Lost Kingdoms of Mali Tour – (7 Days)

Arrival in Bamako

Airport reception and transfer to hotel, Tamana Hotel or similar, for overnight stay.

Situated in Bamako, 6 km from Bamako National Museum, Hotel Tamana features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar.

Breakfast and departure to Ségou.
Arrival in the capital Bambara, undoubtedly one of the most pleasant cities of Mali, with its tree-lined avenues, its colonial quarter, its Puerto fluvial and its neighbourhoods.

On the peaceful banks of the Niger River, 250 km from Bamako, lies the colonial town of Segou, with its beautiful tree-lined avenues and relaxed atmosphere, the heart of Bambara culture. The historic settlement of Segoukoro, the old Segou, remains preserved in its original ancestral appearance, 18 km away, while its shady administrative quarters, dating from the late 19th century, are an interesting blend of neo-Sudanese and colonial styles.

Clay has a very special significance in Segou and is used in many fields, from building construction and craftwork to the characteristic dyeing of textiles. It is in the Segou region that legend has it that the ancient technique of “bogolan” was born, the complex process of pigmenting cotton with clay ochre and macerated plants. Even today, these secrets, used in ancient times by the Bambara warrior and hunter caste, are still handed down by expert craftsmen, who make beautiful fabrics by hand, with their typical black and brown geometric patterns.

But Segou is also the home of puppets and masks. Among the theory of small ateliers and antique dealers, it is possible to find unique pieces of masks dating back to the Bambara tradition, or the characteristic “wooden fish” of the Bozo, a kind of brightly coloured aquatic puppet that was used during propitiatory ceremonies linked to the cyclical nature of fishing.

On the way we will be able to admire the huge baobabs, crossing a magnificent landscape and visiting some villages that we will find on the way.
Check-in at the Djoliba hotel.
In the afternoon, take a walk along the river to admire the sunset or visit the place where millet beer is brewed and feast with them.

Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast. Departure to Mopti, on the way we will see the Fulani who live near Mopti.

The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people are an ethnic group in Sahara, Sahel and West Africa. They are a semi-nomadic people, largely Muslim, who have a strong connection with Islam. The Fulani are the largest nomadic group in the world. The Fulani Maasina live mainly in the Maasina region, where their houses are usually round, with mud walls and thatched roofs.

Arrival in Mopti, check-in at the hotel, followed by an excursion to visit a fishing camp.
In the afternoon, we return to Mopti. We will visit the local market and the port.
We will also see the Mopti Mosque.

Overnight at Hotel Camp or similar.

Breakfast and departure for Djenné. We will cross a beautiful landscape and visit several villages along the way.
Arrival in Djenné and visit the tomb of the young maiden who was sacrificed for the city’s prosperity in the 12th century, the great mosque from 1906, and the cooperatives that produce traditional scarves—called Bogolan—painted with dyes obtained from tree bark.

We will stroll through the narrow streets and visit the Koranic schools where children learn verses from the Quran.
We will attempt our visit to Djenné, if it is open.

Djenné is one of the UNESCO world Heritage Sites.
Inhabited since 250 B.C., Djenné became a market centre and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was one of the centres for the propagation of Islam. Its traditional houses, of which nearly 2,000 have survived, are built on hillocks as protection from the seasonal floods.

We will head to Ségou, the former colonial capital of Mali, both traditional and colonial. Overnight at the Djoliba Hotel or similar

Breakfast and departure to Siby, the capital of the Pays Mande.
Siby is a small town 50km south Bamako, popular for its strange rock formations, unspoiled villages and mango plantations.

This day we will discover the country of the Pays Mande, we will visit the Mandingo King and hike the sacred rocks that give rise to the region’s mythology. Meet with the shaman at the sacrificial cave, next to the Camaján Arch.

The Kamadjan Arch site is in Siby, Kati commune, located about fifty kilometers south-west of Bamako. This cultural landscape, which houses the cave of lions, the place of divination, the cave of sacrifices, the shelters under the rocks and the Telikourou site, served as a protective wall to the village of Siby. At the time of Soundiata Keita, meetings of troops, councils of war, demonstrations of knowledge took place there At sunset, we will witness an impressive traditional Mandinka masked dance.

The contemporary Malinké (Mandinka) are an agricultural people, cultivating such staples as millet and sorghum and tending small herds of cattle, kept primarily for trade, bride-price payments, and prestige. Houses are predominantly cylindrical, with thatched straw roofs, and are often grouped in substantial numbers and surrounded by a palisade. Descent, inheritance, and succession are patrilineal. Since about the 12th century they have mostly been Muslim.

Return to Bamako. Overnight at the Tamana Hotel or simila

Breakfast and departure to the village of Banatumou where the Dogon masks dance is organised, a very important dance for the Dogon.

The Dogon are an ethnic group living in the central plateau region of Mali, in West Africa, south of the Niger bend, near the city of Bandiagara and in Burkina Faso. The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the Niger–Congo language family, meaning that they are not closely related to any other languages.

The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture and their architecture. The past century has seen significant changes in the social organisation, material culture and beliefs of the Dogon, partly because Dogon country is one of Mali’s major tourist attractions.

Breakfast.
Depending on your flight time, we transfer to the airport.
End of the day, late evening, you will be taken to the airport for your return flight.

The tour ends at the airport for check-in and security formalities and to board the flight home.

END

Mali is a dangerous region for Westerners to visit because of fighting with Islamist rebels. They have been responsible for several kidnappings of foreigners; most of whom were killed after being held for months in remote desert camps. Travellers cannot expect to get consular services in the event of an emergency. Many governments recommend against all travel to Mali outside of Bamako.

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Group minimum 06

Rates:
Solo Traveller – on request
02 pax EUR2725 per person
03-06 pax EUR2150 per person
07-12 pax EUR1675 per person

Accommodation shared
Single supplement: EUR180

50% payment required on booking
Remaining payments can be done in 2 instalments with the final payment, 2 weeks before departure.

Cancellation fees apply – for further details see:
https://hodophileexperience.com/index.php/about-our-trips/