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Mali
Mali sits at the very soul of West Africa — a country whose history is so extraordinary it once captured the imagination of the entire world. Few destinations on earth can match what Mali offers the curious traveller: legendary ancient empires, UNESCO World Heritage cities, one of the world's great musical traditions, and a living culture that has endured for thousands of years largely unchanged.
Long before European colonisation, Mali was the beating heart of a succession of the most powerful empires Africa has ever produced. The Ghana, Mali and Songhai empires dominated the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade for centuries, accumulating wealth on a scale the medieval world had never seen. At its peak, the Mali Empire's ruler Mansa Musa is widely considered to have been the wealthiest individual in all of human history — with a fortune estimated in today's terms at over $500 billion.
Timbuktu, once the intellectual and spiritual capital of the Islamic world, this ancient UNESCO World Heritage city was home to great mosques, celebrated scholars and libraries containing hundreds of thousands of manuscripts that shaped the course of Islamic thought. Today Timbuktu remains one of the most evocative and storied destinations in all of Africa — a place whose very name has become a byword for the ends of the earth, yet which rewards every traveller who makes the journey with a depth of history that is almost impossible to absorb in a single visit.
The city of Djenné is home to one of the most iconic structures on the African continent and a true representation of the greatness of the Sahel. The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud-brick building in the world and one of the most photographed landmarks in West Africa. The Monday market held in its shadow is one of the great weekly markets in West Africa, drawing traders from across the Sahel in a scene that has changed little in hundreds of years.
Away from Mali's ancient cities, the Bandiagara Escarpment is home to one of the oldest and most fascinating living cultures on earth. The Dogon people have inhabited these dramatic sandstone cliffs for centuries, building extraordinary cliff-side villages that cling to the rock face and preserving a cosmology, ceremonial tradition and way of life that remains unlike anything else you will encounter as a traveller. The Dogon mask ceremonies in particular are among the most spectacular cultural events in West Africa and a highlight of any Mali tour.
Mali punches well above its weight on the world music stage. Artists including Ali Farka Touré, Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Tinariwen and Oumou Sangaré have brought Malian sound to concert halls and festival stages across the globe. If you haven't heard of these artists then get your headphones on and immerse yourself in the wonder that is Malian music.
It would be dishonest not to mention that Mali has experienced political instability and security challenges in recent years, particularly in the north of the country. At Saiga Tours we work closely with trusted local partners to operate our Mali tours responsibly, safely and with full transparency. We will always keep you thoroughly informed before and throughout your travel to Mali, and will never operate in areas we are not confident in.
Tours
West Africa Sahel Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso & Niger
Come and experience the heart of the Sahel across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. If you've wanted to visit the Sahel and get a quick snapshot, then this tour is for you!