TIMBUKTU & THE DOGONS

Day 1
Depart London

Day 2
Arrive Bamako in the early hours, transfer to hotel. Afternoon drive to Segou.

Day 3
The Scottish explorer Mungo Park discovered the colonial town of Segou at the end of the 18th Century. We spend the day exploring on foot and admiring the local pottery and textiles.

Day 4
En route to Djenne we pass the traditional farmland of the Bambara and Bobo tribes and we visit a local village. We cross the Bani River to Djenne, one of the oldest towns in West Africa. Djenne has changed little from when it was at its peak in the 14th Century. It is famous for its market day, renowned as one of the best in West Africa. In years gone by slaves, gold, spices and ivory were for sale; today the main products are fruit and vegetables, cattle, goats, fish, rice, millet, calabashes, cloth, spices and pottery. We spend the afternoon visiting this fascinating market.

Day 5
Today we visit (from the outside only) the largest mud brick building in the world, the Sudanese style mosque. Built in the beginning of the 20th century, it is re-inforced at the end of each rainy season by about 4000 volunteers in a mud festival!

Day 6
Drive to the town of Mopti to see its beautiful mosque and busy harbour. The market attracts ethnic groups from all over the country including the Turaeg from the Sahara. In the afternoon we continue on to the Bandiagara Escarpment in Dogon country. Our local Dogon guide introduces us to the fascinating way of life of the traditional Dogon animists. These people are famed for their carved wooden granary doors and masks. Each village and home is built in the form of a human being with the blacksmith located at the head of the village. This afternoon we visit the village of Songho with its rock paintings and where boys are circumcised every three years in a special ceremony.

Day 7 - 8
The cliffs of the 135km Bandiagara Escarpment are home to many dwellings including the granaries and tombs of the original inhabitants the Tellem. The Dogons fled to the Bandiagara Escarpment over six hundred years ago to seek refuge from Islamic persecutors. They did not resume contact with the outside world until the 1930s. During our two-day stay in the Dogon country we may have an opportunity to try the local millet beer, Konjo, served warm and still fermenting, made by the women to celebrate a successful market day. We include visits to the village of Teli with its ancient Dogon and Tellem dwellings and the unspoilt village of Niongono. We continue on to Sevare for the night.

Day 9 - 10
This morning we board our traditional pinasse for three days of relaxation on the Niger, Africa's third longest river, travelling through unspoilt landscape. Our pinasse is a traditional boat made of wood, powered by an engine, with fixed rows of seats and a thatched sunroof. We visit the villages and witness the daily life of the people who live by the river. The nomadic fishermen of the Bozo tribe live in clan-sized villages in straw huts. They can dismantle these huts and load them on their pirogue boats at any time, depending on the fish supply and the water level. We may also encounter the Bella, the former slaves of the Tuareg. For birdwatchers the birdlife along the river includes the colourful African Fish Eagle, Great White Heron, Red Bishop, Pygmy King Fisher and Abyssinian Roller. If we are lucky we may spot hippos aswell. We spend two nights camping beside the river. In December and January the night time temperature can drop to 8 degrees centigrade, so do come prepared.

Day 11
After another leisurely morning on the river we disembark and transfer to Timbuktu, arriving in the late afternoon.

Day 12
Today we see the sights of Timbuktu. Located at the southern edge of the Sahara desert, this former salt trading post, inspired explorers of old with tales of the streets being paved with gold. For some people, their first impressions of the border town between the Sahel and the Sahara are somewhat conflicting. The town is dominated by imposing mosques and the old historic facades of the traditional patricians‘ home. On the other hand the town appears to be sinking in the sand. We visit three of the oldest mosques in West Africa: Sidi-Yahiya, Sankoré and Djinguereber (from the outside only), and the former houses of the African explorers: Gordon Laing, René Caillié and Heinrich Barth. There is also an opportunity to take an optional afternoon camel ride into the Sahara desert to a Tuareg camp for some traditional sweet tea.

Day 13
A long and bumpy drive to Sevare including a 30 minute river crossing on a local ferry. We may see donkey and camel caravans en route plus the impressive edge of the Bandiagara escarpment.

Day 14
We continue to the charming town of Segou with its laid back atmosphere. There is the opportunity to buy some handmade crafts, or do further exploring and it is an ideal place to break our journey.

Day 15
Morning drive to Bamako. The afternoon is free, to visit some of the many craft markets for souvenirs, to visit the excellent National Museum or to relax by the small hotel swimming pool. Two day rooms will be available at the hotel.

Day 16
Early morning flight to London.