Planning – Mali

 

Where: Bamako, Segoukara, Segou, San, Sibi, Dougoubou
Transport: Airlines, Car
Who: One traveler
Currency: West African Franc (XOF), U.S. Dollar (USD)
 

Djenne, Mopti and Dogon Country At the time of writing this trip report (October 2024), the most-visited and sought-after places of Djenne, Mopti and Dogon Country were not accessible because of the ongoing security situation in Mali. The furthest east any traveler could reach is San, or to the border with Burkina Faso. Make sure to check with your local guide or the local authorities on visiting Djenne or Mopti before planning your trip. Some tour operators offer special and expensive flights from Bamako to Timbuktu, but visiting Timbuktu was not recommended at the time of publishing this report (October 2024).

Planning

Visa

At the time of writing this trip report, Mali requires most nationalities to get a visa before traveling there. We applied for a visa at the embassy in Washington D.C. and it took about 7-8 days of processing the visa, costing a whopping $185 for a 5-year multiple entry visa.

You get a full-page sticker visa in your passport.

Tour

With less frequent and unknown public transport, it can be challenging to travel around the country. The police are well-known to ask for bribes when stopped along the checkpoints, and can complicate matters if you don’t comply! So we traveled with a tour guide and a driver in a 4×4 vehicle organized by Ibrahim Boureima. He is a well-known tour operator amongst the travel community and we would highly recommend him.

Ibrahim can be contacted directly at +223-76021543 on WhatsApp.

SIM Card

You can get an Orange SIM card for XOF 2000 ($3.36) at a store in airport upon arrival or in Bamako.

We opted for a data package of 7GB for 14 days validity that costs XAF 2,000 ($3.36).

There is no eSIM option for Orange in Mali.

Cash or card?

Mali uses West African Franc (XOF) as its official currency, and the exchange rate at the time of writing was USD 1 = XOF 595. Exchanging USD is not easy in Mali; while the preferred currency to use or exchange is EUR, your tour guide can help you exchange USD. You can withdraw cash from ATMs or official sources at airport or in cities.

Your credit cards (Visa or MasterCard) may work in big hotels, but almost every business do not accept cards (including most places to stay). Mali is mainly a cash economy and everyone prefers XOF cash.

Tips

Here are some tips for a trip to Mali:

• Temperatures – We visited in early October and the temperatures were mild and bearable. Ranging from 22C (71F) to 32C (89F), it was mostly sunny, but humid all over the region we traveled to.
• Mosquito repellent – the most important thing to have! Mosquitoes are everywhere and can be nasty!
• Toiletries in hotels – expect a soap and towel in all hotels, but do not expect shampoo, so carry your own!
• Cash – carrying USD or EUR to convert to XOF is the best way to go! Most businesses or people do not prefer USD or GBP though.
• Photos – People are very friendly and would be okay to take their pictures, but please take their permission before making that click! Most places, including the big cities are good for taking pictures but maintain caution to even take out your camera as petty thieves are everywhere! Corrupt cops will immediately approach you to delete pictures if you take pictures of government buildings or police/military personnel. Ask your tour guide if you’re not sure!
• Water – bottled water is available everywhere and is cheap! It costs about XOF 600-800 for a large 1 liter bottle.

Accommodation

We booked accommodation as a part of the tour in Mali. These are the costs based on online rates, and can be different if you are a part of a tour.

City	Accommodation	Cost/night	Notes
Bamako	Immeuble KCF Garantibougou	$–.–	Price included in tour. Private apartment with ensuite bathroom. Breakfast not included.
Segou	Hôtel Vue de l’Esplanade	$–.–	Price included in tour. Private room with ensuite bathroom. Breakfast included.
San	Hotel Teriya	$–.–	Price included in tour. Private room with ensuite bathroom. Breakfast included.
Sibi	Camp	$–.–	Price included in tour. Private hut with shared bathroom. Breakfast included.

 

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.
 

What	Cost	Notes
Tour cost	$1,600.00	For one person (on single person basis). Total cost of the tour for 6 days. This includes accommodation, meals and entrance fees to different sites for all days.
Visa fees	$185.00	Tourist Visa.
SIM Card	$10.08	Orange SIM card for 7GB for 14 days.
Total Costs	$1,795.08	Per person
Overall Costs	$1,795.08	Per person

 

 
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