Timbuktu, Dogon Country and Beyond

For even the most seasoned traveler, Mali is a cultural and scenic bolt from the blue. This is one of the most photogenic places in Africa, where the mighty Niger River courses gloriously through savanna and desert. Along the river’s route are ancient Saharan caravan stops like the medieval port of DjennÈ and the desert gold-trading outpost of Timbuktu, two fascinating towns that retain their fabled pasts. Mali’s kaleidoscope of ethnicities is one of its wonders, from Tuareg nomads to turbanned Fulani traders, Bozo fishing tribes, and the fascinating Dogon people, keepers of an animist civilization celebrated in spirited mask dances and music that we have the privilege to witness. Our small group size—maximum 12—allows for extraordinary cultural interaction.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Bamako, Mali / Segou

From Bamako, a scenic drive along the Niger River brings us to the pretty riverside town of Segou, a former French colonial outpost. En route, we visit villages with tiny mud-brick mosques.

Days 4-5
Niger River Expedition

We board our private, motorized local-style open boat and journey down the great Niger River, Mali’s life-giving source and one of its main trade routes. Scenes along the river are ever changing: by day we visit an array of villages with beautiful adobe architecture of fanciful design, while at night we camp along the sandy shores.

Days 6-7
Djenne / Mopti

The centerpiece of the medieval market town of DjennÈ is a magnificent “sand castle” mosque of adobe. We view this masterwork and roam the serpentine streets to appreciate DjennÈ’s fantastic Sudanic-style architecture, then head to Mopti.

Days 8-12
Dogon Country / Mopti

The ancient villages of the Dogon people are hidden in the folds of a craggy escarpment. From our camp, we hike to villages of splendid traditional architecture, meet esteemed clan elders, and witness a dama dance, an energetic tribute to the Dogon ancestors. On Day 12 we return to Mopti, where we can explore its fascinating open-air market.

Days 13-15
Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a desert city of legend and home of the indigo-robed Tuaregs, a nomadic people of Berber descent. Here we visit a Tuareg settlement to enjoy a sunset camel ride, the singing of Tuareg women, and dinner under the starry Sahara sky. Depart Timbuktu on Day 15, or join our Burkino Faso Extension.

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Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extension:

• Burkina Faso Extension (8 days)

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3, moderate. Although this trip is not particularly rigorous, it does involve day hikes, camping, and getting off and on a small boat (on the Niger River portion of the trip). There are two nights of camping in Dogon country and three nights along the river. The shape you are in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of your trip. Please note that you will be visiting a country where there has not been a lot of tourism. Accommodations for parts of the trip are in "best available" hotels. Although there are private bathrooms in the hotel rooms, at times you must expect cold-water showers. The food served in our hotels and at our camps will be nourishing but may not have much flair or variety, due to limited resources. Quite often, air schedules are altered and new government regulations are implemented suddenly. We ask that you bring flexibility and a spirit of adventure to this unique journey, and take pleasure in the knowledge that you will be visiting two fascinating countries that are not highly touristed.

Dogon country hikes are rated 4. Participants should be fit and healthy and prepared to walk for approximately four hours a day in dry, hot conditions in Dogon country. Although the hiking distance covered is moderate (about six miles a day), there is a good bit of walking up and down over rock trails because most of the villages are nestled into a steep escarpment. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and rest, and breaks are taken during the hottest part of the day. Our Dogon porters are available to assist with daypacks if needed.

Camping Conditions: Camping style is basic but comfortable. We use family camping tents (two persons per tent). Sleeping pads are provided, but trip members must bring their own sleeping bags (rated to 35ºF). For added comfort, some trip members may want to bring their own Therm-a-Rest pads. A solar shower and toilet tent are provided at camps in Dogon country. Our camp cooks prepare simple but nourishing meals. Lunch is usually a cold assortment with bread, salad, cold cuts, sardines, tuna, and cheese. Dinner is usually soup, a main dish, and a dessert. Tea, coffee, and bottled water are supplied for drinking at camps and throughout the trip. At the Niger River camps, we may help to pitch our own tents because we have just a small camp crew with us.

The Niger River Boat: We travel the river on a local-style open boat, about 40-50 feet long, with a motor at the rear. It is very basic, but allows us the opportunity to travel and explore along the river. We sit on rows of forward-facing wooden benches covered with foam mats. A large canopy provides us with shade. There is an open galley behind the passenger section where our cook prepares meals for us, and there is a small, very basic outhouse at the back of the boat. It can actually be quite chilly on board when the boat is motoring along the river, so bring layers for warmth.

Explanation of Trip Levels