Timbuktu

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: Rented four-by-fours with or without a driver are great to navigate the rough roads to Timbuktu, but can be expensive. Many of Mali’s various bus companies have daily buses to Timbuktu from other major cities such as Bamako, Segou and Mopti. Be prepared for a long, hot ride.

In the rainier season when the Niger’s water level is higher, commercial passenger boats operated by COMANAV will run between Bamako and Timbuktu with stops in other cities along the river. Timbuktu is a relatively small city and there are no official taxis. We recommend wearing a comfortable pair of shoes and walking the sandy streets.

Safety and Security

Timbuktu is a small and relatively safe city. However, the U.S. Department of State’s consular website often has travel warnings concerning northern Mali and areas surrounding Timbuktu. Be sure to check before you plan your trip. Kidnappings in the desert have been known to take place, so take precaution before and while you travel.

The Top 3: Local Advice

1. Timbuktu is located eight miles north of the Niger River, sitting on the edge of the Sahara desert. The city is in the region of Timbuktu, one of Mali’s eight regions.

2. As a major center of trade and Islamic studies, Timbuktu was a grand city in the past, but today the population is a just a third of what it was at its height five centuries ago. Walking on the sand streets through the neighborhoods past crumbling adobe structures, visitors today will feel the sense of nostalgia for the glorious past. Today, Timbuktu has a population of roughly 30,000 and it takes only 20 minutes to walk from one end of the town to the other.

3. Most of the population of Timbuktu observes Islam and the city is home to many mosques and religious schools. Be respectful and try to keep shoulders and legs above the knee covered, especially when visiting religious sites.