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CountryOnlineFind.com > Reception >
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Mali (ML) |
| Continent: |
Africa |
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| Surface: |
1.240.190 km ² |
| Inhabitants: |
122.915 |
| Capital: |
Bamako |
International banking code (ISO Codes): |
Ml |
| Official language: |
French |
Code: |
+223 |
| Currency: |
CFA franc |
Number plate: |
RMM |
| Routes of Mali: |
173 |
Routes towards Mali: |
171 |
| Preferred airports: |
Bamako (BKO), Nioro (NIX), Tombouctou (TOM), Goundam (GUD), Gao (GAQ), Sikasso (KSS), Mopti (MZI), Kayes (KYS) |
| Principal cities: |
Bamako, Sikasso, Mopti, Koutiala, Kayes Ndi, Ségou, Markala, Kolokani, Kati, Gao, Bougouni, Tombouctou, Banamba, Bafoulabé, San |
| Airline company based in Mali: |
Airline company of Mali |
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Tourist guide Mali (Africa) |
The Republic of Mali is an old French, independent colony since September 22nd, 1960. It is about a landlocked state, located at the North-West of the African continent. It has as neighbors Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania. The name of the country comes from the old large kingdom of Mali, which was directed between 10th and the 16th century by the tribe of Malinkés. In the Bambara dialect, which is one of the languages of the country, the word Mali means as hippopotamus, animal as one finds on the armorial bearings of the country, and who is very widespread besides on banks of Niger.
Geography: Mali is located in the arid areas of the Sahel, in the Southern part of the Sahara. Put besides some mountains isolated, the relief is rather flat. The desert of the Sahara occupies 60% of the territory. The plains of West Africa extend to it as far as the eye can see. To the West of the area of the Sahel, they are crossed by the Niger river. It is only in the North of these dry and hostile areas that one finds, close to the Algerian border, some plains located more in altitude, which belong geographically to the solid mass of Adrar-of-Iforas, and which reach side Malian an average altitude of 800 meters to the top of the sea level. However, these areas are inhabited relatively little, except for some small oases. The great majority of the population of this multi-ethnic state lives in the South of the country. Indeed, only the grounds of savanna located at the South of the country are fertile and can be cultivated. It is also in this area of South-east that one finds the solid mass of Bandiagara, which shelters the culminating point of the country, at the border with Burkina Faso and the ivory Coast.
Mountains and rivers: The culminating point of Mali is Hombori Tondo, in the solid mass of Bandiagara, with its 1.155 meters. These mountains are located in the Dogon country. They at all times played a big role for the population which took refuge there. This is why one finds many cemeteries in this made sandstone solid mass. These cemeteries are sometimes accessible only using scales. The solid mass, as well as the 250 villages located at the neighborhoods, forms from now on part of the world heritage of UNESCO.
The longest river and most important in Mali is Niger, which however does not make that to describe an outer loop in lower part of the area of the Sahel. The overall length of this river, which is the third of Africa, is of 4.185 km. It takes its source in the mountains of Guinea and crosses then four different countries before reaching the delta of Niger, in the gulf of Guinea, c.a.d. the Atlantic Ocean. More than 110 Million people live near this fleuvei and depend directly on him. Throughout its course, the Niger river crosses very varied landscapes, which go from the mountain, with the virgin forests while passing by savanna and the desert.
Climate and advised season: Mali knows three seasons, which can however vary according to the degrees of latitude. Thus, the rain season, which can be very marked, relates to mainly the South. It is located between June and October. The more one approaches North, the less precipitations are important. Extreme North mainly, is located in a very hostile area, close to the Sahara, where it almost never rains. In this area, the temperatures are also higher than in the remainder of the country, even during the rain season. In the southernmost areas on the other hand, the rain season is followed from one fresher season, between October and February, which is in its turn followed by one season that one can describe as summer, between Mars and end-June. The summer is characterized by very hot temperatures and dry winds. The maximum temperatures in day vary according to the area. Thus, if the temperatures reach in the capital Bamako „only “45° C during the summer months, the thermometers can reach the 50°C in the Sahara easily, in the area of the Sahel. For Europeans who we are, the best period to travel is thus the dry season and relatively fresher which goes from mid-October to the end of February. The maximum temperature is there then of 30° C in day.
Language (S) of the country and communication: The official language of this African country composed of many people is the French, even if this one is rather spoken like a foreign language by the unit about the population. The truly spoken languages are Bambara, Peul, Malinké, Soninké and the Arab in North.
Health and vaccines: It is in general recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis has, typhus, the polio, the diphteria and tetanus. To protect itself from the viruses propagated by the mosquitos and the insects, it is enough most of the time to wear covering clothing and to use insecticides sold on the spot. The risk of malaria (paludism) depends on the season. The virus is more widespread during the rain season and the phase of transition, on banks of the Niger river. Before leaving, please inform itself near your attending physician in connection with a possible preventive medication of the malaria (paludism). In addition to that, it is necessary this to be wary of the bathes out of fresh water, and that all the year, because of the risk of bilharziose. Lastly, all the old travellers of more than one year must be provided with a certificate of vaccination against the yellow fever. In the contrary case, the entry on the territory Malian could be to you refused. Only the town of Bamako east able to guarantee care of sufficient quality. Therefore it is recommended to provide itself with a special health insurance for the voyages and valid in the whole world, with insurance-repatriation in the event of urgency.
Apart from that, it is recommended to peel the fruits and to cook vegetables in order to avoid any risk of infection. It is also judicious to carry a small first-aid kit with the necessary one
Conditions of entry: You must be in possession of a valid passport. The visa is also obligatory, except for the nationals of CEDEAO. The visa costs 28 € and is valid 1 month (an entry). For 3,6 and 12 months and multiple entries, respectively to envisage 51,74 and 120 €. The request must be made near the consulate, the deadlines to obtain it being from 48h. The Swiss ones will have to envisage 100 Fs for a valid visa 1 month and can make it prolong in Bamako near the police force of immigration, for 5000 F. CFA (7,60€). It is preferable that the children are provided with an individual passport.
