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Travelling to Mali: what to know before you go

Mali is a large, landlocked country in West Africa that stretches from the Sahara in the north to the savannah and the Niger river in the south. It is the home of great medieval empires, mud-brick architecture and a world-famous music tradition. Travel conditions have changed significantly in recent years, so check your government's current travel advice before travelling.

Where to go

• Bamako. The capital spreads along the Niger river.
• Great Mosque of Djenné. The largest mud-brick building in the world, rebuilt in its current form in 1907, stands in the market square of Djenné, a UNESCO-listed town on a floodplain island.
• Timbuktu. Once a great centre of trade and Islamic scholarship on the edge of the Sahara, Timbuktu is known for its earthen mosques, such as Djinguereber and Sankore, and for collections of historic manuscripts.
• Bandiagara Escarpment. A sandstone cliff running for about 150 kilometres, where Dogon villages, granaries and older cliff dwellings cling to the rock.

Best time to visit

The cooler dry season from about November to February has the most comfortable temperatures, though the dusty harmattan wind can bring hazy skies. From March to June temperatures rise sharply, and the heat can be extreme, especially in the north.

Staying online in Mali

Mobile coverage is generally available in Bamako and other larger towns in the south, with 3G and 4G in parts of the capital. Coverage becomes patchy or absent in rural areas, along the river and across much of the north and the Sahara. Mobile internet can be disrupted at times. Wi-Fi is offered in some hotels in Bamako but can be slow and depends on power. Download offline maps and important documents before you travel. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.