DOGON COUNTRY
(8 days)
Protected by the cliffs of Bandiagara, the Dogons have preserved the foundation of their civilization. Their strength comes from social cohesion based on complex philosophy and religion, the main rule of which is the cult of ancestors. Their particular cosmogony will charm you by its originality and its richness. Dogon architecture cannot be seen anywhere else. Walking along narrow cliff paths, you discover houses perched on steep rocky slopes below caves sheltering ritual masks and the shrouded dead.
| Day 1 | BAMAKO |
|---|---|
| Transfer to a hotel or villa. Dinner at a restaurant or in yard of the villa. | |
| Day 2 | BAMAKO - SEGU |
| Bamako city tour, the national museum, crafts market and the artisan center. Lunch before departure to Segu in 4WD vehicle. Installation at hotel, dinner and overnight. | |
| Day 3 | SEGU - MOPTI |
| Visit the city before departure to Mopti. Lunch en route at the "campement" of San. Visit to its mosque and continuation. Installation at a hotel in Mopti, dinner and overnight. | |
| Day 4 | MOPTI - SANGHA (Dogon Country) |
| Departure to Sangha via 4WD vehicle (about three hours driving). Installation and lunch at the "campement" of Sangha. Visit the village in the afternoon: its famous fetishist houses, the Toguna, etc. Dinner and overnight at the "campement." | |
| Day 5 | SANGHA - MOPTI |
| Early morning (6:00 - 9:00), 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 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. | |
| Day 8 | BAMAKO |
| Breakfast and transfer at the airport. |
