TIMBUKTU — DOGON COUNTRY
(7 Days)
TIMBUKTU: THE MYSTERIOUS
Ancient intellectual capital and commercial metropolis, TIMBUKTU was founded in the 12th century by Touaregs around a well TIM, the keeper of which was named BUKTU.
TIMBUKTU has preserved many historical monuments through the ages and from its splendid past:
- The mosque of Jinguiraiber built by king Kankan Moussa on his return from Mecca.
- The mosque of Sankoré was a great medieval center for the study of theology and law, whose doctors were rivals of the greatest universities of Cairo and Fez.
- The house of explorers:
- Major ANDREW LAING: the first European to find the desert city. He was killed by the Touaregs.
- RENE CAILLE: He entered the town on 20-04-1828 disguised as an Egyptian slave. He was the first European to get back alive from TIMBUKTU. He became famous when he returned to France, his name forever linked to the former glories of Timbuktu.
| Day 1 | BAMAKO |
|---|---|
| Transfer to hotel or villa. Dinner at a restaurant or in yard of the villa. | |
| Day 2 | BAMAKO - TIMBUKTU |
| Early morning departure to Timbuktu. City tour: mosques, explorers houses, museum, installation and lunch at hotel. 16H30: Camel ride in the desert to visit a Touareg camp. Meeting with the blue men, Touareg dance. Dinner and overnight at hotel or camp. | |
| Day 3 | TIMBUKTU - MOPTI |
| Departure to Sévaré, transfer at Mopti and installation at hotel. City tour: mosque, fishing port and market. Lunch at bar Bozo (African restaurant). 16H30: cruise on the Niger and Bani rivers to explore the fishermen's villages, the beautiful downtown on the river, and the port. Dinner and overnight at hotel. | |
| Day 4 | MOPTI - SANGHA (DOGON COUNTRY) |
| Departure to Sangha in 4WD vehicle (about three hours driving). Installation and lunch at the "campement" of Sangha. Visit to the village in the afternoon: its famous fetishist houses, the toguna, etc. Dinner and overnight at the "campement." | |
| Day 5 | SANGHA/ MOPTI |
| Early in the morning (about 6:00 to 9:00 o'clock AM), walk/ride to discover Dogon culture and architecture. Lunch at the "campement" followed by mask dance. Return to Mopti. Dinner and overnight at hotel. | |
| Day 6 | MOPTI - DJENNE - MOPTI |
| Departure in air conditioned 4WD vehicle to Djenne (about 2h driving). Visit to the ruins in Hamdallaye en route (old capital city of the Fulani kingdom of Macina). Visit to Djenne city and its marvellous mosque (the greatest mud-made monument in the world). Lunch time in that place. Return to Mopti, dinner and overnight at Kanaga Hotel. | |
| Day 7 | MOPTI - BAMAKO |
| Leisure time in the morning. Lunch and transfer to the airport. Flight (3:00 to 5:00 PM). Arrival at Bamako, transfer to town, dinner in a restaurant and return to the airport according to the departure's arrangements. |
