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Mali, with its population of about 20.25 million (2020), is located in west Africa and shares borders with
Algeria to its north, Niger to its east, Burkina Faso and the
Ivory Coast to its south, Guinea to its south-west and Senegal
and Mauritania
to its west. In size, Mali is approximately 1000
miles from north to south, and 1050 miles from east
to west and has has three main zones, the Saharan
one in the north, the central semi-arid Shahelian
one and the Sudanese zone in the south where the land is more
fertile being fed by the Niger River and the Senegal River. Most of the countryside of Mali is flat, with the north of
the country being desert, however in east central Mali can be
found the Hombori Mountains and in the north east another
mountainous region called Adrar des Iforas in the Kidal region known locally as "Adagh";
("Adrar" is the Berber word for mountain, and "Ifogha" is
the name of the Tuareg tribe who live a nomadic
lifestyle raising camels, goats and sheep for survival.)
Images of Mali often conjure up the Niger
River, the long sought after city of Timbuktu, and, of course
the Dogon Tribe who according to legend, had contact with a fish
like race from Sirius called the Nommo. Many of the Dogon live
in the Bandiagara Escarpment (top), a sandstone cliff stretching for
93 miles, with its homes and myriad of tunnels that kept the
French at bay during Mali's colonial era. Although the country is currently in turmoil, there is plenty
to see in Mali from Timbuktu which is close to the Niger River
during rainy season (though miles away during dry spells) which
is now a United Nations World Heritage site not least for its
centuries old mosques. For those interested in history, the
National Museum in Bamako is a good starting point with exhibits
reflecting Malian culture together with archaeological artefacts
and a model of the Great Mosque of Djenne, a building
constructed of mud bricks that remains of great historical
importance.
Other
landmarks in the Mali countryside include the Hand of Fatima which can be seen whilst travelling along the road from Mopti to Gao;
the 'Flamme de la Paix' monument constructed in commemoration of
the end of the 1990s Tuareg rebellion and the zoos (give them a
miss unless you enjoy seeing distressed animals), museums and
botanical gardens found in the capital Bamako. While there, take a taxi out to explore the Point G caves which
have been inhabited for millennia with their unique wall
paintings. A must see. The video (below) gives some insight into
the nature of mali in music and images.
Mali Images: Volunteer in Mali
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Mali Images: Mali Map
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Mali Images: Child Sponsor Mali
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Mali Images: Mali Country Profile
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