Our trusty Overland & Safari Tour programs are widespread throughout Africa from the length 4 days to 6 months over the Silence of the Sahara Desert the Cultures & Voodoo of West Africa the Adventure Nature of Central Africa the Southern of Africa Wonders to the Safari Land Multitude Natural Zoo of Eastern Africa

TRAVEL TIPS

Entry Requirements

1. an entry visa is required for everyone except citizens of:
   
   
   • ECOWAS member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo
   • Algeria
   • Cameroon
   • Andorra
   • Monaco
   • Chad
   • the Gambia
   • Morocco
   • Mauritania
   • Tunisia
   • South Africa
2. 
   
   
3. Yellow Fever immunization

Entry Visa

Visas are required to enter Mali. The website of the Malian Embassy in Washington DC has all of the pertinent information. Click here to access it now - you will be able to download the instructions and application form.

NB: only 5-day entry stamps are available upon arrival at Bamako airport; this is routine Arrivals procedure. With the entry stamp, you must apply for a tourist visa in Bamako (visa office of the Frontiers and Immigration Police) if your stay in Mali will exceed five days. This process requires 48-72 hours (Monday-Friday). We recommend obtaining a visa prior to your trip whenever possible.

Before traveling, you should also make sure that your passport is valid for at least six more months, and that it has sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps in each country that you will visit.

Health and medical issues

You will need a Yellow Fever vaccine to enter Mali. See your physician, public health office, or travelers' clinic; you can also visit the Centers for Disease Control website for more information. It would also be a good idea to make sure other vaccinations are up-to-date, such as tetanus, rabies, etc.; best to get a physician's advice.

Also, don't forget to ask your doctor about malaria prevention - this is usually mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline, or Malarone in tablet form, taken for the length of your trip plus a short period before your departure and after your return. In the U.S., malaria prevention tablets are sold by prescription only; they are not available in Mali. Another important and complementary preventive measure is to cover your arms and legs, especially in the evening, and to utilize mosquito repellent.

Tip: the availability of medications in West Africa is limited, and the brands available will probably not be familiar ones, so bring along all medications that you're likely to need as you travel. And be sure to pack them in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage.

Tip: food and water precautions - only drink boiled or bottled liquids, and make sure the intact bottle cap is removed in your presence; don't eat anything raw that you haven't peeled yourself. To avoid dehydration, do make an effort to drink more water than you normally do, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Tip: sports bars, dried fruit, trail mix or other snack foods can be very handy on long days, or if local food does not satisfy your palate (chocolate is not a good choice, as it melts). This is especially noteworthy for vegetarians, who should consider bringing along protein supplements and other items to complement the limited local variety.

Tip: Wash your hands every chance you get; this will help prevent many bacterial and viral infections.

Here is a list of suggested items for a travel medical kit; this list is only a guideline, and you should carefully include or exclude items according to your particular needs.

• your personal prescriptions, including refills; pack in your carry-on bag
• malaria tablets (by prescription)
• anti-diarrheal (e.g. imodium)
• aspirin or tylenol/paracetamol
• betadine or other topical antiseptic
• bandaids and an antibiotic creme
• rehydration powder or sports drink (e.g. gatorade)
• nasal decongestant, antihistamine or allergy medication
• antacid
• eye drops
• insect repellent
• hand-sanitizer (keep it handy)
• sun screen
• lip balm
• moisturizing skin lotion
• calamine lotion
• motion sickness pills, if you are prone to motion sickness
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Insurance (See Tour Terms & Conditions )

Insurance is not required, but is always a good idea. Check your other policies (health, homeowners, student, etc.) to see what coverage you may already have. Otherwise check into one of the specialist travel insurance companies such as Access America (800 284 8300; www.accessamerica.com) or International SOS Assistance (215 245 4707; www.intsos.com). AFTours does not offer travel insurance.

Money and Credit cards

Foreign exchange: Euros and USDollars are readily exchangeable in Bamako and other capital cities.

