A long drive back through the desert to Timbuktu…. View image….another 4WD carrying goats on the roof heading to market…. View image….our guide making his directional hand motions….one of our drivers veering off to chase a Gazelle (which earned him a screaming, reaming out from a livid Roberto – he could have blown an engine [...]
“Travel Tips & Advice on Mali”
Finally, Timbuktu, Mali – West Africa
October 5th, 2006 
Sheila Simkin 
Posted in Africa, Mali 
Tags: adventure, Bamako, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, Sahara Desert, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa 
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Camel Trek to Araouane, Mali – West Africa
October 4th, 2006 Sheila Simkin It was extremely early in the morning when the nomads appeared with our camels. Groaning, the camels folded their bodies to the ground, protesting violently, and the herders sorted out which camel was the right one for each of us. I was very nervous about doing a camel trek and could have ridden in a [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Araouane, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, Sahara Desert, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa No Comments »
Into the Sahara Desert of Mali – West Africa
October 3rd, 2006 Sheila Simkin Our convoy of several 4WD vehicles, set off into the desert to see the salt caravans. Since the Middle Ages, camel caravans have traveled through the Sahara to Taudenni, 500 miles north of Timbuktu. Salt has been in high demand in West Africa since the 12th century. Each salt block weighs about 66 lbs., and [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, Sahara Desert of Mali, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa 1 Comment »
Mopti and Up The Niger River by Pinasse, Mali – West Africa
October 2nd, 2006 Sheila Simkin Mopti is considered the “Venice of Africa” and was such an interesting town that an extra day here would have been perfect. It consists of three small islands linked by levees. We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Niger, watching the small boats pull up, cargo being unloaded and carried on people’s heads, huge [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, Djenne, event, Falani, food, information, log, Mopti, nature, Niger River, Pinasse, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, waterfront, West Africa No Comments »
Djenne on the Niger, Mali – West Africa
October 1st, 2006 Sheila Simkin Djenne was built in the 14th century, on high ground near the Niger, and becomes an island when the Niger floods. It is the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa, 220 miles south of Timbuktu (we still had a way to go). The old Town of Djenne and the Great Mosque (the most famous mosque [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, Djenne, event, food, Great Mosque, information, log, nature, Niger River, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa 3 Comments »
Hiking Over The Dogon Escarpment, Mali – West Africa
September 30th, 2006 Sheila Simkin A hike up and over a Dogon escarpment was a major adventure and undertaking. First, we assembled early in the morning at the base of the mountain for our hike, surrounded by villagers screaming and shouting to Roberto… “Me…me…pick me…” as our guides and porters. It seemed to be massive, but organized, confusion! Roberto assigned [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa No Comments »
Dogon Masked Dance, Mali – West Africa
September 29th, 2006 Sheila Simkin We roamed through several Dogon villages, learning about their culture. The Dogons are animists and I had to learn what an “animist” is. According to the dictionary – the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena. With this belief of Gods in everything around them, they have elaborate masked [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, dances, destination, Dogon country, event, food, information, log, nature, rituals, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa 1 Comment »
Into The Dogon Lowlands, Mali – West Africa
September 28th, 2006 Sheila Simkin We crossed the Mali border and entered the sandy Dogon lowlands, filled with enormous baobab trees…View image and spiny shrubs. This area has few visitors and the oldest Dogon settlements. The Dogon country is possibly the premier attraction in Mali and the group was excited about the upcoming sights. Roberto always made sure that our [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, burial caves, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, Dogon county, event, food, information, log, Mali, nature, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa No Comments »
Planning “Timbuktu & Beyond” – West Africa
September 25th, 2006 Sheila Simkin There was a lot of planning involved and we used our travel agent to help sort out the myriad details. Air? This involved flying into Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and flying out of Bamako, Mali. There was only one suitable airline (for us), Air France who flew into both cities via Paris. Royal Air Maroc is [...]
Posted in Africa, Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa No Comments »
Exotic West Africa
September 24th, 2006 Sheila Simkin We have taken two trips to West Africa, both with Mountain Travel Sobek. The first trip was called “Timbuktu & Beyond” into one of the most fascinating countries in the entire world, Mali. Who hasn’t heard of Timbuktu one of the most isolated places in the world, synonymous with being “out in nowhere” but this [...]
Posted in Mali Tags: adventure, Burkina Faso, culture, destination, event, food, information, log, nature, sightseeing, Timbuktu, travel, walking, West Africa No Comments »
