Travel Ideas in Mali
Travel Ideas in Mali, Getting There and around; Weather & Best time to Travel; Places in Mali; Budget Accommodation in Mali
Mali is a landlocked sovereign country situated in West Africa and forms part of the Southern Saharan desert in what is called the Sahel belt. It is bordered by 7 countries; Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania.
Mali prides in various sights to see and places to visit such as the ancient city of Timbuktu, the mosque at Djenne and the river port Mopti. It is a country with so much to explore.
There are also many ways to explore Mali. If you are going first time and have no idea where to begin and what all to see, the best way is to read all the tourism materials you get lay hands on. Browse thru the Internet, get travel guidebooks or consult the several travel and tour operators in Mali. Guideforafrica offers a few tips for Mali visitors
Weather in Mali
Mali is a generally warm country. Its north is somewhat of a Sahara desert in which occasional rainfall hit the centre, called Sahelian caused by some steppe vegetation is tropical in nature with rains between June and September the south characterized by heavy rains during the second half of the year. Between March and May the maximum temperature reached 40 °C to be down slightly from July to September with some 32 ° C, accompanied by heavy rains.
Best time to Visit
The period between November and January is the best time to visit Mali as the climate is mild. It is also presents the best time for boat excursions on the Niger River. January is also the month to witness the “Festival inside Desert of Timbuktu” a famous musical occasion in Mali.
What to Wear
Day time temperatures are generally warm to hot so lightweight clothing such as linens are worn for most of the year.
Accommodation
Finding a good, comfortable and affordable stay in hotels is equally important.
If you are travelling to Mali, especially the first timers, it’s recommended that you always book your hotel accommodation in Mali well in advance. Similarly those planning for Mali holidays, it’s plausible to make prior arrangements for your lodging and accommodation. Availability of safari lodges in Mali is very hard to find even during the off seasons especially in major tourist destinations in Mali.
When you are planning for holidays in Mali, endeavour to find out the Hotel room status online. You can also establish your accommodation using the online Mali Map. If you can’t get accommodation in the city itself, it should be located at a suitable distance from the main tourist attractions.
Budget Accommodation
Your wallet size is a very important thing to planning your Mali vacation accommodation. The Hotel where you will be staying needs to fit into your budget. It is sensible that you find out the room rates beforehand by either calling up at the hotel or by simply searching online hotels in Mali. All hotels in the country match the world class categories. Visitors are encouraged to make their reservations in advance.
Health Tips
It is recommended to perform a search of tropical travel before leaving. The vaccine against yellow fever is mandatory, and those against typhoid and hepatitis A and B strongly recommended. Avoid drinking tap water, avoid dairy products, wash your hands before meals and do not swim in stagnant water. Travel and health insurance is highly recommended once in Mali.
Places to Visit in Mali
- Main Cities; Bamako, Djenne, Niono, Segou and ancient Timbuktu
- Mali National Parks; La Boucle de Baoule National Park, Bafing National Park
- Attractions in Mali; The Botanical Gardens, Askia Dynasty Tombs, the Musée National, mosque of Djenné
