Mali's year

The world’s longest established travel company, Cox & Kings, has announced record figures for Mali this year. In the past, Mali’s annual Desert Festival in Essakane has been a huge tourist draw, showcasing local Tuareg music as part of a wider eclectic mix from around the world.

Unfortunately, due to FCO advice against travel to the areas surrounding Timbuktu, Cox & Kings no longer offers travel to the festival. However, the company is adding a special departure to include the Festival of the Niger, a wonderful alternative festival of music and dance held in Ségou, departing in January 2009.

The Festival of the Niger is a unique event that brings together traditional music, dance and puppetry from the Ségou region. Local acts and famous West African artists come together to showcase the best of Malian music. Every year, the show hosts a forum about issues that are important to Malian society – the theme for 2009 will be Environmental Solutions – and screens popular African films. Traditional and contemporary arts and crafts are on show, including pottery, jewellery, painting, Touareg leather goods, batik and sculpture, and visitors can see local artists in action in one of the festival’s workshops.

With its rich ancient history, striking landscapes and colourful markets, Mali is home to a fascinating tapestry of cultures and traditions. The sizeable West African country is home to four World Heritage Sites, two of which are included in Cox & Kings’ tour: Timbuktu and Djenné. Once a bustling city of trade and commerce, Timbuktu today is a remote outpost, surrounded by the Sahara Desert. The city is still fascinating to explore, and is home to some of the oldest mosques in the world, including Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia.

On the banks of the Niger River, Djenné is the oldest city in sub-Saharan Africa, and has been a UNESCO site since 1988. The city is home to the Grand Mosque of Djenné, the world’s largest mud building and one of Africa’s most famous landmarks. The mosque is considered by many architects to be one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian style.

As well as Timbuktu and Djenne, Cox & Kings’ 11-night tour also takes in the Dogon country, another of Mali’s main tourist attractions. The Dogon people are noted for their mythology, their architecture and their art. Cox & Kings’ clients have the chance to visit the rock paintings of Songo, the northern and southern Dogon villages, and see a traditional mask dance in Tirelli.

Cox & Kings’ Africa Product Manager, Louise Stanion, says: “We are very excited to see some lesser known countries at the top of the growth charts for Africa, and particularly Mali, which has, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating cultures in all of Africa. The standard of facilities and service throughout the country is still very basic but, while standards of accommodation and service are gradually being raised, this is not the reason that people visit.”

Cox & Kings’ 11-night group tour Mali: The Road to Timbuktu takes in the country’s key sites, including Bamako, Timbuktu, the mud mosques and markets of Djenne and the villages of the spectacular Dogon Escarpment, from £2,295 per person. Prices include flights with Royal Air Maroc, 11 nights’ accommodation with all meals, transfers and all excursions. The same itinerary can also be taken as a private journey, with private transfers and excursions throughout, from £2,875 per person.

For further information see Coxandkings.co.uk.