How to avoid getting ripped off at the Bamako airport
There have been several accounts recently of people being ripped off after landing at the Senou International Airport in Bamako. On arrival you can often be targeted by what can only be described as fake guides. They are usually well dressed and quite often they will find you inside the airport whilst you are standing […]
The Best Pharmacy in Bamako
Unfortunately, many pharmacies in Bamako are not well stocked with many of the medications and brands that you may be familiar with back home. There is one exception, however, and that is pharmacy m’Pewo in Lafiabougou (see the map below). I stumbled upon this pharmacy after striking out at numerous other locations trying to a […]
Playing Golf in Bamako
For those people that need to get their fix of Golf whilst visiting Mali you only have two real options. There is a small but well maintained par 3 course in the grounds of the Hotel L’Amitie and there is a driving range situated at the Palais de la Culture in Badalabougou. Golf Club de […]
Visa on Arrival in Mali
It is no longer possible to get a visa on arrival in Mali. Most airlines will also refuse to allow you on board the plane if you can not provide proof of your visa. You can not get a visa at any of the land borders whilst travelling overland. Visa conditions vary for different nationalities […]
English language doctors in Bamako
CMS (Centre Medico-Social de Bamako) is an excellent medical clinic in Quartier de Fleuve on the Avenue de l’Yser. There are 2 resident Doctors and both speak French and English (and also German). For French citizens a standard consultation costs 10 000 CFA. For other countries a standard consultation will cost you 20 000 CFA. They […]
Bamako the Movie
Last night I finally had the pleasure of watching the film ‘Bamako’ by Abderrahmane Sissako. I have often been told how wonderful the film is but due to it being shot in a mixture of Bambara and French I had always neglected to watch it. The reason I feel the need to write about it […]
Arriving at the Bamako Airport
The Senou International Airport of Bamako is the major international airport in Mali. It is situated about 15 kms south of the Bamako city centre. With normal traffic it takes about 15 minutes to get from the Airport to The Sleeping Camel Hotel. Usually when you land at the airport you will be taken from […]
Two Dogons, an Aussie and Habib Koite, and I forgot my camera.
One thing you should never underestimate in Mali is the opportunity to witness an amazing night of music. Luckily for a few of us from The Sleeping Camel on Friday night we were treated to a spectacular show and the only cost to us was the taxi fare there and back. A mate of the […]
Ten Step Guide to Finding a Guide in Mali
The majority of independent traveller’s that pass through the Sleeping Camel have had a positive experience in Mali. Sadly sometimes, this is not the case. We had a couple of guys pass through here this week and they were taken advantage of by an unscrupulous ‘faux’ guide and this has prompted me to write a […]
The Sandmen of Mali
I have heard several times that Bamako is the world’s 6th fastest growing city. Concrete is the main part of most buildings in Bamako. As such, the city has an insatiable hunger for cement and sand. Even though the Sahara Desert swallows up half of the northern part of the country the sand from the […]