Mali Sahara Desert Expedition (January 2-18, 2012)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 16 day(s)
Group Size: 12 - 20 people
Destination(s): Mali Mauritania Senegal
Specialty Categories: Festival Tours Desert Expeditions
Season: January
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3800 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 4800 US Dollar (USD)
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, January 2, Monday: Arrival to Bamako, transfer to the hotel.
Day 2, January 3, Tuesday: Have a rest in the hotel in the morning. Get your lunch before the scheduled early afternoon departure to Segou on the way to Timbuktu. We choose two-days overland drive to Timbukto over flying there because flights are very infrequent, quite expensive and they are constantly canceled without notice.
If this is your first time in Bamako you may participate in the optional morning city tour, which includes visiting the National Museum. Bamako is a Bambara word meaning "Crocodiles River". In 1806 Bamako was a Bozo fishing and trading community of about 6000 people. In 1883, the French captured the town and in 1908 Bamako became their regional seat of power and they built their residence on the hill of Koulouba. At the independence in 1960, Bamako was chosen as the capital.
After leaving Bamako and passing typical Sahel villages and landscapes, arrive to Segou late afternoon. Capital of the Bambara Empire in the past, Segou is now the capital of Mali's fourth largest administrative region. It is known also as the city of “Balanzan”, named after the local tree Acacia albida. We will have a short city tour that includes the pottery market along the Niger River banks and the former Colonial Quarter. Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture. Overnight in the hotel. Includes: (B,D).
Day 3, January 4, Wednesday Drive to Timbuktu, the famous gateway to Sahara. We use the route via towns Niono and Nampala in proximity of Mauritanian border. Lands near Niono are irrigated and participants of the expedition will see the man-made Sahel Canal. After passing the relatively dry area around Nampala, there will be plenty of lakes between Lere and Timbuktu.
These lakes were created by Niger River, which changes direction of its flow from time to time. Arrival to Timbuktu, which was formerly a great commercial trading city and an international center of Islamic learning. Timbuktu was established by the nomadic Tuareg as early as the 10th century. Tuareg formed one of the most ancient tribal people of the Sahara.
They speak a Berber language, Tamacheq, and have their own alphabet. In ancient times, the Tuareg controlled the trans-Sahara routes and substantially contributed in the expansion of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa even though they retained however some of their older rites. Today, the Tuareg symbolize the mysteries of the Sahara and continued to be seen as the Masters of the Desert. Overnight in the hotel. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 4, January 5, Thursday There are plenty of points of interest in Timbuktu, particularly ancient mosques, including the famous mosque of Djingareiber, the oldest and the famous Sankore whose reputation spanned all across North Africa and Europe as a leading Islamic academy for centuries; the Ahmed Baba Center where ancient books (some dating from the 14th century AD) are still preserved; and former houses of such explorers as Gordon Laing, Rene Caillé and Henrich Barth.
After lunch, you will depart for Essakane desert Festival site located 60 kilometers from Timbuktu. On route visit to the Tuareg village of Farach famous for has been a place where Tuareg people had fiercely resisted against colonial penetration. Meet with the elders and discover local population activities and women co-operative association. Continuation two kilometers to the site of the festival. Opening ceremony. Dinner followed by music show in the night. Overnight under Tuareg tents. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 5, January 6, Friday: Full day in Essakane and participation in the Desert Festival. Created in January 2001, the "festival au désert" is held every year in Essakane, two hours from Timbuktu in Mali. This Festival seeks its origin in the big traditional Tuareg festivities, as Takoubelt in Kidal and Temakannit in Tombouctou, which represented for long time a place for decision making and exchange of information among the different communities.
At the beginning, there were songs and Tuareg dances, poetry, camel rides, games, etc. Today, the Festival is opened to the external world and welcomes artists from other Malian regions, other African countries, but also from Europe and from the whole world. During three days, around 30 artistic groups are invited from all around the world to present their art. Due to the attention of the media and to the huge logistic effort that it is mobilizing, the Festival is now included among the Big Modern Festivals, though it maintains its traditional cultural aspects. Breakfast.
Visit to the cultural stands. Tuareg traditional music and dances. Depart to Bankor (15 kilometers) to see desert unique archaeological site. Discover the old Tuareg settlement. Admire the beautiful panoramic view on Lake Faguibine. Drive back to Essakane. Lunch and relaxation with Sahara desert blue people. Dinner followed by music show in the night. Overnight under Tuareg tents. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 6, January 7, Saturday After breakfast visit cultural exhibitions, attend conferences, see Tuareg traditional music, dances, games and camel rides. After early lunch the cultural program is over and the desert expedition resumes. Drive to Araouane, the small oasis town surrounded by spectacular sand dunes. Formerly known for its scholars (Ahmad Baba al Massufi was born there), it has gradually declined in last centuries.
