Bamako Travel Information

City Attractions in Bamako, Hotels in Bamako & Restaurants, Getting There – Weather and Climate in Bamako, Mali; and Shopping in Bamako
Bamako is the capital and biggest city of Mali in West Africa. Located on the banks of the wide and shallow Niger River, Bamako is the country’s biggest and most lively city (Also one of the largest in West Africa) with a population of around 1.7 million.
The city started first as a small fishing village in 1806 when renowned Scottish explorer Mungo Park stopped by. Later it was transformed into regional capital upon the colonization of West Africa by the French the early 1900’s. When the country achieved self-governance in 1960, Bamako was retained as the capital city and today it stands out as one of the fastest growing cities in West Africa and in the world. The main languages spoken in Bamako are Bambara and French.

Bamako Street
Notwithstanding the evident pollution, Bamako is an attractive lively city, filled with charm, outdoor markets and music. It is a multifunctional city with several government administration headquarters, ministries, places of worship and hotels. Embassies and High Commissions of several countries are also located in the hippodrome of Bamako.
Climate of Bamako
Bamako features a hot desert climate which makes it on average a hot city all year throughout. The average temperature usually ranging from 28 to 30°C of every month, with the warmest months being March, April and May where the temperature reaches an average of 39°C. Records of high temperatures are recorded in the month of May rising up to of 46°C. The coolest months are November to February which can experience average lows of 16-19°C but the temperature may fluctuate greatly. The rainy season occurs in the summer in Bamako with the peak rainfall occurring between July and September. Overall, weather in Bamako is most pleasant between November and February, but if you can take the extreme heat you can travel to Bamako also during the summer. However, it is advisable to avoid travelling to Bamako between July and August. These are wettest months of the year.

Laico Hotel, Libya
Hotels in Bamako
Some of the best city hotels are Le Comme Chez Soi Hotel Bamako, La Venise Malienne Guesthouse, Laico L Amitie Bamako Hotel, Laico Hotel El Farouk, and Radisson Blu Hotel, Hôtel Mandé, Kempinski Hotel El Farouk, Radisson Blu Hotel, Bamako, Grand Hotel, Sofitel L Amitie Bamako,
Shopping in Bamako
You can find everything in Bamako when it comes to shopping. The outdoor / open markets are always the Bamako tourist’s answer when it comes to shopping on a lower budget, and Bamako houses dozens of stalls markets. They sell a wide range of items ranging from traditional masks to wood carvings and items made of ebony and bronze. The most popular city shopping places are Bamako city centre market, vegetable market at the south bank, Bamako Artisan Market, Artinasat and Fetish Market and the Medina Coura Market.  These places have plenty of stalls selling souvenirs, art-deco, woven clothing and traditional medicines. Official monetary unit is franc, much as dollars are also accepted. Bargaining is expected in many places, especially in the streets.
Restaurants in Bamako
The Bamako restaurants boast its innumerable variety of delicious West African vegetarian dishes along with spicy and exotic non-vegetarian curries. From stylish and tasteful decor that reminds you of West Africa to various achaars and recipes, Bamako restaurants seem to have it all. Delectable dishes and friendly services await you. The most prominent city restaurants are Restaurant Chez Thierry, San Toro, Patisserie Phoenicia, Les Délices de Bamako and Restaurant Le San Toro. Most restaurants however are no-alcohol places.
Nightlife
The nightlife is endless in Bamako. Being a city of music, with unique African rhythms and wild dancing all available in the music clubs the city has a vibrant nightlife. The beautiful things about nightlife are its historic pubs and bars. Visitors may wish to spend their evenings in local bars and discos. The most popular happening spots are Club Djembe; Hippo d’Or, Le Hogon, and L’Exodus.

Bamako Grand Mosque
Must See Attractions in Bamako
Tourist Attractions in Bamako have always attracted a large number of tourists to its shore every year. There is a wide variety of attractions in Bamako that will engage the city travelers. There are plenty of places to explore ranging from places of worship such as the well known Bamako Grand Mosque; the Pont du Roi Fahd; the Muso Kunda Museum; Mali National Museum; the National Library of Mali; and The Point G hill which has primitive caves that contain ancient rock paintings. There is also the Bamako Botanical Gardens and Bamako Zoo that exhibits interesting pieces of the varied wildlife of the country and Africa in general.

Bamako Taxi
Public Transport in Bamako – How to get there
Road: Taxis are the most popular and cheapest way to get around Bamako. Shared taxis are cheaper; they have the sign “taxi” on them. Dourounis are also commonly available (green minibuses with set routes). At the Sogoniko bus station you can find busses to other cities such as Segou, Mopti, etc. City visitors or residents can also use car rental in Bamako, which usually comes with a local driver.
Air: Travelers can equally travel to Bamako by air. There are several flights to Bamako, Mali offered by Air France, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines (and other regional airlines) that land at the Bamako-Sénou International Airport.
By train: A railway line connects Bamako to Dakar (Senegal) as well, but it’s slow. Trains run from Dakar and Koulikoro.