Bamako

Getting In and Around

Visas: Most foreigners visiting Mali need a visa, and all need proof of yellow fever vaccination. One can apply for visas of various durations. Fees vary depending on country of citizenship. Check out the complete visa requirements for Mali.

For those entering Mali from a bordering country, short-term tourist visas can be purchased at the border. Be sure to photocopy the first three pages of your passport, including the page containing your visa, and keep the photocopies separate from your passport in case it should be lost or stolen.

Transportation: Bamako-Sénou airport is the largest airport in Mali, with international flights to Europe and various African destinations.

Taking a bus is the cheapest way to get to Bamako from elsewhere in Mali or from surrounding countries. Keep in mind that most bus companies do not run on a set schedule. If traveling to Bamako from elsewhere in Mali, it is often possible to travel by boat on the Niger.

The easiest way for visitors to get around Bamako is by taxi. Fares are determined before departure and some negotiation is usually involved. Minivans, locally referred to as SOTRAMAS, are the most common form of transportation in the capital, but they can be difficult for tourists to navigate as the routes and stops aren’t posted. Asking the driver or a local is the best way to make sure you get where you want to go.

Safety and Security

Bamako is generally a safe city, though as with any large, teeming metropolis, exercise common sense everywhere you go. Keep all belongings, especially money and passports, in a safe place. Pickpockets frequently operate in crowded areas such as markets. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Educate yourself before heading out with a look over the Ibrahim Index, a security ratings system. Also check out the U.S. Department of State Consular website for safety and security tips in Bamako and Mali in general.

The Top 5: Local Advice

1. Bamako is located in southern Mali on the banks of the Niger River in the autonomous District of Bamako. It is surrounded by sandstone hills. There are seven main quartiers in Bamako. Bamako Coura, Quartier du Fleuve and le Centre Commercial form the center of the city, and are surrounded by l’Hippodrome, Niaréla, Quinzambougou, and Badalabougou. There are sixty quartiers in total.

2. Change your money into CFA francs upon arrival: it is not expensive and there are many bureaus in Quartier du Fleuve.

3. Bamako is a city of vendors. Almost anything can be bought on the streets, from food to electronics to clothing.

4. Many of the outer neighborhood streets in Bamako are unpaved. In the rainy season they can become muddy, and in the dry season dust flies up behind cars, carts, and other vehicles. Watch your step, especially at night.

5. It isn’t difficult to find somewhere to eat in Bamako, no matter what you might be looking for. Excellent Malian cuisine abounds, as do more Western-style restaurants.