Itinerary

1. Day 1: Mande tour

   • Travel to the mountain village of Mandé in the Western region of Mali with your Malian tour guide. 

   • Learn about the history of Sundiata Keita, the legendary former king of the ancient Malian Empire.  

   • Marvel at the Fanfamba Grotto, the former meeting place of the village elders, the cave of Kamadian, with compartments for artisans including blacksmiths, hunters, traditional fortune tellers, and chiefs. There is a small sacred pool where sacrifices are made in an effort to achieve wealth and prosperity, better health, and protection against evil.

   • See a Donso, a traditional hunter in his clothes. 

   • Visit the center where local women produce butter and soap with “Chi tree” nuts. 

   • Go on a 2-hour sail on the Niger River in a traditional Pinasse in the afternoon.

   • Return to Bamako

2. Day 2: Explore Bamako

   • Explore the capital city Bamako situated on the Niger River, Africa’s 3rd longest. 

   • See sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers, and metal workers exhibiting their wares and displaying their skills in the city’s craft bazaar. 

   • Visit the National Museum, providing an excellent introduction to the ethnic diversity of the country, with your Malian tour guide. 

   • Tour the Musukunda Museum where you will see the different types of women’s clothing by ethnic group. 

   • Explore the recycling market of Bamako where local artists turn one man’s trash into another’s treasure time permitting.