Day 1 – Bamako

We arrived in Bamako at about 4:30PM the day before and after a quick drive around, we stopped by a local restaurant for dinner and headed straight to hotel “Immeuble KCF Garantibougou” in the south of the city, close to the airport.

Bamako

There are a few sights to see in Bamako, and one of the most significant and striking monument is Monument de l’Independance – built in 1996 with monolithic reinforced concrete, clad in marble, this is an iconic symbol of Mali’s struggle for freedom and self-determination.

Another monument is the Tour l’Afrique or Africa Tower, built in solidarity with the African nations fighting for independence from the French colonial power. The Africa Tower has a museum and stairs leading to the top of the tower from where a panoramic view of Bamako can be seen.

The Monument de la Paix (Peace Monument) has the shape of an arch, which is actually two hands that are holding up a globe on which a white dove is placed, the symbol of peace, dedicated to the return of the peace in the northern part of the country.

Another striking building is the BCEAO Tower. At 20 stories and 80 meters (262 feet) high, it is the tallest building in the West African region. The BCEAO Tower is the Malian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States, and is modeled on the Sudano-Sahelian architecture of the famous Mosques of Djenné and Timbuktu. The building is dull orange in color and matches the traditional banco architecture of West Africa, as well as that of the soil in the surrounding area. Its tapered shape resembles a termite hill from a distance.

One of the more interesting and retro buildings is the Old Assembly Building of Mali. Not in function anymore, this was the parliament of Mali before the insurgency and now lies in ruins.

Next stop on the city tour of Bamako was the National Museum of Mali (Musée national du Mali) which is a leading archaeological and anthropological museum specializing in African art. The museum offers both permanent and temporary exhibitions that showcase the rich history of Mali, including musical instruments, traditional clothing, and ritual objects from the country’s diverse ethnic groups. The museum grounds also house concrete replicas of important cultural landmarks, such as the renowned mosques of Djenné and Timbuktu.

Taking pictures inside the museum is strictly prohibited and monitored by attendants all over.

Another experience to see are the Sand Diggers of Mali (Image gallery) near the Niger river. We did not visit them during our visit to Bamako.

A few other notably places to see in Bamako (which we did not visit) are:

• Sacred Heart Cathedral
• Bamako Grand Mosque

After visiting most of the sights in the capital city, we headed to Hotel Mande on the banks of Niger river for dinner before heading back to the hotel, calling it an early night!

Mali story highlights on Instagram This trip report can also be seen on our story highlights on Instagram account @travelonthedollar. Click the image on left to go directly to Mali Highlights, or visit our Instagram profile and under ‘Highlights’, scroll to the right and click on ‘Mali’.

Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate of USD 1 = XOF 595 at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult. Note that the expenses do not include international flights to and from Mali.
 

 
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