Look for the mosque, which is buried in sand up to its minaret, and houses resembling underground dwellings. There were some attempts to restore the town to its present glory. Author and adventurer Ernst Aebi invested a significant amount of money and time into the project of regenerating this settlement. An account of his time there is recorded in his book Seasons of Sand. Overnight in tents or basic hotel. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 7, January 8, Sunday Continue to drive north through the endless Sahara Desert. You may encounter an occasional caravan carrying salt to from Taoudenni to Timbuktu. Otherwise it is completely empty part of the world. Be sure to cover your body and face as nomads do, especially if wind blows. Strong wind can generate a dust storm. Then any movement must stop and continue only after visibility is back to normal. Lunch break will be in the middle of the desert in the middle of the day. We will pass such areas as Foum al Alba and El Knachich before our crew pitch tents at Ounane Well near Enachi Escarpment. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 8, January 9, Monday: After the morning drive we reach Taoudenni, small remote outpost famous for its salt mines. Salt is mined and quarried from ancient dry lake beds, and this work is still manual as in old times. The village contains thousands of hand dug mines. Salt is carried to Timbuktu and other places in Mali by camels and trucks. After visiting salt mines of Taoudenni and wondering around dwellings of people living seasonally in harsh environment in the middle of Sahara, participants of the tour will have time to take optional camel rides or ski on sand dunes. Overnight in tents or basic hotel. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 9, January 10, Tuesday: This day we traverse the very remote part of Mali. The barely visible track runs roughly parallel to Algerian border. It is easy to be lost in Sahara, but we are led by experienced Tuareg guides, who know the desert perfectly. In daytime we will make a stop at the eastern edge of Enachi Escarpment and by the end of the day our convoy will cover half the distance to Tessalit, the next settlement of our itinerary. Overnight in the truly remote and inhabited place in the middle of nowhere. Watch bright stars in perfectly clear night skies. Night can be chilly as the temperature may drop to single digits of Celsius scale. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 10, January 11, Wednesday: Continue drive in the eastern direction. By lunchtime we will reach Tessounfat Well at the foot of low-rising Timerin Mountains. After passing the ridge the expedition convoy descents to Jillen Valley where the small mining town named Tessalit is located. There are gypsum deposits around this oasis town and Algerian border is very close. Tessalit is primarily populated by Tuaregs and is the home city of the musical group Tinariwen as well as the poet Soueloum Diagho. The town has an airstrip which can be used in case of emergency. Overnight in tents or basic hotel. Inlcludes: (B,L,D).
Day 11, January 12, Thursday: We leave hospitable Tessalit and continue the way in southern direction towards Kidal. The road goes along striking Adrar Iforas mountain range similar in look to Air and Tibesti farther east. Mountains of various shapes and rocks of different colors give chances for numerous pictures, if visibility is clear. It is truly one of the most scenic areas in Mali and very few travelers are able see it due to its remoteness. Arrive to Kidal, the capital of the relatively recently created Kidal Region. This small remote city is populated mostly by Tuareg people, so as the whole region, though sparsely populated. Overnight in tents or basic hotel. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 12, January 13, Friday: From Kidal we take a rarely used track towards Menaka and cross several dry river beds called wadi. View basalt outcrops and low-rise mountains near Kidal, and also near Menaka. As soon as this area is not as extremely dry as in the north of the country, there is a chance to see some shepherds with camels and goats. Arrival to Menaka, the town known as a center of periodic Tuareg rebellions. Besides Tuaregs there some nomadic minorities in Menaka such as Wodaabe Fula and sedentary Songhai people. The town is located close to the border with Niger. Overnight in tents or basic hotel. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 13, January 14, Saturday: From Menaka we go in the western direction towards Niger River Valley. There is a vast wildlife reserve just south to the road and there are chances to see gazelles and other antelopes, and various birds. There are also few giraffes, hyenas and jackals live in the reserve, but there is a slim chance to spot them. Lunchtime in the agricultural town of Ansongo. View dunes and outcrops on the opposite side of Niger River, and rice paddies in the valley.
There is a possibility to see hippos and waterfowl. The paved road leads to Gao, the ancient capital of Songhai Empire. The city was founded around the seventh century. Songhai emperors ensured Gao’s growth by allowing trans-Sahara traders to visit and Berbers to settle the city. Trade increased after Za Kossoi converted to Islam in 1009. Gao was largely destroyed by the Moroccan invasion of 1591. The town remained small until French rule was imposed in the early twentieth century, expanding the port and establishing a colonial base.
These days Gao is developing as a regional capital and it has potential for tourism. Attractions in Gao include the original fourteenth century Gao Mosque, the Askia Tomb (a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site) built in 1495 and incorporating another mosque, a museum devoted to the Sahel, markets, including a night market, and the Rose Dune, named for its appearance at dawn and dusk. There is also the Greenwich obelisk. Make a step and you go from one hemisphere to another just in a second. Overnight in the basic hotel. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 14, January 15, Sunday: Drive along Niger River all way up to Timbuktu. The road changes to the track and it is usually covered by sand after windy weather. It is northernmost Niger River position. Due to proximity to Sahara Deserts the river loss millions liters of water because of evaporation. View sand dunes and occasional settlements on both sides of the river. Arrive to Timbuktu and thus complete the Sahara circuit. Overnight in the hotel. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 15, January 16, Monday; Timbuktu – Mopti. Includes: (B,L,D).
Day 16, January 17, Tuesday: Mopti – Bamako. Return flight in the late evening. Extension in Bamako for one or more nights is possible. Includes: (B, L).
Optional tour in Dogon Country and Djenne:
- Day 16, January 17, Tuesday Mopti – Dogon Country.
- Day 17, January 18, Wednesday Dogon Country.
- Day 18, January 19, Thursday Dogon Country – Djenne.
- Day 19, January 20, Friday Djenne – Bamako, return flight.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Transfers airport-hotel-airport
- Accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Transportation in a 4x4 cars
- English-/French -speaking accompanying guide
- Food
- Local assistance.
Price Excludes:
- Air ticket (check best offer)
- Travel insurance
- Visa
- Vaccination
- Tip
- Any other unspecified costs.
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