fabled grand mosque of Djenne to the colourful markets of Mopti 11 day tour departing Bamako. 9 nights accommodation camping. 1 night accommodation in a hotel. 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners. Camping equipment, sleeping mat - You must bring your own sleeping bag.3 experienced local safari crew. All Park fees. Transport by custom-built safari vehicle, riverboat
Ask about our great airfaresConditions Valid for sale until 31 December 2012.Price is per person twin share.Airfare not included.Additional conditions may apply, please enquire for further details.Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes. Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.These prices are a guide to the best price and are subject to change without notice.Prices are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, please enquire for further details. |
