Ross Velton
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By: Bradt Travel Guides
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Subjects -> History -> Africa -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Africa -> Western Africa: Mali, Mauritania & Western Sahara
Subjects -> Travel -> Africa -> General
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6
Average rating: 4.5 of 5
seems geared towards a relatively expensive, luxurious visit 3 out of 5 stars.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Although this book provides a good description of what attractions and tourist facilities one can find on a trip to Mali, it does not convey what it is like to travel in Mali by modest means.If you have never been to Africa or the developing world, you will be in for quite a shock when you reach Mali. The crowds, the lack of sanitation and the cuisine of a people on the brink of starvation can overwhelm a soft westerner who has never left North America or Europe. This was particularly hard on one of my travel companions, who in Dogon country refused to eat local food for about three days. This can vary, of course. Maybe you like sphincters and mystery tubes in your spaghetti.
The long distance buses that I rode, while "basically like what the book said", were a hazard to my luggage. This came from both rain from leaky cargo compartments, and from the urine of sheep checked as luggage. When checking bags on Malian bus lines, pack as though they will surely get wet.
The book does get the bachees more or less correct... slow and uncomfortable transportation that is often your only option. It should be added that because they are so cramped and stop so rarely, long rides on bachees are dehydration risks. They do offer the opportunity to affect an aloof, macho, "more authentic than thou" air when you encounter French tourists in SUVs passing you by while your bachee has a flat tire.
The book does not discuss the bartering and haggling system that is omnipresent in Malian markets. This is a substantial oversight, and can lead to wasted money.
The book also encourages people to give candies and pens to the local kids. This is an outrage. The omnipresent mobs of children with their cries of "tubab ca va" and "cadeau" were the lest pleasant thing about Mali. Please don't encourage their begging, a candy won't cure malnutrition. Give to an NGO, or even better, lobby your USA or EU governments to drop their trade barriers and subsidies spoiling your local farmers so that the Malians can compete in the global marketplace and better themselves without handouts.
I should not be so negative. I had a good trip to Mali, and there are many good things about this book. It is certainly better than the short chapters in the big "West Africa" guidebooks. It gives a good introduction to the country and nicely surveys tourist sites and facilities. However, it seems to best describe a more luxurious trip than I had: travelling in rented Range Rovers or by Air Mali and eating only in tourist restaurants. If you are not ready for a rough adventure, you should seriously consider such options. If you travel using more modest means and eat local street food, it will seem that this guide describes a candy-coated and more tourist friendly Mali than the real place.
Editorial Review:
This first full-length guide to Mali covers all its fascinating towns including the fabled city of Timbuktu.
