We departed Bamako in the morning after breakfast, arriving to Segoukoro around noon after a 3 hour drive. First stop was at the home-village of Biton Coulibaly.
Bitòn Coulibaly and Segoukoro
Bitòn Coulibaly (1689–1755), also known as Mamary Coulibaly, founded the Bambara Empire in what is now Mali’s Ségou Region and Mopti Region.
The tomb of Bitòn Mamary Coulibaly, founder of the Segu Empire, lies in Segoukoro (old Segou), next to a recent reconstruction of his palace with its seven vestibules. The palace lies in shambles with much-needed reconstruction because of lack of maintenance. Inside the palace is the museum depicting the life of Biton Coulibaly with mannequin guards and mannequin Biton.
To enter the village, you must meet the chief, who is blind, to get his permission and pay a fee. You will be given a local guide (in French only) who will explain the house of the chief, the tomb of Biton and the palace.
Segou
It takes about 20 minutes drive from Segoukoro to reach the second largest city of Mali – Segou. This colonial town lies on the banks of Niger River, and with its beautiful tree-lined avenues and relaxed atmosphere, it is the heart of Bambara culture.
Upon entering the city from the west, you see a ‘welcome monument’ at the roundabout of the main highway displaying the map of the region of Segou, surrounded by the statues of Kings that ruled Segou for generations.
After a long drive from Bamako, we checked-in to our hotel (Hôtel Vue de l’Esplanade) located at the banks of Niger river, so we spent the rest of the evening walking along the river.
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Costs
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.
| What | Cost | Notes |
| None | $0.00 | No additional costs for the day. |
| Day Costs | $0.00 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,795.08 | Per person |
Day 2
Biton Coulibaly, Segoukoro, Segou
Visit the birthplace of Biton Coulibaly, old village of Segoukoro and arrive in Segou.
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