Mali General Information

Quick Facts

Region: Africa

Population:
13,443,225

Religion:

Mali has three main religions, with Islam being practiced by about ninety percent of the population. Islam dates to the 11th century in Mali and has largely taken over from the traditional animism. Animism continues as the religion of some groups and Christianity is practiced by a small number of people.

Language:

French is the official language and Bambara is the most widely spoken. Other languages include Dogon, Songhai, Soninke, Senufo and Arabic.

Area (sq. km):
1,240,000 square meters

Time:

Time in Mali is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC +0).

When to Travel

Mali is subtropical to arid and has a hot, dry climate. From February to June the weather is hot and dry. From June to November it’s rainy, humid, and mild, while from November to February it is cool and dry. Average temperatures ranging from about 24° to 32°C in the south. Temperatures are higher in the north with the hottest weather coming just before the rainy season.

Annual rainfall declines from about 1,400 mm in the south to some 1,120 mm at Bamako and less than 127 mm in the Sahara of the north. Periodic droughts cause considerable hardship in this largely agricultural country. Because of the short rainy season, water shortage is a major problem.

The weather is most suitable for travel in the cooler season of November to February. At other times of the year the heat and humidity can become oppressive.

Useful Travel Facts

Airports:

In 2005 Mali had 27 airports, only 8 of which have a paved runway. The major airport is Bamako Airport, which is located 13 kilometres south of Bamako, near Sénou. As is the case in other parts of the world, occasionally touts may wait at the baggage carousel at Bamako airport and try to convince travellers that their transfer has not arrived. Please note that your Peregrine transfer will be waiting for you outside the airport entrance. If you cannot see your transfer driver, please contact the local office in Mali - the contact number is on the documentation.

Telephone:

Communication in and out of Mali can be difficult, as the telephone system struggles to keep up with the demands made on it. Global roaming generally does not work on international mobile handsets and it is recommended that you purchase a local Malitel or Orange simcard if you are wishing to make phone calls.

Electricity:

Electricity is 220 volts/50 hertz; electrical plugs are the French type, with two round prongs (three round prongs on grounded plugs).

Food:

The staple foods of Mali are millet, rice, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans and manioc. Freshwater fish from the River Niger such as tilapia and salted dried fish are used. Meals include meat kebabs, stews and dishes made from millet, while herbal teas are popular to drink.

Transport:

The roads in Mali are generally in quite good condition, although roads in the northern part of the country can be rough. There is a limited rail system and a public bus system.

Shopping:

The people of Mali are extremely creative and you will find a wide variety of hand-made items available. Major goods on the shopping list include textiles such as traditional mudcloth (bogolan), indigo cloth, cotton or wool blankets, all hand woven and dyed. You will also some great wooden sculptures, masks or statues and various local musical instruments. Other local crafts include silver or gold jewellery, leatherwork and pottery.

Visa: For Australians: The visa application form needs to be sent to Japan to the consulate of Mali in Tokyo. Passengers need to pay by international bank transfer and include a copy of this transaction in the application. Once the application has been received, the visa will be issued within 1-2 working days and couriered back to the passenger. This should take 3-4 days. (as part of the visa fee paid for a courier service). Visa application form and Japan contact details is available from Peregrine.

Useful Words & Phrases

French

Hello: Bonjour
Good Bye: Au revoir
Please: S’il-vous-plait
Thank You: Merci
You're Welcome: Je vous en prie
Yes: Oui
No: Non
Excuse me (request): Excusez-moi
Sorry: Pardon
How are you? (formal): Comment allez-vous
How are you? (informal): Ça va
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais
I don’t understand: Je ne comprends pas
What is your name?: Comment vous appelez vous?
My name is...: Je m’appelle...
Where is...: Où est...
I’d like...: Je voudrais...
How much is it?: Combien ça coûte?
Which way to...: Comment faire pour aller...
City centre: le centre-ville
Train station: la gare
Bank: la banque
Toilet: les toilettes
Exchange office: un bureau de change
1: un
2: deux
3: trois
4: quatre
5: cinq
6: six
7: sept
8: huit
9: neuf
10: dix
20: vingt
50: cinquante
100: cent

Further Reading

Mali Blues: Traveling to an African Beat - Lieve Joris
Dogon: Africa's People of the Cliffs - Stephenie Hollyman and Walter Van Beek
Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali - by Khephra Burns, Leo & Diane Dillon