Mali Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 14
Home Country: mali
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 Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: MALI TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN MALI |
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MALI TOURISM GUIDE
BAMAKO
The capital is a modern city. It is the educational and cultural centre of Mali. The main places of interest are the Markets, the Botanical Gardens, the Musée National, the zoo and the craft centre at the Maison des Artisans.
DJENNÉ
Djenne is on the old trans sharan trade route. Well known as a trading centre from olden days, it has one of the most beautiful Mosques. Within 5 km distance lies the Old city of Djenne which is one of the oldest cities of Africa. Its history dates back to 250 BC. It was famous for its gold trade in the trans-saharan route. Later, it became an Islamic cultural centre in the 15th and 16trh centuries. Old Djenné is today listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
MOPTI
The centre of Mali’s tourist industry, Mopti is located at the confluence of the Bani and the River Niger and is built on three islands joined by dykes. There is another fine mosque here.The market is in the town centre, Marché des Souvenirs, and the area surrounding the port are also worth visiting. Ferry service for tourist is available here all year round.
BANDIAGARA
Bandiagara and its people have great cultural significance in the history of Mali. Dogons, the inhabitants of the region are supposed to be the original settlers in the Niger river valley
The old customs and traditions were kept by the people even when the Islamic faith conquered other parts of Mali empire. The villages cut into the cliffs of the 200-km long Bandiagara escarpment are declared as World Heritage site by UNESCO.
TIMBUKTU
Timbuktu is wrongly used to mean as some place unknown, inaccessible or remote. This old city was a beehive of activity in its heydays.
The main distribution centre of products including salt from the shores for the saheli region is Timbuktu. Thousands of camel loads arrive here every year. By the 15th century, Timbuktu was a major trading centre for salt and gold in the trans-Saharan trade route. Later, it assumed the status of a great Islamic learning centre.
Much of this ancient city is in decay, but it is the site of many beautiful mosques (Djingerebur, Sankore and Sidi Yahaya for example) and tombs, some dating back to the 14th century.
OTHER PLACES
Another ancient city which had its heyday in the 15th century is Gao. Gao houses the mosque of Kankan Moussa and the tombs of the Askia Dynasty. There are also two excellent markets. The city has recently undergone much urban development. San and Ségou are both interesting towns. The National Park of La Boucle de Baoule contains an array of southern Sahelian species of wildlife, including giraffe, leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and hippo. |
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