NB: Large denominations ($100, 100€, 200€, 500€) are preferred and provide a better exchange rate than smaller bills.

Travelers checks are also exchangeable, but not as readily as cash—you should expect to pay a commission of 5-20% on travellers checks.

**Be prepared for lengthy procedures to exchange travellers checks, and be sure to have your purchase receipt — some banks and exchange bureaus will not exchange travellers checks without the purchase receipt.

In the interior of Mali and other countries, cash may also be exchanged (not quite as easily as in the capital cities), but travelers checks likely not.

Credit cards: Please note that credit cards are very little used in our local cash economies — only at a few banks, large hotels and restaurants in Bamako and other major cities. Visa card is usually the only card accepted, and sometimes, MasterCard or American Express; despite American Express' publicity, it is not widely utilized in West Africa. In the interior of any country, do not count on using credit cards at all. It is nevertheless a good idea to bring a Visa card for emergency use in the capital cities.

There is one ATM in Mali, located in Bamako. It accepts only Visa card, and gives a maximum cash advance of 200,000 CFA (approximate value $450 USD, at current exchange rate).

There are also Western Union outlets in Bamako, Sikasso, Kayes, Segou, Mopti, and Timbuktu, where cash can be transferred and accessed the same day.

Local currency, exchange rates

The local currency is called 'CFA' and is utilized in several other West African countries, namely: Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Approximate exchange rates as of November 2008 are:
525 CFA = $1 US
650 CFA = 1 Euro
1 Euro = $1.28 US

When checking the exchange rate with a Currency Converter, remember that these sites typically list the interbank rate, whereas the retail rate is what you will get locally. Click here to access a currency converter now.

Food and meals

Restaurant meals are not cheap; in the smaller towns, expect to pay approximately 5-8 € for lunch, 7-12 € for dinner; in the larger cities, approximately 6-10 € for lunch, and 12-25 € for dinner (in the major hotels of capital cities, up to 20 € for lunch, up to 35 € for dinner).

Local street-corner food is cheap but not recommended for the uninitiated; it is a prime source of infection leading to diarrheal disease.

Bottled mineral water is approximately 1 € in stores (1.5-liter bottle), and 2-4 € in hotels or restaurants.

Tipping

Tipping is discretionary, not required. A small tip is a traditional way of expressing one's respect, as well as appreciation for good services.

Here are some guidelines and local norms:

- tour guide/escort: approx. 8 €/day (~5000 CFA/day)
- tour driver: approx. 6 €/day (~3000 CFA/day)
- local guide: approx. 1-2 € (~1000 CFA)
- restaurant staff: 1 €/person/meal (~200-500 CFA/person/meal)
- bag porters: 1 €/bag (200-500 CFA/bag at hotels; 500 CFA/bag at the airport)

Tips should be offered in CFA local currency. We suggest saving your small bills (1000 cfa, 2000 cfa) and coins (500 cfa) for tipping, and always using larger bills (5000 CFA or 10,000 CFA) in hotels or restaurants; it can be quite frustrating to not be able to do or buy something, for lack of the correct change.

Clothing : What to wear

In West Africa, clothing is adapted to the climate, so you will see local people wearing loose and light items, and it is a good idea to follow this lead. Men and women can wear bermuda shorts, but it is best to cover the thighs, down to the knees; women should avoid any tight-fitting items.

Cotton and other natural fabrics are more comfortable in this climate than man-made fibers. You should pack a light jacket or sweater for the months of December or January, especially for Timbuktu or for any camping nights. And a rain jacket or umbrella might be handy during the rainy months of August and September; during the high season of November-February, it is unlikely that you will see a drop of rain.

For protection against malaria and/or other mosquito-borne disease, we recommend wearing long trousers and long-sleeve shirts in the evening hours.

Tip: In Mali as in other Muslim countries, better to err on the side of modesty; off the playing field, shorts are considered childrens' wear.

