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 lunch was eaten in whatever shade he could find. And when the only available shade was in between spiny shrubs, one of his driver would take a machete, start hacking away at the trees and create enough space for everyone to eat lunch out of the brutal sun.

drivers hacking out some shade in Mali, West Africa….and took early morning treks to traditional villages.

The Dogon people are considered the most interesting ethnic group in Mali. They fled to this area in the 15th century during the Islamic invasions to maintain their cultural and religious traditions. Marriages are sometimes arranged before the birth of a child and the ceremony can take place when the bride is 12 years old. Also, a man is not considered an adult until he has produced a child. The Dogon’s worship their ancestors, have complex masks and ritual dances and number about 250,000. Their geometric designs inspired a young Picasso and has been acknowledged as a major influence in modern art.

Chief’s house covered with geometric designs
The Dogon farmers have constructed irrigation channels which create the only spots of green around their villages.

one rare spot of green in arid Dogon country, Mali, West Africa
Their homes are cone-shaped…View image …with elaborately carved wooden doors. The old doors and Dogon “ladders” are highly sought after by collectors. We saw both being sold in some “antique” shops, and actually had to climb down some during our Dogon trek.

High on the cliffs are ancient burial caves. The bodies are lowered down (or lifted up) to them on ropes. It reminded me of photos I’ve seen from Toraja land in Sulawesi, Indonesia where they practice the same method of burial. Thousand of years ago, Mali had a temperate climate, green and fertile with vines growing up the sides of the escarpment, and people living in these caves. And now, dry…hot…sand…”Global Warming”?

burial caves in Dogon country, Mali, West Africa