Here are 20 of the best things to do in Mali:

  1. Visit the ancient city of Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and center of Islamic learning and trade in the 15th and 16th centuries.
  2. Explore the Djenné Mosque, the largest mud-brick mosque in the world and another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. Take a camel ride into the Sahara Desert and spend a night under the stars.
  4. Visit the Dogon Country, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Dogon people and their traditional mud-brick villages.
  5. Take a boat ride on the Niger River, the third-longest river in Africa, and visit the towns and villages that line its banks.
  6. Explore the markets of Bamako, the capital city of Mali, where you can find everything from textiles to traditional medicines.
  7. Visit the Bandiagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a variety of plant and animal species.
  8. Attend the Festival au Desert, a music festival held in the desert near Timbuktu.
  9. Take a guided tour of the Maison des Artisans in Bamako, where you can see traditional crafts being made.
  10. Visit the Tomb of Askia in Gao, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to the power of the Songhai Empire.
  11. Attend a performance of the traditional music and dance of Mali, which has influenced music around the world.
  12. Visit the Great Mosque of Djenné, another impressive mud-brick mosque and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  13. Explore the Hombori Tondo rock formation, a striking geological feature located in central Mali.
  14. Visit the National Museum of Mali in Bamako, which houses a wide range of artifacts and exhibits on the country’s history and culture.
  15. Take a tour of the Ségoukoro Village, a traditional village located near the town of Ségou.
  16. Attend the Festival sur le Niger, a music and arts festival held in Ségou.
  17. Take a cooking class and learn how to make traditional Malian dishes such as tô and bissap.
  18. Visit the Falaise de Bandiagara, a stunning sandstone cliff that stretches for over 150 km in the Dogon Country.
  19. Explore the ancient city of Gao, a former capital of the Songhai Empire.
  20. Take a day trip to the nearby country of Burkina Faso and visit the lively city of Ouagadougou.

Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso to the south, Cote d’Ivoire to the southwest, Guinea to the southwest, and Senegal to the west. The country has a rich cultural heritage and is known for its music, dance, and traditional festivals.

Mali has a population of approximately 20 million people, the majority of whom are Muslim. The official language is French, although many people also speak Bambara, a widely spoken African language. Mali is a young and growing population, with more than half of the population under the age of 20.

The history of Mali dates back to the 14th century, when the Malian Empire was one of the largest and wealthiest in the world. The empire was known for its trade in gold and salt, and for its rich cultural heritage. Mali remained a center of Islamic learning and scholarship for centuries, and it played an important role in the spread of Islam throughout West Africa.

Today, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a low level of economic development and high rates of poverty. The country faces many challenges, including political instability, ethnic conflicts, and poverty. Despite these challenges, Mali is a country with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse population, and it has a great deal of potential for growth and development in the years ahead.