Mali, Guinea and Senegal - A Journey through West Africa

Notes

Essentials

Visas
Many nationalities, including the UK, US and EU nationalities, do not require a visa to enter Senegal – most non-EU nationalities will require a visa. With the exception of West African states, all nationalities require a visa to enter Guinea, and most nationalities also require a visa for Mali. The United Kingdom does not have a Malian Embassy and so documents need to be sent to the embassies in either Brussels or Paris for a visa to be issued. A simpler process is to arrange your visa through a visa agency, such as Travcour, who will apply on your behalf. The United States does have a Malian Embassy and so the process is a little easier. Regulations can and do change and so we recommend that you check with your nearest embassy or consulate for the most up to date information.

Airport Tax
No departure tax currently applies when leaving Mali by air.

Health and Immunisations
As with travel to most parts of the developing world, we strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information, advice and the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than one month, almost certainly you will be advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis. Anti-malaria medication will also be required and the use of a DEET-containing insect repellent is highly recommended.

You will also need to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to enter Mali.

Insurance

What should my travel insurance policy cover?

• medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad
• 24 hour emergency service and assistance
• personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property
• lost and stolen possessions cover
• cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover
• Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as certain sports

The policy should cover the whole time that you are away.

Your policy may also have:

• personal accident cover
• legal expenses cover

Common travel insurance policy exclusions

Always check the conditions and exclusions of your policy:

• most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents

You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Practical information

Local Currency
The currency in Mali and Senegal is the CFA, and for Guinea it is the Guinea Franc (FG). These are almost impossible to obtain outside of West Africa. For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com.

Where currency can be exchanged
We recommend that you change a little money in the exchange booth before you pass through immigration in Bamako airport – there are no facilities to change money in the airport after this point. It is relatively easy to change money in Mali, both at banks and at exchange booths. Euros are the best currency to bring – although US dollars are also accepted they generally attract worse rates. UK sterling can be difficult to change. ATM machines can be found in Bamako and larger towns but are often out of service. Once you leave Bamako it will be difficult to change money.

Credit cards and travellers cheques
Changing travellers’ cheques can be a long and painful process – if you do want to bring them, Euro cheques are your best bet, followed by US dollars – UK sterling cheques will be very difficult to change and we don’t recommend that you bring them. Credit cards are not widely accepted throughout the region.

Best time to go
The best time to visit the region is between October and February – outside of this time it can be very hot indeed with temperatures frequently hitting 35- 40 ºC, especially in the desert. From June to September / October the region experiences most of its rainfall.

Main Language
The official language of all three countries is French, although there are several different local languages reflecting the region’s diverse ethnic mix – Bambara, Bamana, Malinke and Arabic. It can be difficult to find people outside of the tourist industry who speak English, and even then you’ll find that many hotel staff and drivers will speak French and local languages only. It’s a good idea to brush up on some basic French before you go to aid communication.

Main Religion
Mali, Guinea and Senegal are dominated by Islam, although the way in which it is practised here tends to be a little more relaxed than some other Islamic countries. Many ethnic groups also adhere to older animist traditions.

Food and drink
West African food isn’t always the most exciting, but it’s generally tasty and wholesome. Rice features quite heavily, usually with some form of tomato based sauce and meat – goat, beef or chicken. While on tour your meals are included – these will mostly consist of European style fare, but you will also have the opportunity to try local food.

If you have any special dietary requirements you must notify us at the time of booking. While we will make every effort to cater for you, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

A bottle of beer should cost around $1 in a local restaurant or up to three times that much in a hotel.

Transport
Our Journey through West Africa tour uses either 4wd vehicles – typically Landcruisers - or minibuses.

For the cruise at Manantali we use a privately chartered motorboat.

Local conditions
Travelling in the destinations that we visit requires a good deal of understanding that often standards simply won’t be as they are at home. While we aim to make your trip as comfortable as possible, please be aware that we are often visiting remote or less developed regions that may have little infrastructure. While we aim to make your trip run as smoothly as possible there may be times when we need to ask for your patience while we rectify any problems. This is particularly pertinent for this tour – the regions that we will be travelling through have little infrastructure and tourism is in its infancy here.

What to take with you

First Aid Kit
The first thing on your list should be a first aid kit. Whilst there is no undue cause for alarm, travellers are best advised to travel well-prepared: adequately immunized, with sufficient supplies of prescription drugs, along with a medical kit.

Clothing
When it comes to clothing it is usually recommended that lighter clothes are worn through the day, and warmer ones at night. In the cooler winter months (Dec-Feb) it can be a little cold in the mountains at night so you should bring a sweater / fleece. A hat is also advised to be worn through the day to protect from the sun.

