November – February — Cool dry season : The only period practical for tourism: cool harmattan winds (20–32°C), clear skies. Dogon country is accessible. Cool nighttime temperatures in the north.
March – June — Hot season : Extreme temperatures (38–46°C), sandstorms. Not advisable for comfort or outdoor activities.
July – October — Rainy season : Rain in the south (100–200mm/month), the north remains desert. Roads are often impassable. The north stays hot.
Weather in Mali
Check the weather city by city, starting with Bamako.
Bamako: daytime highs from 31 to 40 °C depending on the season, 79 mm of rain per month on average.
[object Object]: daytime highs from 30 to 42 °C depending on the season, 15 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Mali?
Mali is home to some of Africa's most fascinating sites: Timbuktu, the legendary desert city (UNESCO), the Bandiagara cliffs of Dogon country (UNESCO), the mud-brick Great Mosque of Djenné (the largest in the world, UNESCO), and Bamako, a musical capital known for Tuareg desert blues. Warning: the security situation has been extremely degraded since 2012 — travel to Mali is discouraged except in very limited areas.
Dogon Country — Bandiagara Escarpment
The Bandiagara Escarpment (UNESCO) is one of Africa's most spectacular sites: 150km of red sandstone cliffs where Dogon villages cling to the rock, along with their mud-brick millet granaries and the Tellem funerary huts perched in the cliffside. Dogon cosmogony, preserved for centuries, is one of the most complex and poetic in the world.
Highlights : Sangha village — gateway to Dogon country, Tellem huts in the cliffs (12th–15th c.), Trek between cliffside villages (2–5 days).
Djenné — Mud-Brick Mosque
The Great Mosque of Djenné (UNESCO) is the largest mud-brick (clay and straw) structure in the world and the symbol of Sudano-Sahelian architecture. Rebuilt in 1907 on the foundations of a 13th-century mosque, it is re-plastered every year by the whole community during the great replastering festival. The Monday market around the mosque is one of the finest in Africa.
Highlights : Great Mosque of Djenné (UNESCO) — the largest mud-brick building in the world, Djenné Monday market — around the mosque, Djenné Island — medieval city surrounded by rivers.
Timbuktu — The Mysterious City
In the 14th–16th centuries, Timbuktu (UNESCO) was the intellectual and spiritual capital of West Africa: 25,000 students, 180 Quranic schools, and priceless ancient manuscripts. Its Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia mosques (UNESCO) and houses with carved doorways bear witness to this golden age. Currently accessible only by flight from Bamako.
Highlights : Djingareyber Mosque (14th c., UNESCO), Sankore Mosque (14th c., UNESCO) — former university, Ancient Timbuktu manuscripts (Ahmed Baba Institute), Sunset over the Sahara from the dunes.
Travel budget for Mali
Mali is affordable, but the security situation has made tourism very difficult. Itineraries are currently limited to Bamako and its surroundings for most travellers. The CFA franc, pegged to the euro, is a stable currency.
Backpacker : 40–70 €/j — Guesthouse + local food + public transport
Flight from Paris : ~5h30 direct (Air France, Air Mali) or via Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc)
Safety : MAJOR WARNING: almost the entire country is a red zone (travel advised against). Bamako is an orange zone. Be sure to check your government's travel advisory before planning any trip.
Visa : Visa required — Malian embassy in Paris. Procedures vary, check before departure.
Currency : CFA Franc (XOF). 1€ = 655 XOF fixed rate. Cash is essential.
Language : French (official) + Bambara (national lingua franca).