43 years after the first festival inaugurated by L. S.Senghor, the 3rd celebration of the Festival of Negro Arts will celebrate our continent’s rich African cultural and artistic heritage. Many of the greatest black performers from around the world are expected, and artists from 80 delegations will be part of the show. Come to Senegal and be our guest! Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Bamako. Assistance for police and customs formalities and transfer to the hotel - 02h00. Arrival to Bamako International airport. Welcome by your guide and transfer to the hotel and briefing with the tour guide, Bamako: Bamako is a Bambara word meaning "Crocodiles River". In 1806 Bamako was a Bozo fishing and trading community of about 6000 people. In 1883, the French captured the town and in 1908 Bamako became their regional seat of power and they built hill of Koulouba. At the independence in 1960, Bamako was chosen as the capital. Overnight at hotel. Day 2: Bamako - Djenne. Breakfast and early departure for a long way road heading to Djenne. Crossing of the sahelian typical landscapes. You have time to admire commercial activities in Bobo and Bambara small villages located all along the way. Lunch stop at San. Arrival to Djenne at the end of the day. Check-in at hotel followed with dinner. Day 3: Djenne - Nando - Niongono - Bandiagara. Breakfast and go for a visit to the town. Djenne: "Founded in the 4th century, Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. In the 13th-15th centuries, Djenne was a rival of Timbuktu for the wealth of the Trans-Saharan trade. The city is located on an island in the inland Niger delta, and is surrounded by mud brick walls. As well as making a visit to the archaeological site of Djenné-Djeno that looks backward in time over a 1.000 years. Generation after generation, a guild of highly skilled master-builders, the Baris, have ensured Djenne’s architectural integrity. The atmosphere in the streets brings the traveler back to medieval times". Sites to visit and to see: The town Sudanese architecture, the largest mud made mosque in the world, the chief’s house, the sacred well of Nana Wangara, the tomb of the young woman who was walled in alive to give the town prosperity, the market place. Most of the time this place is quiet but on Monday which is the market day, this place is packed with traders and customers coming from villages all around. This market has its origin back in medieval time. The barter economy is still used. the town’s archaeological Museum where you can see some pieces coming from the ruins of Djenne-Djeno, an ancient settlement that dates back to about 300. Depart to Bandiagara after your lunch. On route, visiting Dogon villages located on the plateau, like Niongono village, located on a peak and Nando village with its small mosque, the only mud-made structure in the village. Continuation to Bandiagara. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel. Day 4: Bandiagara - Yabatalou - Begnemato - Bandiagara. Full day trekking- 10Km+ transfer with 4x4 alternately when needed Breakfast and depart for a new day of discovering Dogon Country. Visit to the village of Begnemato "Eagle’s nest" because of its spectacular position on the peak. Admire the beautiful views of the plains. Picnic lunch and continuation to Bandiagara. Arrival, check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Day 5: Bandiagara - Songho - Mopti. Breakfast and depart to Mopti. On route, visit to Songho, a Dogon village famous for its series of symbolic carvings in a cave used for traditional circumcision ceremonies. Continuation to Mopti. Arrival followed with the lunch. Mopti: The city of Mopti is known as the "Venice of Mali". Mopti is located at the confluence of the Bani and Niger rivers, and is built on several interconnected islands. It is from the river that one can best observe the commercial and social activities of the town. Mopti is literally teaming up with traditional traders offering a variety of locally-produced commodities and beautiful artifacts. City tour in the afternoon. Visit to the lively fishing harbor on the Bani River where you can still find slabs of salt for sale in a continuation of an age-old trade between Morocco and Mali; the artisans' souks with traditional traders offering a variety of locally-produced commodities and beautiful artifacts; the traditional boat factory, the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque of Komoguel, and the bustling local market. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at your hotel. Day 6: Mopti - Konna - Mopti. Breakfast and embark on a riverboat for one day sailing on the Niger River. During the sailing you will visit Bozo fishermen’s villages and nomadic Fulani camps along the way. Lunch on board. Arrival to Konna harbour and transfer to Mopti. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Hotel Ambedjelé or similar Day 7: Mopti - Segou. Breakfast and depart to Segou. On route we will visit Ganga a Bobo small village famous for the multitude of its granaries. Lunch-stop at San and continuation to Segou. Segou: "Segou was between the 17th and 18th century the capital City of the powerful Bambara Kingdom. The city was used a long time as a basis for the wars which Bambara delivered against Islam before falling to the hands from the French at the end of the 19th century. Segou was the former colonial administrative Capital and today is Mali’s second largest city". Arrival followed with a short walking tour along the river banks. See the pottery market and the "Colonial Quarter". Admire the beautiful Sudanese-style architecture and visit the local art galleries and local beer fabric. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hôtel L’Auberge or similar Day 8: Segou - Bamako - Dakar. Breakfast and depart to Bamako. On route we will make a stop to visit Segoukoro which means in Bambara language the "Old Segou". It is the location of Bambara Kingdom’s former capital. You can see the vestibule and the tomb of Mamary Biton Coulibaly, the Founder of the Kingdom and try to understand how Animism and Muslim were intimately bound. Continuation to Bamako. Arrival and check-in at hotel. Lunch followed with the town visiting. Notes: Price Includes: 
Supplier Information
Out-Of-The-Ordinary Ranking
Also see tour packages in: Africa Senegal Local Culture Festival Tours Email it to a friend: Click here to email this vacation to a friend |
 US:  , ext: 20054Outside US, please use a number below and enter the extension "20054" when prompted: UK: 01865 52 2588 Australia: 08 8121 5884
Note: If unavailable, leave a voicemail for the supplier to call you back. 
|
|||||||||||||||||||
