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16 Days Tribal Cultures of Mali & Burkina Faso Tour Package
With Tour Director Amadou Traore
Tour Itinerary Days 1-2 USA or Canada/Bamako, Mali Arrive in Bamako, the capital of Mali, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. One of the fastest growing cities in the world, Bamako's pulsating energy is a vibrant blend of ancient African cultures with a distinctly French influence. The area around Bamako is rich in fertile soil and allows for fertile agriculture. However, it was the discovery of precious minerals that brought the country's wealth to a new level. When the trans-Saharan trade route developed, Bamako and its neighboring villages became prosperous as the trading of gold, ivory and salt was seen as an essential commodity. Hotel Salam Day 3 Bamako/Kela/Bamako Begin your day with a visit to a Mandingo village before continuing to Kela, where you are welcomed by griots (traditional musicians and storytellers). Enjoy a celebration in town and lunch with a griot family. Return to Bamako, pausing en route to visit Badougou Djoliba, the village of Salif Keita, the famous Malian singer. Hotel Salam B L D Day 4 Bamako/Segou En route to Segou, pass through several small villages where you may see a hunter's ceremony or a naming ceremony. You also stop at Wolodo, an authentic Bambara village, to watch local women extract shea butter from the fruit of the karite tree. Continue driving through the gentle bushland to Segou, where the rest of your day is at leisure. Segou was the capital of the Bambara old kingdom, and much of Mali's food is still produced here. Hotel Independence B L D Day 5 Segou/Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso En route to Bobo Dioulasso, an old trade town and Burkina Faso's second largest city, visit villages and witness local people working in the millet and cotton fields. Hotel L'Auberge B L D Day 6 Bobo Dioulasso/Gaoua - the Lobi Country Explore Koumi, an authentic 15th-century Bobo village. The Bobo people are known as one of the remaining pure animist tribes in West Africa. They believe that all objects have souls and that some things, like mountains and rivers, carry the souls of the gods. Learn about the village fetishes (carved figures representing the spirits). Witness the preparation of traditional millet beer, which is sold in gourds throughout the village. In the Muslim Quarter, visit the old Sudanese mosque, one of the oldest in West Africa, and the lively bazaar. Later, drive into Gaoua - Lobi country. Because of their past warlike practices and secret societies, these farming people retain a way of life much like they lived when the first Europeans arrived centuries ago. The Lobi believe that they once lived in an unspoiled paradise similar to the Garden of Eden, but that the gods turned their backs on them and sent thils (guiding spirits) to take care of them. Each village has its own thil, whose rules are interpreted and carried out by a religious diviner who lives in the village. Hotel After a picnic lunch at the home of the village chief of Tirelli, continue to explore Sangha, where the culture of the Dogons is on display. The Dogons, like the Bobos, are animists whose religion influences every aspect of their daily lives, from their carved wooden art to painted hieroglyphic-like sand rock caves and masked dances. Visit the women's sacred houses, the granaries and the house of the hogon (a spiritual chief in Dogon society). Hotel Guina B L D Mopti's main local industry is fishing, and in the port, observe the hundreds of pirogues (dugout canoes) that carry both goods and people to and from neighboring villages. Stroll through the local market to see an array of fresh, smoked and dried fish available for sale. Pass stalls selling dried onions from Dogon country, millet and traditional West African spices, as well as large tablets of salt that have been brought down river from Timbuktu. Continue to the main mosque, built in 1935 as the living quarters of the Komoguel (Imam) and which retains the architecture of banco style houses. Enjoy lunch overlooking the Niger River. This afternoon, discover the ancient Fulani (nomadic herders) quarter of Taikiri to see the local women who wear enormous earrings. Hotel Kanaga B L D During this time, salt was as valuable as gold, and the busy trade and camel caravans led to the establishment of one of the oldest universities in West Africa, Sankore Madrash. As you wander through the city to glimpse local life, visit mosques, the explorers' houses, the museum, the library, the bustling food market and the artisans' market. Although lifestyles are gradually changing for many people in Mali, some groups are not likely to shed their traditional ways. This afternoon, go by Jeep into the desert to visit the Tuareg camps and discover the way these Islamic nomads, descendants of the Berbers, survive on what the desert provides. The Tuaregs are known as the "blue men of the desert" for their bright indigo robes and turbans. The dye from the robes sometimes rubs off, creating a bluish tint on their skin. Notice that, contrary to other Islamic societies, the Tuareg men are veiled at all times; the women are not. Camels are available for anyone who would like to take a ride. Later, enjoy a folkloric Tuareg dance, followed by a barbecue dinner served around a campfire in the middle of the desert. A local expert joins you for a talk about the stars and astrology. Hendrina Khan Hotel B L D B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Mali Vacation specialist Contact: Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 1/10 |
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