Mali, Senegal and Guinea are fairly relaxed in terms of clothing but you should bear in mind that these are Moslem countries In particular women will find that the more conservatively they dress, the better they are thought of by locals. Shorts are generally acceptable for men but not worn by local men. You should make sure that you have sufficient long sleeved tops and trousers for entering any mosques.

Footwear
Footwear is a main priority on this tour. Comfortable walking shoes/boots are recommended.

Luggage
Your luggage should not exceed 20kgs (44lbs). One large suitcase/rucksack, and one small hand luggage rucksack is acceptable.

Other
Suncream/sunblock is a must. Insect repellent, including a bite spray will also be useful to have. As our tour in Mali involves camping, a torch (flashlight) is essential.

If you will be using a camera which needs film, it is recommended that a supply is taken with you, as it is not always easy to find in the places that we visit. If you are bringing a digital camera it is also advisable to bring a spare battery, as there will be occasions when electricity is not available.

You should also bring a sleeping bag and towel with you for nights spent camping.

Fitness
This tour does not require any special degree of fitness but you will find it more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit.

Cultural and environmental guidelines

Women should not enter mosques unless specifically told they can do so and you should always refer to your guide regarding dress code and behaviour in and near religious sites.

You may come across beggars while on tour. Every traveller has different perspectives on this and ultimately the choice is up to you. Many sources recommend that you watch to see if local people give, and then follow their lead with genuine beggars. We do not recommend giving money, sweets, pens etc to children as this can encourage a begging mentality and can lead to children choosing to beg rather than go to school.

Haggling is a way of life in Africa when making many purchases, especially with tourist souvenirs. Usually, but not always, the vendor will start with a price that is higher than they are prepared to accept, and the buyer is expected to haggle. There are no hard and fast rules with this – some vendors may initially quote a vastly overinflated price, others may start with a price close to the true value, while others may just present you with one price and not be prepared to discuss it. Although many tourists may feel uncomfortable with this, it’s important to remember that this is best entered into in a relaxed manner. Once you have agreed upon a price, it is extremely bad form to then not pay this. Please also bear in mind that a small amount of money to you can be a relatively large amount for the vendor, and that it is not necessarily best practice to ‘beat the vendor down’ to the lowest possible price. Remember that they also have a living to make.

Please make sure that you take any rubbish back to the hotels or camps with you where it can be properly disposed of – this includes cigarette butts as well.

Please do not buy any products made from endangered species – this is not sustainable and hastens the species’ decline

Photography
You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no. In more remote areas women and older people often do not want to be photographed. Some people may also ask for some money – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot - in return for a photo. Taking photos of military installations, state buildings, and airports can lead to problems with local authorities. If you are unsure about whether it is acceptable to take a photo, please ask your tour leader or guide.

Tipping
Tipping is common practise throughout the region. If your local guide has been helpful then you could think about tipping. This amount can obviously be left to you. When tipping a driver, a guide or hotel staff a few dollars will always be gratefully received.

Foreign Office Advice
We constantly monitor the advice posted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At the time of writing the FCO advises against all but essential travel to Guinea. Please feel free to contact us should you have any specific concerns or if would like to know in detail what measures are being taken to ensure visits remain trouble free and without incident.

The FCO does not advise against travel to any of the parts of Senegal or Mali that we visit on this trip.

It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.

Further Information

Public Holidays in Mali:
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Army Day.
26 Mar Martyr’s Day.
1 May Labour Day.
25 May Africa Day.
22 Sep Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Public Holidays in Guinea:
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
1 May Labour Day
15 Aug Assumption.
2 Oct Independence Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Public Holidays in Senegal:
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
4 April Independence Day
1 May Labour Day
24 May Whit Monday
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day.

In addition to these are a number of Islamic holidays which are based on the lunar calendar and vary annually.

Dates are for guidance only and may vary year to year.

Electrical Supply
Electrical supply is 220V and plugs usually have two round pins.

Recommended Reading

Mali – The Bradt Guide
Ross Velton

The Gates of Africa
Anthony Sattin

The Road to Timbuktu
Tom Fremantle

The State of Africa
Martin Meredith

Travels into the Interior of Africa
Mungo Park

IMPORTANT NOTES – PLEASE READ

Please note that the information provided is correct at the time of writing but may change. It is intended as a guide only. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health visit www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or contact your local healthcare provider.

In addition we strongly advise you to check the information and any travel advice provided by your government. For British citizens you should visit the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk.

Furthermore, you should be aware that any travel warnings or advisories may affect the validity of your travel insurance. Therefore, at the time of booking your tour it is essential you check any restrictions on cover with your insurance provider.

Issue Date – 20/5/10

For possible changes to this dossier please visit www.undiscovered-destinations.com or call +44 (0)191 296 2674