Situation

 Mali is a continental country located at the heart of  West Africa . It is the eighth largest country of Africa in territorial extension. Country of culture and hospitality, it is limited by 7 countries which are: Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast. It is a democratic republic with the stable mode since the advent of the democracy in the years ninety. It is one of the country more appreciated by the Western decision makers as regards the good governorship including the World Bank and the  International Monetary Fund.

Population

 Mali counts 11 000 000 hbts dividing themself into various ethnic groups living in good agreement. The density is of 8.87hbts/km2. the official language is French but of many local languages coexist whose principal one understood by almost all, is the bambara.

The principal ethnos groups are

-       Bambaras: mainly farmers

-         Malinkés: in the south between Kayes and Bamako. They are farmers and hunters. Of generally likely nature, proud and vindicatory.

-         Peulhs: They are especially in the area of Mopti. They are wandering stockbreeders ·

-         Sénoufos: at the south, farmers, animists. Known for their masks. They have the taste of work well done, of peaceful nature.

-          Bobos: area of San. People animist and Christians.

-          Dogons: Took refuge on cliff of Bandiagara at the century XI  to flee Islam. They cultivate the millet and onions and live in villages troglodytes.

-          Songhai: undertaking and sparing.

-          Tuaregs: recognize themselves with their blue turban. Formerly large warriors, now reconverted themselves as wandering stockbreeders. They move in camel.

-         Maures and Arabs: in North, live of breeding

-         Toucouleurs speaking peulh and coming from Senegal

Main tourist attractions

Bamako :

Located at horse on the Niger river and stretching itself on 40 kilometers, the town of Bamako east undoubtedly one of the typical capitals of all Western Africa. Crossroads impossible to circumvent for what wishes to discover the deep country, Bamako is the symbol of modern Mali under development constant, animated of a life intense and coloured where and the contributions of the modern technique most recent and those of an old civilization harmonized are confronted which makes an effort, while adapting, to safeguard the essence of its secular traditions. The capital with its large mosque surrounded of the handycraft market where you will be able to admire the work of the sculptors, the jewellers, the tanners... You will be able also admired the panorama of the city and to traverse the presidential alley.

The ethnological museum will give you a good idea of the various ethnic groups and their way of life.

Mopti :

River crossroads, Mopti is located at the confluence of Niger and Bani. Center exchanges where the paddler come from the South and the camel driver descended from the desert meet. Mopti, also called Venice of Mali is known, amongst other things, for its very animated fishing port. Each bank accomodates a type of cargo: in north, the salt of Tombouctou, millet of Ségou, water-bottles... as well as the passengers travelling with the most cosmopolitan articles. In the south, the dried fish, piled up in enormous piles in the covered engine boat. You will be able to also observe, along the river, the scenes of the everyday life: women washing the clothes, the bath of the children as well as that of the sheep or the cars...

Cruising on the Niger river: Installed in a comfortable boat, local boat, you will observe the life of the river and its accesses. You will admire the many birds of the lake Débo and with a little chance, you will be able to see hipopotames. You will be able to also accost to return to you in the villages where the reception of the population will charm you. This cruising could be done in one, two or three days following your wishes. It is possible to join Tombouctou by the river.

Djenné :

To enter in Djenné, it is necessary to cross the Bani river by means of a ferry. Djenné, this city of clay to the paces of fortress is the oldest town of West Africa. This city reveals the vestiges of a civilization going back to 250 years before Jesus-Christ. Centuries before Djenné does not become the symbol of the richness of the old empire of Mali and the religious center more venerated of all French ex-Sudan, recognized today inheritance world of UNESCO, Djenné can only allure.

Le pays Dogon

The interest of the Dogon country is due to the extreme richness of their myths and their rites. It is the most attractive people of the Black Africa. They have a cosmogony and a mythology which enable them to explain the formation of the universe. This people always could preserve his culture against at the foreign invasion. The visit of these countries will enable you to discover hung villages all along cliff of Bandiagara.

Tombouctou or Timbuktu:

 This legendary city  is better known in the world than the Country which shelters it. This city that nobody will take as a Utopia exists  well on the Grounds of Mali to the doors of the Sahara.

 April 20, 1828, Rene Caillié while penetrating in Tombouctou, the prohibited city said: "we arrived at the moment when the sun touched the horizon". While entering this mysterious city, object of research of the civilized nations of Europe, "I was seized by an inexpressible feeling of satisfaction; I had never felt a similar feeling and my joy was extreme...

 "This city made to dream  many explorers but the only one to go back there alive was Rene Caillié. Thanks to the publication of its notebook of trip, Tombouctou became a world-famous.

Classified city world inheritance of UNESCO, remains difficult to reach. The two surest means are Cruising on the Niger river from Mopti to Tombouctou and a return by Jeeps 4x4 on the desert roads or the flight. Various curiosities of the city are: the mosque of Djingareyber, Sankoré, the Ahmed Baba center  where all the manuscripts of the former scientists of the Holy City are stored, the local museum and the Tuareg Market.