Nature's sci-fi is on display in the esoteric landscape of Mali.

Mali is not the place to go for safaris. What it does have is a smorgasbord of surreal landscapes, beautiful artwork, Timbuktu, castellated mosques made entirely of mud, pink sandstone villages carved into cliff faces, and undulating desert scenes that look like out-takes from Lawrence of Arabia .

Travel Warning: Armed Clashes - Desert Bandits

Over the last few months, the number of clashes between various armed groups and the Malian military has been on the rise, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries, sometimes affecting civilians too. On 21 May, a group of armed Tuaregs attacked a Malian army post in Abeibara. Thirty people were killed and another 30 injured. Travellers should exercise extreme caution when visiting the country.

Travellers are also advised to avoid the regions bordering Mauritania, Algeria and Niger as well as north of Timbuktu, as they are the domain of desert bandits. Caution is also advised in the area bordering Côte d'Ivoire, due to ongoing instability in that country.

severity: High-level alert

Fast Facts

Country Full Name

Republic of Mali

Population

11,600,000

Currency

Name: CFA Franc BCEAO
Code: XOF
Symbol: CFA

Electrical Plugs

European plug with two circular metal pins
220V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: French

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +0 

Country Dialing Code

+223

Weights & Measures

Metric

Traveller Tips & Discussion

Thorn Tree Forum

  • Mali
    Post by: novatrdg, 03 Feb 08
    4 Replies
    Last reply: 156 days ago
  • mali
    Post by: phil11, 21 Apr 08
    19 Replies
    Last reply: 78 days ago
  • Mali and
    Post by: IrishMcMahon, 27 May 07
    11 Replies
    Last reply: 408 days ago
  • Mali-Algeria
    Post by: quebraley, 02 Mar 08
    7 Replies
    Last reply: 128 days ago
  • senegal to mali
    Post by: Misanthrope, 26 Dec 07
    10 Replies
    Last reply: 195 days ago

View more Thorn Tree threads ›

BLUELISTS blu,list to recommend a travel experience

View more Bluelists ›

Jump to Navigation

Shop Online

Advertisement

Book Your Trip

Travel insurance. Be covered by our recommended partner.

Compare & book flights from 100's of domestic & international airlines.

Hotels & Hostels

Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›

Lonely Planet Newsletters

Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›

Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

Lonely Planet