Bamako
From World travel guide
Bamako is the capital of Mali, located on the Niger river. In 2004 the city's population was estimated to be 953,600.
Contents |
Understand
The city was an important Islamic study centre until the 19th century. In 1883 it was conquered by French troops, and in 1908 it became the capital of French Sudan.
The city has only a few paved main roads (goudrons), the rest of the city's roads are unpaved, and get dusty during the dry season (November to May) and muddy during the rainy season, offering breeding grounds to malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The roads are infested with donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens.
Unemployment rates are high.
Get in
At 15 kilometres from the city there is the Bamako-Sénou airport, with flights from Paris by Point Afrique (cheap), Air France (less cheap). Railways to Dakar and Koulikoro.
Get around
See
Notable buildings are the Tour BCEAO, Bamako Grand Mosque and the Pont du Roi Fahd. Attractions include the Muso Kunda Museum, the Bamako Regional Museum, Bamako Zoo, the Bamako Botanical Gardens and the Point G hill, containing caves with rock paintings.
The Mali National Museum has a collection of Malinese art, especially masks and statues.
Do
Nightclubs
The Evasion jazz club can be pretty cool on Fridays and Saturdays.
Buy
Prices are not fixed, and for many goods bargaining is expected. It seems however that prices for food are often the same for toubabs and local population. So beware, sometimes the first price mentioned is just right. On the market it might be a good idea to first ask a couple of times at different stands before actually buying something. Note there is (2005)only one ATM in Bamako to get cash on international visa (no master no cirrus) card and this ATM is much time out of order! Cash money on creditcard you become at several banks in bamako and one bank in Segou and Mopti. There is a cash maximum for round 200 euro on a visa/mastercard Its better to use two creditcards ( one visa and one mastercard) ! Euro's are widely accepted in (mid range and more) hotels.
Eat
Budget
There are many restaurants where you can get nice omelette sandwiches for about 250 CFA.
Many street vendors sell bread, rice, fries, salad.
Mid-range
Bamako has many Lebanese and Chinese restaurants.
Western products can be bought at supermarkets like the Miniprix, though prices are generally higher than in Europe or the US.
Splurge
Hippodrome
Le Relax is a popular Lebanese hangout in Hippodrome.
Broadway is a Western style restaurant where Malians enjoy music that has long passed the expiration date. The food is reasonable but pricy.
Drink
Sleep
Hotel relais Tinbuctu. rooms 25 euro; basic and clean. Swimming pool 5 km outside Bamako on Niger river. Taxi 20 min. to center and 30 min. to airport
Stay safe
In Bamako you have a high chance of encountering the police. You should always at least carry a copy of your passport and visa. It is often not sufficient to just show your driving license and this might lead to a ride to the police office - if you're not prepared to bribe your way out. Notice that the police often stops taxis.
Health
If you go gradually (doni doni) you'll be able to drink Bamako's quite chemically tasting tap water. You shouldn't drink the little plastic bags with water or syrupped water as long as you don't drink tap water.
Clinique Pasteur is an expensive tubab clinique. Normally they want to have you taking all possible tests. You first might want to consult a much cheaper normal clinique.
Get out
At the Sogoniko bus station you can find busses to other cities such as Segou, Mopti (taking about 10 hours).
External links
- Some maps of Bamako (in French)
- Mali - Images and Sights - Bamako
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