If you wish to obtain from advantage of information in connection with the conditions of entry or safety, or on the vaccines to be carried out, please consult Internet site of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Arrival and displacements on the spot: Only Air France (AF), Air the Mediterranean and the Airline company of Mali propose direct flights bound for Bamako, from Paris-Orly. Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, Air Senegal and TAP Air also propose interesting flights, but which often count a stopover in Casablanca or Tunis.
The regional airline companies Mali Air Express train and the Sahel Aviation Service guarantee a rather dense network of air links and connect the capital to several airports Malians such Tombouctou, Kayes, Nioro, Gao, Sikasso, Goundam, or Mopti.
Capital: Bamako is located at the South-west of the country, along the Niger river, close to Guinea. It counts more than 1,5 Million inhabitants. This modern and animated city is the arts center and administrative country. Moreover, it is a very green city, especially during the rain season. However, the landscapes of savanna do not remain a long time fertile and luxuriant, but pass very quickly to tons yellow and brown. Among the interesting monuments, one can quote the Botanical garden, the Zoo, the museum of decorative arts and the national museum. Certain local markets are worth also the turning.
Tourist sites: Mali, as an multi-ethnic state, has a very rich cultural heritage. Various possibilities are offered to the traveller to visit Mali. For the moment, Mali did not yet really turn to tourism or tourism towards Mali, can be also because the country does not have really a national park of importance. This de facto situation the country dreamed for those which wish to move away from tourism of mass and to discover by them-even the wonders that the hand of the man knew to create during the thousand-year-old history of the towns of Tombouctou or Djenné, of the wonders which gave form to imaginary African who populates our spirits. At the time of your voyage to Mali, you will cross the pink sandstone villages with their huts covered with straw, of vast and surreal landscapes of savanna which extend as far as the eye can see, but as more coloured African markets all the ones as the others. You will be able to also admire many vestiges of the past. Almost the whole of the sites is along the Niger river, which is the vital artery of the country.
The first excursion is in general devoted to the old city of Djenné, which is located at approximately 500 km in the North-East of Bamako. It is one of oldest cities on the road of the caravans. It was one of the centers Trans-Saharan commercial. One finds already the name of this city in documents going back 2200 years. The most important monument with Djenné is its large mosque, built in the Sudanese style about 1250. It is today, just like the old city which surrounds it, classified with the world heritage of humanity. This church is entirely carried out in bank value (clay). It is about the largest building in bank value of the world. It is also one of the most known monuments of the African continent. It is to visit best Monday. Indeed, at the beginning of week, a very animated market is held in front of the mosque,
At the place where the rivers Bani and Niger meet, one finds the town of Mopti. It is built on three islands which are connected by dams. The city is dominated by the mosque built in bank value. It will be able also to charm you by his market-memory and its port, which is the district more animated city. The high-plate of Bandiagara, which could be your next goal of excursion, is located very close to the town of Mopti, in the South to be exact. They are here that the villages of the Dogon people are, whose manners and traditions remained unchanged, even under the influence of Islam. Dogons practice the religions animists. Their villages, which seem suspended on the mountain, will leave you a single and unforgettable memory.
If you continue to go along the Niger river towards the East, you will arrive at the town of Tombouctou, which represents for much, the apogee of the voyage. It is indeed about one of the most important cultural treasures of the human history. This oasis, which is classified with the world heritage of humanity, was at the 15th century the most important crossroads of the Trans-Saharan trade of gold and salt. It was also an important center for the Islamic studies. Since, most of the east city in prey with the dilapidation, because of the progress of the turning into a desert. Among the principal monuments of the city, one counts the mosques of Djinger-bur, Sidi Yahiya and Sankore, as well as the 16 tombs dating from the 14th century, pilot dumb men of a disappeared field crop. Almost the whole of the dwellings are set up in bank value, the area having from time immemorial missed stones and that the transport of those by inland waterway always proved very difficult. Concurrently to these traditional houses, you will find also houses built out of limestone. You will recognize them with their architecture of North-African or Andalusian style. Thus, they often have frontages of Moroccan style and windows Andalusian. This city, whose translation of the name means something like “the fountain of Buktu”, is not located directly at the edge of the Niger river, which limits of much its accessibility. The access in boat is not possible that if the level of water allows it, which arrives only during the rain season. The roads coming from the South and driving with Tombouctou, are very quickly ensablées. It is then impossible to borrow them during several days. It is thus to better travel by plane, starting from Bamako.
More at the East, always while going along the Niger river, one arrives at the town of Gao, that it would be a shame not to visit. It is worth especially the turning for its mosque of Kankan-Foamed and the tombs of Askia, a dynasty now disappeared and which reigned during centuries. Their architecture was inspired mainly by the pyramids of Egypt.
For the amateurs of safari and nature, there is the national park of the Loop of Baoule, in the South of the Sahara. When it is the season, one can observe there giraffes, leopards, elephants, hippopotamuses, buffaloes and also the king of the animals, which also comes him to satisfy themselves in the water points.
Religion: More than 30 different ethnos groups compose the population of Mali. Since centuries, they live in peace, in spite of their various ethnic memberships. 90% converted with Islam sunnite. In the South of the country, there is also 9% animists as well as a small minority of Christians of various confessions (1%), of which the number does not cease decreasing.
Big cities: Bamako, Sikasso, Mopti, Kayes, Gao Env. und.
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Flights expensive not preferred towards and of Mali/ml
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