Northern MaliSahara Expedition

PURPOSE: Exploration of ancient routes with the focus on the Great Camel Caravans

1st day: Bamako
Arrive in Bamako, the capital city of Mali and transfer to the hotel.

2nd day: Timbuktu and the Sahara
Flight from Bamako to Timbuktu arrive Timbuktu late morning. Our special desert 4x4 vehicles are waiting for us at the airport. Upon our arrival we start our great expedition as we head straight into the desert
Overnight camping on the dunes.

3rd day: Araouane, Village among the Dunes
Araouane is the only village along this Camel Caravan route, inhabited since the XI century by salt traders from the Bedouin group known as Ouled Sidi Hammed, the houses are often partially covered by sand from the surrounding dunes, sometimes as high as the walls. The caravan trade is the only source of income for the village. Between October and May, many salt caravans pass through Araouane from Timbuktu to the salt mines of Taudenni and back. We are welcomed by the Amenokal, the chief of the village with whom we have a friendly relationship.
Overnight on the dunes.

4th day: Azalai, the Salt Caravan
Off road all the way, we see caravan tracks as we arrive at Foum El Alba that means “the door of the dunes”. So, we do not loose our way, we need to find “the door” of the right passage among the labyrinth of sand. Foum El Alba is the meeting point of Caravans coming from Timbuktu, from Mauritania and the mountains of Iforas. For centuries, the caravans meet here exchanging information about wells, the salt rates and the movements of the desert bandits.

In the Ougla plain the nomads know where they can find water by digging in the sand with their hands. The Azalai (the salt caravan) of Taudenni are considered the most active Salt Caravans in the Sahara.

5th day: Taudenni
Crossing the chain of dunes of El Allus, coming over the big dunes there is something striking off in the distance, as we get closer, it is the salt mines of Taudenni and what a site to behold, often you will witness hundreds of camels waiting to be loaded with salt.
Miners, come from all over the region, as far away as Gao and Timbuktu. They work for six months of the year as it is simply too hot to work the remainder of the year. The work is known as “salt hell” because it is hard labor and hot temperatures. The small houses the miners live in are built from salt blocks. For more than one thousand years, this area produces the best quality salt in all of the Western Africa.

6th, 7th, 8th and 9th day: Exploration
Today we enjoy off road exploration in this little known geological area, which is rarely visited by western folks. Crossing the rocky desert of Haricha, the southern part of Tanezrouft (the desert among the deserts), we reach the rocky hills of Djebel Timetrine. There is a variation of sandy regions, dried lakes and rocky corridors where we may meet locals from the Reguibat (R’gaybat) nomad group, well known in colonial times for their warrior raids. Passage becomes more difficult because of a maze of stones, as the surface changes from sand to uneven rocks. Next, we cross the so-called “Bidon 5” road, coming down from Algeria. This region is also rich with many archeological sites, and fine graffiti of giraffes, cattle, antelopes and Tifinagh writings.

10th day: Black Mountains
The “Black Mountains” are a Tuareg advent-post, placed in the northern area of Mali and 150 kilometers south of the Algerian border. Small mountain oasis villages made of stone, appear in this rocky landscape. This remote area is the home of Tuareg tribe, the Iforas or Ifoghas, they are known for their warrior spirit and strong beliefs. During the evening we reach the village of Kidal, a town in this region.

11th day: Tadmekka (Es Souk)
Here we discover remains of houses and burial mounds that may be from pre-Islamic times. The story of the Es Souk, known in ancient times as Tadmekka, is surrounded by mystery. It most likely was the Tuareg capital city of the Iforas and of course one of the most important caravan centers in this area of the Sahara.

12th and 13th day: Valley of Nomads
The Tilemsi fossil valley surrounds the mountains of Iforas and it heads in a southerly direction until reaching the Niger Valley. The Tilemsi, a prehistoric river,moved north to south flowing into the Niger River. For thousands of years the surface water dried out, but the ground water continues to flow giving life to rare vegetation. During our passage we meet a lot of locals residing in their own camps. After the long journey in the silence of the Sahara, we arrive at the Niger River.

14th -16 day: Timbuktu
To Timbuktu

Tuareg nomads founded Timbuktu in the XIth century and it quickly became the capital of the empire of the middle ages. The beautiful and impressive Djingereber Mosque is the oldest clay building in the entire area. The dwellings of Timbuktu are built with clay and calcareous stone coming from the surrounding areas. Timbuktu’s economic fortunes and cultural richness are directly related to the caravan trading and selling of the salt to the bordering regions.

17th day: Bamako
Fly to Bamako, upon landing, we will tour the city and visit the National Museum. Most international flights depart that evening.


Included: All stated accommodations, camping equipment while on the expedition, all meals except in Bamako, all permit fees and entrance fees , all airport transfers, accommodation is based on double occupancy, single supplement is available