River Kingdoms | Niger Delta, Mali

Mali, sitting at the dry heart of northwest Africa, is a place of legend. For centuries it has captured imaginations around the world, thanks to the ancient city of Timbuktu, a place which came to define mystery and remoteness. Yet for all its fame, Mali itself remains one of the world’s least understood destinations.

Though it has faced a complex history and many political challenges, Mali rewards those who seek it out with unforgettable sights: the world’s largest adobe mosque, mud-brick villages that rise organically from the earth, and the life-giving waters of the Niger River that wind through desert and savannah alike.

For centuries, Mali was a crossroads of wealth and ideas, the center of some of Africa’s most powerful empires. The great trans-Saharan trade routes passed through its territory, carrying salt, gold and knowledge from West Africa to North Africa, and on to the wider world. Cities like Timbuktu, Djenné, and Gao were renowned for their scholarship and riches.

Today, visitors find a country where history, tradition and creativity are woven into the daily lives of its diverse communities – from the Tuareg of the Sahara, the Bozo fishermen along the river, and the Fulani herders of the plains, to the Bambara (also known as Bamana), Mali’s largest ethnic group.

The Bambara are central to Mali’s cultural identity. Their masked dances, bursting with color and movement, are highlights of local festivals, combining artistry, spirituality and storytelling in unforgettable ways. Their traditions of woodcarving, music and agriculture have spread across the country, and their craft of bogolan, or mud cloth, has inspired designers and artists far beyond the country’s borders.
Our journey begins in the capital of Bamako, with its chaotic traffic, rhythmic street drummers and busy markets and riverside ports. Though thoroughly modern, Bamako has not lost touch with its roots. Artisan traditions are alive and well in its neighbourhoods, from instrument making to mask carving and textile production.

From Bamako, we’ll head north into the Ségou region, where the Niger flows wide and fertile. Just beyond the modern trade hub of Ségou, known for its pottery and textile workshops, lies Ségou-Koro, the ancestral capital of the Bambara kingdom. Founded in the 17th century, Ségou-Koro was an important center of power and culture. Today, wandering the streets of this quiet village, passing mudbrick houses, ancient tombs and sacred sites, time seems to stand still.

Further east, the town of San is a close-knit community featuring a striking mud-brick mosque, built in the distinctive Sudano-Sahelian style, and lively weekly markets that attract traders, farmers and artisans from surrounding villages. Here, the traditions of the Bambara are everywhere – in the finely carved masks, the many artisans crafting mud cloth, the dances that thrill the crowds at cultural events.

With its rich traditions and fascinating history, Mali offers but an extraordinary adventure into the heart of West Africa, revealing the remnants of a Sub-Saharan past and a present steeped in creativity.

Let’s go!

DAY 1 // 28 NOV: ARRIVAL IN BAMAKO
Rise and shine! Meet at DXB at 03:30 to catch our 05:40 flight to Bamako via Addis. Upon arrival at Bamako International Airport, we’ll be collected by our guide and taken to the hotel. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a peaceful boat tour on the Niger River, observing the fishermen taking in their catch and taking in the sunset views. Overnight in Bamako.

DAY 2 // 29 NOV: FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF BAMAKO
Today we dive in and spend the day exploring the vibrant capital of Mali. We’ll visit the impressive Grand Mosque of Bamako, wander the alleys of the chaotic central market, and have our pick of unique souvenirs at the artisan village, where local craftsmen showcase traditional Malian art. Overnight in Bamako.

DAY 3 // 30 NOV: BAMAKO – SÉGOU KORO – SAN
After breakfast we hit the road out of the capital, getting our first glimpse of the savannah landscape with its acacia trees and baobab, called ‘monkey bread trees’ in Mali. When we reach the historic settlement of Ségou Koro, former capital of the Bambara Kingdom, we’ll visit two remarkable mud mosques built in the Sudanese style, as well as the ancient palace of the former king. We’ll break for lunch in the nearby modern town of Ségou before continuing to San, where we’ll spend the night.

DAY 4 // 1 DEC: SAN – SÉGOU
This morning we’ll visit the Great Mosque of San, one of the region’s architectural treasures. Its ‘Sudano-Sahelian’ style features mud brick construction with distinctive wooden support beams called torons. After, we’ll return to Ségou to have some lunch, and in the afternoon we’ll head to the Domo mud workshop to learn more about traditional building techniques. Later, a visit to a nearby village and gourd farm, to see how the Bambara people grow and decorate them with creative designs. We’ll close out the day with a relaxing evening boat ride on the Niger River. Overnight in Ségou.

DAY 5 // 2 DEC: SÉGOU – SIBI – BAMAKO
After breakfast, we’ll have our last look at Ségou, taking a tour of the town’s colonial-era architecture and passing by a pottery workshop run by local women. Then we continue to Sibi, a typical Mandingue village, to discover more about one of Mali’s other major ethnic groups. We will visit the famed Arch of Kamadjan, a soaring rock formation, and learn more about Mandingo culture, witnessing a vibrant and joyful cultural dance. After, we’ll hit the road and head back to the capital. Overnight in Bamako.

DAY 6 // 3 DEC: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight home.

Activities: Sightseeing, short hiking, boating.
Rooms & meals: Hotels – single rooms. Basic facilities ahead! Restaurant meals not included.

Cost: EUR 1490 + flight AED 5000. Cost valid until SEP 30th.

Excluded: Any cost related to visas, restaurant meals.
Flights: Ethiopian Airlines via Addis.

Visas: Almost all passports need consulate visa.
Details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Mali
Visa support available, 170 EUR.

It is solely the participant’s responsibility to secure entry to the destination.
See yah in Mali x
Trekkup Crew

Whatsapp 050 4848238
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup