Mali

Known as the Jewel of West Africas Crown, Mali provides an adventure on this western Saharan nation you will not experience any other place. Mali has played an important role in great African empires of the past. It is a landlocked nation bordered by other great African countries like Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Mauritania, and Guinea. The importance of Mali continues to be displayed to this day. Visiting legendary attractions like the city of Timbuktu, the Djene mosque, and the Niger River will keep you busy. Timbuktus greatest contribution to civilization is learning. It is believed that some of the earliest universities in the world had been established here. Another group of attractions are: the imposing sight of the Niger River at Koulikoro and a trek down Dogon Country will capture your imagination. Evidence such as paintings on rocks and different carvings point to mans early existence in the Gao and Timbuktu area, this will provide the traveler a history lesson to remember. Centrally located, Mali became important during the trans-Saharan trade of slaves, gold, salt, and many other precious items. Bamako is the capital of Mali and is its largest city. The country itself covers an area of 1,240,192 square kilometers with a population of more than 14.5 million people. Like other African nations, you will need to obtain a visa when visiting Mali, which are available at the border for a fee. The hot months run from October to February, very hot months, April through June. There are only two months of wet weather here, July through august. The language spoken here is French, so if you parlez, youre in good shape. You can get around Mali on $25.00 USD a day. The currency used is the West African CFA franc. Euros are the best currency to carry, while US dollars are good, they charge a little extra when you exchange them to the local currency. Sorry, ATMs not that popular in Mali.

Mali Top Cities

Koutiala

Bamako

Gao

Kayes City

Mopti

Sikasso

Nioro Du Sahel

Timbuktu

Tombouctou

Mali Famous Landmarks

Dogon People

Great Mosque of Djenne Mopti Mosque

Timbuktu City

Facts About Mali

Flag of Mali

The CFA Franc

Dogon People

Dogon Valley Photo by: 300td.org, Creative Commons

The Dogon People can be found on central plateau area in Mali. The population at 800,000, these people are well known for their architecture, wooden sculpture, mask dances and mythology. There are about 700 villages in Mali where the Dogon live. These villages measures 200 kilometers long and stretches towards the Bandiagara cliffs. The Dogon People are Animists; although some have converted to either Christianity or Islam. The main occupation of the Dogon People is agriculture and they adopt different methods of farming. The major crops grown here are onions, rice, tobacco, millets, sorrel and beans. In addition flocks of sheep and goats are also seen here. The Dogon People comprises of three groups which are Ono, Domno, Arou and the Dyon. A village feature a number of family groups with the father as head of the family. A man may marry more that one woman but not more than two. The villages feature a number of communities and the people here gather at a place known as Togu. The people gather here and settle their disputes. The oldest living descendant here is known as Gina Bana. He conducts ceremonies and presides over the meetings here. The oldest village founder is known as Hogon and he is also the main person in the village. He looks after the welfare of the village and dispenses justice amongst the people of the village. Majority of the Dogon are spiritual tribe and also they worship their dead ancestors for guidance.

The buildings in the villages are mainly constructed of mud. Their architecture is unique and the huts here feature flat roofs. Also a sequence of cemeteries is seen on the cliffs and the only way to reach here is through the ladders. For its cultural importance the Dogon region is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mopti

Fishermen in Mopti, Mali Photo by: makadaka , Creative Commons

Mopti is often referred to as The Venice of Mali because it is surrounded by water. It is mainly composed of three islandsBani, Old Town, and New Townlinked together by dikes. You will not have any problems with rain when you go to Mopti, Mali because it is always hot and dry year round. But at least, you will be surrounded by water, just like in Venice, Italy. One of the best things that you can do in Mopti, Mali is to go cruising in the Niger River. You can ride a boat that will take you to the different islands of Mopti. You should also explore the port or the harbour which is always bustling with activityfrom vendors to fishermen to traders trying to buy and sell different products. You will feel as if you are in the heart of Mopti where everything is moving and active. And just like almost all of the places in Mali, you can also find a nice marketplace in Mopti. There are local produce, crafts, and wares crafted by the locals themselves. Although it is a

small market, you will be overwhelmed by the sights and sounds that are not familiar in Western markets. You can buy unique souvenirs in this market that you can take home with you. Mopti also has a mosque made of mud, just like other places in Mali or Africa. You should visit the mosque to learn a little about the Islam religion.

Gao

Tombeau dAskia, Gao, Mali Photo by: Crazy Joe Devola , Creative Commons

One of the most beautiful places in Mali that is worth a visit is the Gao city. It is the capital of Gao Region and many beautiful places can be visited here. The city existed in as early as 11th century so you can find many historical places local to the area. When visiting Gao, it is recommended to visit the historical mosques in the city. This includes the Askia Tomb and the Gao Mosque. The Askia Tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its magnificent beauty. The Gao Mosque, on the other hand, has the same amazing beauty of Askia Tomb representing the mud mosques which were built in 14th century. Aside from the mud mosques, a museum can also be found in the city as well as many markets. It is also worthwhile to visit the La Dune Rose, which is a very picturesque sand dune in Gao. It is advisable to visit La Dune Rose during sunrise and dusk to witness the suns effect to this beautiful landscape.

After touring the Gao city, take time and explore the citys market. Many worthwhile and memorable souvenirs can be purchased here to bring home to your family and friends.

The CFA Franc

The CFA Franc is an umbrella name for two separate yet interchangeable currencies widely used in Africa, namely: West African and Central African CFA Franc. These two currencies share the same monetary value at 655.957 CFA Francs for every Euro. This does not mean, though, that this commonality is permanent. In fact, should the authorities decide to do so, the value of either of the two or even both currencies can change. It is also worth taking note that the two CFA Franc currencies cannot be used interchangeably; that is, one cannot use the West African CFA Franc in Central African countries, and the Central African CFA Franc cannot be used in West Africa. The currency code for the Central African CFA Franc is XAF; for its West African counterpart, XOF. December 1945 saw the creation of the CFA Franc in an effort to save French colonies from the voluntary devaluation that hit the French Franc following the ratification of the Bretton Woods Agreement France had with the United States. The acronym CFA originally meant Colonies francaises dAfrique or French colonies of Africa; its meaning, though, changed two times in the course of several decades. When the 5th Republic of France was established, CFA came to stand for Communaute francaise dAfrique or French Community of Africa. And when the colonies became independent, another change occurred. This time, CFA

became the acronym for Communaute Financiere Africaine, or African Financial Community. The Central African CFA Franc is used by the following states: Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea. Issuance of this currency is the task of the Bank of the Central African States. A single CFA Franc can be subdivided into 100 centimes; however, no centime denominations has ever been issued. As opposed to the 6 countries that make use of the Central African CFA Franc, there are actually 8 states that have the West African CFA Franc as their official currency. These are the following: Togo, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Cote dIvoire. The West African CFA Franc is issued by the Central Bank of the West African States.

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