Mali once a great Empire ruled by wealthy Mansa Musa is now a republic in the west of Africa and the largest country in its region. Despite its wealth in the past, the country now relies on cotton exports and is quite impoverished. Moreover, the insurgency in parts of the country contributes to a poor economic situation.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Mali are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements to Mali vary depending on visitors nationality. Citizens of some western African and Asian countries enjoy visa-free access whilst all others must obtain a visa prior to their travel. Visitors who wish to drive in Mali may do so using their national driving permit. An international driving permit is recommended as it will aid drivers in dealing with the local police or renting a vehicle. IDP holders must beware that the document cannot be used alone for driving and must always be accompanied by the domestic driver’s permit.

Traveling hazards

Visitors traveling by road in Mali should exercise extreme caution. Mali has paved roads leading from Bamako to most major cities in the south. During the rainy season from mid-June to mid-September, some unpaved roads may be impassable. On many roads outside of the capital, deep sand and ditches are common. Four-wheel drive vehicles with spare tires and emergency equipment are recommended. Travelers must be prepared to repair their own vehicles should they break down or become stuck. Travelers should also carry plenty of food and water. Due to safety concerns, the use of motorbikes, van taxis, and public transportation is not recommended. Excessive speeds, poorly maintained vehicles, lack of street lighting, and roving livestock pose serious road hazards. Many vehicles are not well maintained, and headlights are either extremely dim or not used at all, while rear lights or reflectors are often missing or broken. Driving conditions in the capital of Bamako can be particularly dangerous due to limited street lighting, the absence of sidewalks for pedestrians, and the number of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles.

Environmental hazards

Mali is a large nation in western Africa. It stretches from the hot sands of Sahara to the tropical savanna in the south. Whilst there are numerous dangerous animals in Mali, the vast majority of these inhabit the southern part as the climate in the northern part of the country is very hostile to any life. African bush elephants can be found in the southern parts of Mali. Elephants are the largest land-dwelling mammals on earth. Their sheers size makes them dangerous despite their not aggressive nature. When startled or angered, these animals can easily trample people, flip over cars or even break trees. Hippopotamuses inhabit the freshwaters of Mali. These are second in size only to elephants. They are also responsible for numerous deaths across Africa. Despite their docile look they are fiercely territorial and will even attack crocodiles that approach them. Crocodiles, both the Nile crocodile and west African crocodile can be found in waters of Mali. These large reptiles can easily kill humans. West African crocodiles are less aggressive than their Nile crocodile cousins and are responsible for far fewer attacks. Nile crocodiles, on the other hand, will attack if they have the opportunity. Lions are rare and critically endangered in Mali however small population still exists. These animals are the apex predators of Africa and are not afraid to attack if such opportunity arises. Mali has a large population of snakes from which many are lethally venomous. The likes of puff adder which inhabits vast parts of Africa is responsible for over 30 thousand deaths yearly. It is advised to avoid all snakes as inexperienced visitors won’t be able to tell snakes apart. The inefficiency of emergency services in the country increases the chances of fatal snake bites.
Floods are the sole natural hazards which are responsible for property damage as well as claiming lives.

Health hazards

The government of Mali requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all travelers, except infants. Other vaccines are not required but recommended. These include the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis and rabies vaccines. Malaria and Zika are a risk in Mali. Both of these diseases are carried by mosquitoes and there is no approved vaccine against either. It is recommended to use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. Despite the large size of the country, healthcare is highly centralized with over 4 thousand practitioners being located in the capital city and less than 3 thousand in the rest of the entire country. Efforts are made to decentralize the healthcare system however due to the reliance of people on agriculture as a way of living, most people live spread out in the country with the exception of northernmost part making it difficult to deliver healthcare services everywhere.
In case of an emergency dial 15. Beware that due to the ongoing conflict emergency services may not be available everywhere.

Crime

Although most crimes are non-violent, criminals can be violent. Victims face threats from firearms and physical assault, and they regularly report property theft. In recent years, several expatriates have been victims of an attempted carjacking. Marketplaces and popular public areas in downtown Bamako are gathering places for criminals and prostitutes. There have been reports of drug trafficking and prostitution in some restaurants and hotels in Bamako. There have been multiple reports of suspects posing as police officers who pull vehicles over at illegal traffic stops, during which they attempt to extort money under threat of violence. Mali is currently in a state of conflict. Tuareg insurgents fight in the north for a free state whilst numerous Muslim terrorist organizations including Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram take their opportunities to strike Mali government and support the insurgents. The conflict is ongoing since 2012. Narcotics are strictly prohibited however law enforcement is lax due to the inefficiency of the local police.

Summary

Mali is a large country with a lot of attractions however it is far from safe. South of the country including the capital is considerably safer than the north part where insurgents at this point sporadically engage in shootouts with the government forces. UN peacekeeping mission has been established in Mali to bring peace however terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out making the country dangerous particularly for western tourists. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/mali/passport-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/mali