Mali music & culture tour, Festival of the Niger

Planet

In Mali, key tourist destinations are spread far throughout the country, and we plan tours carefully so as to maximise ride sharing. We also travel using boats (pinasse) or other low carbon types of transport when and where possible, including the walking we do through the Dogon cliffs, plateaus and plains, which has minimal impact on surrounding areas.

We will stay in some small locally run hotels, such as Hotel Tamana and Hotel Ya Pas de Problème, and avoid any larger chain hotels which have a big impact on the environment. In the Dogon region we also stay in camps that exist in harmony with the village and we make sure that we leave no trace of our stay there.

All the food eaten on this tour is grown and produced by our local hosts, such as capitaine skewers (a white fish and local Mopti specialty) and therefore gives back to them, as well as having little impact on the environment.

Mineral water is safest for tourists so we do use plastic bottles, but we always offer empty bottles to locals along our journeys who will continue a long cycle of re-use for the bottles. Mali currently is working to reduce large amounts of plastic bags that are not properly disposed of throughout the land, and travelers are quickly made aware of this and encouraged to individually do their part to dispose of any waste in designated facilities.

People

This trip is heavily focused on the culture and music or Mali, visiting the Niger festival, giving you a chance to observe local traditions and celebrations. This is a way to keep these traditions alive, as well as giving locals the chance to exchange with you, and for you to contribute to the arts, through your purchase of the festival ticket itself, and your chance to buy local crafts etc, from those taking part in the festival in Bambara, as well as throughout your tour in Mali.

Mali is a country of rich oral tradition, and guides are selected who already have special knowledge about the areas they will introduce to tourists, Have numerous local contacts, and constantly seek to increase their knowledge and have a passion for teaching tourists about their environments. In addition, there are many local languages spoken throughout Mali, and our multilingual guides are always able to communicate and facilitate authentic interaction among residents of local destinations and the tourists. Guides are selected who already have special knowledge about the areas they will introduce to tourists, have numerous local contacts, and constantly seek to increase their knowledge and have a passion for teaching tourists about their environments. Travelers have a unique opportunity to interact with the local Dogon community - meeting the villagers and ancient dwellings of Tellems and discovering the Dogon traditions of weaving cotton to make bogolan (mud cloth) as well as carving wooden masks and fertility statues.

We employ 100% local guides, drivers and cooks. With a visit to the local market in Bamako, the handicrafts markets of Segou or Mopti and eating in local restaurants, this trip helps to stimulate the local economy. We visit many local artisans, from who you will have to chance to experience their skills but also to purchase from them, giving back to the local communities along the way. In Segou we will visit a pottery makers, made by a women's cooperative and you will also get a chance to buy their crafts.

We work hard to ensure positive impacts to the local communities and surroundings that we encounter, and encourage travelers to contribute items that are inexpensive and easy to pack, such as pens for school children and recycled clothing. Our group sizes typically range from 5 to 9 people, which we believe minimizes impact to the environment and allows our travelers to gain more insight into their surroundings through more individual attention from our guides. We derive ultimate satisfaction from teaching our guests about Malian culture and keeping our traditions and heritage alive through carefully-planned, sustainable, developing tourism.