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(Click on the pictures to enlarge them)
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For a long time only "A Dream as Frail as those Ancient Time". No European visited Timbuktu and returned alive until 1828, and today Timbuktu is still far, far away. |
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Le Chemin de Sable (et de Poudre) |
Arrivant au fleuve Niger, dernier obstacle |
La traversée |
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Arrivant a Timbuktu, la porte de Sahara |
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La mosquée de Djingareiber, 1325 |
Timbuktu, centre commerçant des Touaregs |
Anciennes portes |
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The Tuareg in his kingdom |
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From Timbuktu, heading deep in to the desert. Ready, set... |
...go! |
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Arriving at the base camp, a new friendship has been established. |
The Camp. Thorn-bushes as fences for animals, tents to live in. Easy to set up - easy to pack down and continue once more. The life of the Nomad. |
...fort comme la mort, doux comme la vie, sucré comme l´amour... ( Tuareg tea is not for beginners. ) |
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The Tuareg people, ignoring country borders, are spread across the Sahara. |
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Les falaises de Bandiagara et les plaines - le Pays Dogon |
The Dogon villages are completely isolated, no electricity, water, roads or mobile coverage. The people are seemingly fully self-sustained. Today the main part of the villagers are Moslems, but some villages still keep the old animism religion which has made the Dogon country famous for its mask-dances and mysticism.
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The ancient and abandoned Tellem village in the hillside, and the Dogon village on the plain. |
The sand mosque at Kani Kombolé. |
Rooftop hotel facilities in Endé, Dogon Country. One of the more beautiful places I have slept in! |
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La fête des Moutons en Pays Dogon |
La fête des Moutons is the yearly Muselman celebration. Our guide Hamadoun Barry, himself from the Dogon Country, showed us and explained us all the details.
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La prière sur la steppe. |
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After the prayer, the party is started with le chef du village sacrifying a goat. |
Throat-cutting is cruel, but follows the ancient rituals. |
And after flaying, it's mutton on the menu for everyone. |
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Village girl, dressed for celebration. |
Le Griot, a troubadour whose profession has been inherited through the generations. |
Village girl, dressed for celebration. |
The river Niger. The Niger river rises in Guinea, and flows through Mali, Niger and empties into the Atlantic ocean outside Nigeria. It is a vital artery in Mali, and Mopti in Mali is a main port.
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Niger at Mopti |
The port of Mopti |
Bamako Haute Société. Last night in Bamako, taken to a local concert. Two thing struck us; there were almost exclusively women among the thousands of spectators, and they were dressed as to a wedding, in their finest hats and clothes.
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Haute Société Malienne |
Haute Société Francaise |
Before it all broke loose.
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Throughout most of the journey through Mali we were guided by Hamadoun Barry, "Guide National No 9", very capable! |
Karen quickly discovered Malian food. MMMmmmm, c'est bon! La fameuse Cuisine Malienne quicky gained a new supporter. |
Exhausted Erik. Mali was one of the most exiting and surely most exotic countries I have been to, but that also resulted in that I was most tired when coming back this time! :)
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Karen has a great collection of photos from the same and other trips to Mali. Here are her "Aventures malienne!
Feel free to send me comments about this page, the photos or Mali.
