Mali Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Malians are hospitable people and will welcome visitors gracefully into their homes. Visitors must remember that this is a Muslim country and the religious customs and beliefs of the people should be respected. Modesty in dress, particularly for women, is essential.

Photography: This is no longer restricted, except for military subjects. However, interpretation of what is considered off limits tends to vary. Other subjects may be considered sensitive from a cultural or religious point of view and it is advisable to obtain permission before taking photographs in Mali.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
Mali’s national airline is Air Mali (L9).

Departure Tax
CFAF10,000; for destinations in Africa CFAF8,000. Children under two years and transit passengers continuing their journey by same flight are exempt.

Main Airports
Bamako (BKO) is 15km (9 miles) from the city (journey time – 20 minutes). Taxis and a bus service into the city is available.

Getting There by Rail
There is a service from Bamako to Dakar (Senegal) which has air conditioning, sleeper facilities and restaurant cars (journey time – 35 hours).

Getting There by Road
The best road connections are from Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. There are also road links with Senegal, Guinea, Niger and Mauritania. The all-weather road follows the Niger as far as Niamey (Niger). Travel via the Algerian border is currently considered dangerous and not recommended.

Bus: Services operate from Kankan (Guinea) to Bamako, as well as from Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) to Ségou and Mopti, and Niamey (Niger) to Gao. From Côte d’Ivoire there are also buses (journey time – at least 36 hours). From Niger, the national bus line SNTN operates buses to Mali.

Overview
The following items may be imported into Mali without incurring customs duty:

• 1,000 cigarettes or 250 cigars or 2kg of tobacco.
• Two bottles of alcoholic beverage.
• A reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

Note: (a) Imports of professional articles such as cameras and photographic equipment, radios and recording equipment, materials for professional use and sports firearms are subject to special authorization. (b) Authorization from the National Museum in Bamako must be obtained when exporting certain Malian archaeological objects, particularly those from the Niger River Valley.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Some domestic flights are provided by Air Mali (L9). Light aircraft can also be chartered from the Société des Transports Aériens (STA).

Getting Around by Water
Between July and December, there are services between Bamako and Gao via Timbuktu along the River Niger. However, because of drought in the Sahel desert, services are sometimes suspended. The journey is approximately 1,300km (800 miles) and takes five or six days. Between December and March, travel is only possible between Mopti and Gao. Food is available on the boats and first-class cabins can be booked in advance.

Motorised and non-motorized pirogues and pinasses (types of river boat) are available for hire between Timbuktu and Mopti.

Getting Around by Rail
The train operator is Transrail. A Damar-Bamako train runs erratically due to ongoing engineering works needed urgently on the tracks. Dakar station (tel: (221) 849 4646) can advise travelers of the next departure a few days beforehand. It has also not been unknown for the train to start from the Gare de Hann, 3km (2 miles) out of Dakar, and not from Dakar station itself, so it is advised to check locally. The service is expected to be improved greatly by August 2007. The journey takes at least two days and nights. The trains have first- and second-class seats plus first-class couchettes with four-bunk compartments. They also have a bar-restaurant car selling drinks, snacks and inexpensive meals.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Roads in Mali range from moderate to very bad. Particular care should be taken if driving in Bamako. The main road runs from Sikasso in the south to Bamako, and to Mopti and Gao. Between Mopti and Gao, travel can be difficult during the rainy season (mid June to mid September) when the Niger, at its confluence with the Bani, splits into a network of channels, and floods its banks to form the marshlands of the Macina. Stops at customs and police checkpoints are frequent on major roads and driving is particularly hazardous after dark.

Bus: Services run between the main towns.

Documentation: International Driving Permit recommended, although not legally required. Insurance and a carnet de passage are also needed.

Note: Visitors are advised to keep to the main roads, otherwise they should travel in convoy. Caution should be exercised when traveling at night. Visitors should consult official travel advice.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Collective taxis in cities are very cheap. The taxis charge a standard fare regardless of the distance traveled. Tipping is not expected.


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