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Luggage

Soft luggage is preferred over trunks or hard-sided suitcases. Luggage allowance on flights to/from the US and Europe is normally two bags of up to 70 pounds (32 kgs) each, for each ticket holder. But on domestic flights in Mali the baggage allowance is 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per person, plus one small carry-on item; you will need to pay excess baggage fees for anything over that amount.

Tip! Always use locks on your luggage.

Tip! Do not place medications in your checked luggage, which can be lost or delayed; always keep medications in your carry-on bag.

Packing : What to Bring

Tip: Make photocopies of your passport (the ID page and the Mali visa page) and your airline tickets; obviously you should carry these separately from the real items.

Tip: If you require a hair dryer or travel iron, you'll need to bring your own, as they are not available in the hotels.

Tip: Disposable razors are more convenient than electric ones.

Suggested packing list:

• clothing should consist of cotton summer items, plus a sweater or windbreaker for cool evenings, especially in Timbuktu; don't forget a swimsuit, as some hotels have swimming pools
• it's highly unlikely that you'll see a drop of rain from November through March
• white clothes (e.g. t-shirts) get pretty dirty, pretty fast; you'll feel cleaner, longer, with light colored clothing
• a bandana or large scarf to cover your head, mouth and nose; for windy days
• a hat to provide good sun protection
• sunglasses are practically indispensable—store them in a hard case
• a flashlight (torch), for when the power fails; headlamps are particularly useful for campers
• you may do quite a bit of walking, so good walking shoes are a must; these need not be hiking boots
• sandals are good for relaxing or when driving
• rubber flip flops are ideal for campers, when utilizing outdoor showers; they can be purchased locally for about $1
• if you require a good pillow for a good night's sleep, you should bring your own travel pillow; the hotels do provide pillows but they are sometimes hard and small
• toilet paper is not always available and it is worth the space it takes up in your luggage
• campers should definitely bring a towel
• do bring your own shampoo as there won't be any samples in the hotels
• hand-sanitizer (keep it handy)
• contact lenses can be problematic in this dusty climate; glasses are more practical; keep them stored in a hard case
• a money belt
• a small back pack
• padlocks for luggage
• safety pins, needle and thread
• bring a sufficient supply of film, cassettes and appropriate batteries for your photography and filming needs, as you may not find these items locally
• a small travel alarm clock, with fresh batteries
• a pocket dictionary of French phrases may be handy
• a medical kit (see the health section above)
• sports bars, dried fruit, trail mix, etc., if you like to snack; do not bring chocolate, it will melt
• you should bring all toiletries (including soap, shampoo, and feminine hygiene products) that you will likely need
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Domestic flight excess baggage

(Jan. 2008) On domestic flights, the baggage allowance is 20 kg/passenger, plus one piece of hand-luggage maximum 5 kg. Excess baggage charges are approx. 2.00 Euros/kg of excess weight (price subject to change; 1 kg = 2.2 pounds).

Airport tax

There is no airport departure tax in Bamako; this fee is included in the price of air tickets.

International airlines servicing the US, Europe and Mali

• Air France http://www.airfrance.fr
U.S.: 800 237 2747
Canada: 800 667 2747
France: 802 802 802
U.K.: 020 8 742 6600

• Royal Air Maroc http://www.royalairmaroc.com
(often includes an overnight layover in Casablanca)
U.S.: 800 344 6726 or 212 750 5115
Canada: 514 285 1435
France: 01 44 94 13 10
U.K.: 020 7 439 4361

Connecting flights may also be found on:

Afriqiyah
Air Algérie
Air Burkina
Air Guinée
Air Ivoire
Air Mauritanie
Air Senegal
Cameroon Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines
Kenya Airways
Trans Air Benin

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Travel warning

Visitors are advised not to travel into the desert areas north of the Niger River without a local escort; banditry and especially car hijackings are not uncommon in this area.
See the US State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs website for up-to-date information.