MALI - DESERT CARAVANS ITINERARY:
DAYS 1-2: USA or Canada/Bamako, Mali
Board a flight to Bamako where you are met and transferred
to your hotel.
Hotel Salam
DAY 3: Bamako/Segou
En route to Segou, stop in Wolodo and watch rural Bambara
women extract shea butter from the fruit of the Karite tree.
This afternoon pay a visit to Kasobané, a cooperative of Bogolan
fabric factories. Here, a master craftsman explains the
preparation of traditional mud cloths. Discover the techniques
of preparing the mud cloths - bogolan, bassilan and indigo - and
have the chance to participate in the process as well. See the
color vats, view cloths drying and explore the display room of
exquisitely designed textiles. You even have the opportunity to
create your own Bogolan design. Hotel Independence B L D
DAY 4: Segou/Bandiagara
Visit the Bobo village of Kanga with its beautiful roadside
granaries. Meet the family of the local Griot (storyteller) and
join villagers who play African rhythms on xylophone, drums and
by hand clapping. Sit down to lunch before continuing to
Bandiagara in the heart of Dogon country.
Hotel Kambary B L D
DAY 5: Bandiagara/Sangha/Tirelli/Bandiagara
Explore the culture of the Dogon people in Sangha. Descending
from the plateau, drive through breathtaking scenery, with
incredible views of the beautiful Dogon villages with mud houses
perched on the cliff sides. Along the way, your guide points out
the ancient Tellem villages etched into the cliffs and the
villages of Banani and Irelli (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
From here, continue to Tirelli where you witness the spectacular
Dogon mask dance - one of the most invigorating tribal dances in
the world. Afterward, join the village chief for a picnic lunch.
Hotel Kambary B L D
DAY 6: Bandiagara/Songho/Mopti
Drive to Songho and view the rock paintings in the famous Dogon
ritual cave. Continue to Mopti, one of Mali's liveliest trading
centers. The harbor is filled with hundreds of pirogues (dugout
canoes) transporting both goods and people to and from
neighboring villages. Here you find various tribes converging to
sell leather goods, jewelry, masks, cloth, amber and intricately
woven Fulani wedding blankets. Visit the port, the market and
the mosque before sitting down to a riverside lunch. Hotel
Kanaga B L D
DAY 7: Mopti
Float down the majestic Niger River by pirogue and visit a Bozo
fishing village and Fulani village of nomadic herders. A stop is
also made at the river village of Sarakole to see its beautiful
mosque. During your cruise down the river, look for wildlife and
the colorful birdlife that live along the delta. Hotel
Kanaga B L D
DAY 8: Mopti/Djenné/Mopti
Explore ninth-century Djenné on foot to see the famous Grand
Mosque, the largest mud building in the world. On market day in
Djenné, the square fills with the people of the various ethnic
groups which make Mali so colorful. They all come to shop at the
weekly market, and the list of goods is endless. Stop in Sevaré
to visit Peace Corps Baba's Art Gallery Bead Museum, housing a
fascinating collection of West African beadwork. Hotel
Kanaga B L D
DAY 9: Mopti/Timbuktu
Transfer by air to Timbuktu. According to the city's
inhabitants, gold came from the south, salt from the north and
divine knowledge from Timbuktu. Located at the point where the
Niger river flows into the edge of the desert, Timbuktu became a
thriving port of trade, taking in goods from the Mediterranean,
West Africa and North Africa, including salt and gold. Visit
local monuments before meeting the nomadic Tuaregs, the "blue
men of the desert," so named for their bright indigo robes. Dine
under the desert stars for a traditional barbecue dinner and
dancing. Hendrina Khan B L D
DAY 10: Timbuktu/Bamako
Learn about Mali's culture and history during a private lecture
led by the curator of the archaeological and anthropological
National Museum. Test your bargaining skills in one of the many
markets where everything from silver, leather and wood carvings
is sold. This evening a local Griot, a highly revered source of
cultural history, local knowledge and traditional storytelling,
spins tales during tonight's dinner. Hotel Salam B L D
DAY 11: Bamako/USA or Canada
Your day is at leisure to further explore the city on your own
or enjoy the amenities of your hotel. Gather tonight for a
farewell dinner to share stories with your fellow travelers, and
later board your international flight. Hotel Salam B D
DAY 12: USA or Canada
Connect with your homebound flight.
Back to
A&K AFRICA & EGYPT- Menu
Page
