Afrique

Discover Mali from 705 €

Practical information

Formalities

Non-Mali nationals will need a visa to enter the country. In France, visas can be obtained from the Consulate of Mali in Paris or Marseilles. All visas are valid for at least 30 days.

Obtention du Visa

Expect to pay €70 for a one-month visa. For longer durations, higher fees will apply.

Your pre-application must be completed online, on the Consulate of Mali website.

You will be asked to submit the following documents when applying for your visa at the Consulate of Mali in France:

1 passport valid at least 6 months after the end of your stay in Mali.
Your visa application form, signed and completed
A recent passport-sized photo

Additional information regarding your Mali visa application:

You will be required to pay a tax when applying for your visa
Payment by credit card is recommended
In general, it will take 2-4 days to obtain your visa

All information on police and customs formalities is provided for informational purposes only.
Corsair shall in no way be held responsible if you do not meet the requirements of the local authorities.

The Mali Office of Tourism does not have a branch in France Please contact the Consulate of Mali in France for all the information you will need to prepare for your trip:

Consulate of Mali in France
53 rue Hoche 93177 BAGNOLET - FRANCE
TEL : 01 55 82 08 30 - FAX : 01 48 51 67 63

Good to know

Passport : Before leaving, you must have a passport with a validity date later than the end of your trip.

Visa : Non-Malian nationals wishing to travel to Mali must obtain a VISA beforehand. The visa is issued by the Consulate General of Mali in Paris or Marseille, for a minimum period of 30 days, renewable on site.

On site

Business hours

Stores are open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday

Getting aound in Bamako
In Bamako and the other big cities, you have a choice between public transportation (relatively inexpensive “SOTRAMA” minibuses) and yellow cabs.
Yellow cabs will run you 1,500 - 2,000 FCFA (€2.50 - €3.00) per person per trip, compared to 150 - 200 FCFA (€0.22 - €0.30) for the SOTRAMA city buses.

Travel between cities:
For intercity trips, private coach companies (Binke Transport, Bani Transport, etc.) are your best bet. These coaches are gradually replacing the less reliable and rather uncomfortable bush taxis (Peugeot 404s), which also tend to charge extra for luggage.

We do not recommend renting a car in Mali as you may not be covered in the event of an accident.

Safety
Although the southern half of Mali (including the Bamako region) is quite safe, you are advised to remain extremely vigilant. If you will be traveling outside this area, in particular to the northern part of the country, it is recommended that you follow the travel guidelines of Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Services
Stores and administrative buildings are open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

Vacations and celebrations

Army Day - January 20
Martyrs’ Day - March 26
Africa Day - May 25
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) - June 15-16 (2018)
Eid al-Adha (Tabaski), sacrifice of Abraham - variable
Mawlid (Maouloud), Muhammad’s Birthday - variable
Muharram (Tamkharit), Islamic New Year - variable
Independence Day - September 22
Prophet’s Baptism (Maouloud) - December 8
Fescauri - December 15
Christmas Day - December 25

Do not miss

Essentials

A bright and vivacious city on the Niger River
The capital of Mali and beating heart of West Africa, Bamako, with its markets and mosques, feels like a small village despite the bustling lifestyle of its citizens. Vibrant and friendly, Bamako is a place where hope meets tradition. You’ll be struck by its warm welcome, therapeutic charm, and the museums which testify to an age-old history that has shaped the Malian culture of today.

Must-see attractions
No visit to Bamako would be complete without a stop at the National Museum of Mali, home to hundreds of masks and sculptures created by the fascinating Bambara and Dogon tribes. When you’ve had your fill of the museum, take an unhurried stroll through the former colonial district for a first-hand view of the French splendor of yore. Finally, be sure to check out the exuberant Pink Market and the Bamako House of Arts and Crafts, a popular hangout of local residents. Pick up a souvenir in the form of some extraordinary Malian artwork, from a bogolan (traditional feminine garment) to a marabout.

Around Bamako
Unwind during a trek along the Niger River to the port of Kalanban Koro, where sand is extracted by long boats (“pinnaces”) and later used as a material for construction. Photography fans will be enchanted by the sight of the pinnaces lined up along the river shore.

Bamako National Park
Explore one of the largest botanical gardens in all of Africa, a conservatory for the ecosystems found in the Sub-Saharan climate. Strike up a conversation with the gardener about Mali’s traditional medicinal plants while surrounded by indigenous trees and flowers. Finally, prolong your visit at the adjacent zoological gardens where you’ll encounter renowned local species such as lions and rhinoceroses.

Gastronomy

Share a plate of tô, Mali’s must-try dish
Simple and copious, Malian cuisine is characterized by succulent rice or grain-based recipes served with delicious sauces (Fakoye, Djiabaji). Jollof rice, cooked with tomatoes, onions, and fried chicken, is one of the most popular and delectable dishes in Mali. You’ll also find it hard to resist tô, a “flan” of crushed millet topped with an exquisite sauce made from the tropical fruit okra. Meat is also very popular in Mali, and a major part of festive meals. Not to mention the famous “tukasu of Timbuktu,” a traditional Songhai recipe served on special occasions consisting of wheat balls and tomatoes simmered in a hearty lamb stew..

Hibiscus juice and dolo beer
Mali - and in particular, Bamako - is also where you can try “bouye” juice, a drink made from freshly-squeezed monkey bread (the fruit of the baobab tree). Usually reserved for festive occasions, reddish “bissap” (diableni) juice tastes somewhat like cherries and is made from dried Hibiscus leaves. You’ll also enjoy sipping a refreshing, vanilla-scented tamarind juice after a hot day exploring. Finally, be sure to try Mali’s legendary dolo beer, an ancient brew made from fermented millet.

Culture

Music and photography
A part of daily life as well as any important occasion, music is at the core of Malian culture. The soothing sound of the kora, a legendary instrument known as the “African harp,” can be heard in every Malian composition. Once played exclusively by the “Griots,” virtuoso singers in charge of preserving the country’s oral tradition, it is now a staple at the Bamako Acoustic Festival organized by the most famous of all kora musicians, Toumani Diabaté. In February, dance troupes, musicians, and ballet companies from all over West Africa gather to perform to the beat of African drums during the Bamako International Percussion Festival (“Festip”). If you’re into photography, don’t miss “Bamako Encounters, the African Biennale of Photography” and the numerous exhibitions held at all of Bamako’s best-known cultural institutions (National Museum, National Library, etc.).

Bamako architecture
Since the 16th century, Bamako’s architecture has been influenced by “banco” (adobe), or the “Sudano-Sahelian” architectural style. These elegant and elongated structures are made unique by walls flanked with cones and beams. A perfect example is the concrete door of the famous Pink Market, constructed in 1927 and boasting all the details of this unique architectural expression. Built in 1906 as the residence of the Governor of French Sudan, Koulouba Palace is now home to the President of Mali and a striking example of the colonial architecture of yore. Tip: take a moment to enjoy the shade of the magnificent, 100-foot-tall African mahoganies by walking up “Avenue de la Liberté” to reach the base of the palace.