Overland Mali Travel
West Africa > Mali
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Mali
- 2 Entering Mali with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Mali
- 4 Gas price in Mali and Diesel price in Mali
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Mali
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Mali
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Mali
Mali is a big country. Recently there have been some problems in Mali and a lot of travelers have asked me : is Mali safe? My answer ( and I live there) is YES! That is, most of Mali is safe, but for a few areas in the very north east. All other areas are perfectly safe and very nice to visit. Mali has a very friendly and open population who will welcome you. There is a lot of space and nature in Mali, many adventurous tracks trough bush with the occasional local village. Yes it might be hot, it might be wet, depending on the season, but its always safe. If you want to know more about Mali contact me through my website http://www.coolcampmali.com]
Entering Mali with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: July 2013
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Mali, application instructions and fees see: Mali Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
You need at least proof of ownership and a passport, usually in the same name. Some border crossings will ask for proof of insurance, but its unusual.
If you do not have a Carnet de Passage, you need minimum of FCFA15,000.00 XAF to buy a Lesė Pasé for 30 days
==Process at border==
Mali has one of the easiest borders in Africa.
If you are at a main border you either get your Carnet de Passage stamped or buy a lesé psé, which cost normally FCFA15,000.00 XAF.
This allows your car to be in Mali for 30 days and can be extended once, in Bamako. Usually free.
If you have a visa your passport is stamped. If you don't, you have to buy a visa also for FCFA15,000.00 XAF, but you have to get this confirmed in Bamako.
Some border officials demand FCFA1,000.00 XAF or FCFA2,000.00 XAF for a stamp. This is not official. Refusing will delay things but eventually they will stamp.
Cost of entry
If you come with a valid Carnet de Passage entry should be free. If you have to buy a so called lesé pasé it will cost you FCFA15,000.00 XAF
Permitted length of stay
30 days.
Extension of stay
To extend a Lesé Pasé you will need to visit the main custom office in Bamako BEFORE the document has expired. The office is a bit hard to find, it is in the grand marchee, i will post Gps point shortly. There is no need to bring your vehicle. Bring the Lesé Pasé, your car papers and your passport. Once you find the right guy, he should stamp it and you're done. There should be no charge. If you have entered on a Carnet de Passageand it is expiring, it might be easier to leave the country on the old Carnet de Passage and re-enter on the new since the paperwork needed to get this done are complicated.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in Mali
Recommended books for Overlanding in Mali
Travel insurance for Mali
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.
Driving side of road
Right.
RHD vehicles can be driven in Mali.
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.
Bribery in Mali
As in most African countries, bribery is present through all of society. Passing through you will undoubtedly encounter some forms of this. Tourist are seen as a good target since most Maliens consider any foreigner as rich. As a tourist you will mostly encounter this with police checks and or with government officials. Usually the bribes take the form of small payments to speed things up. The police, at road checks, will often ask for a 'cadeau'. A gift. Or they will ask for money to buy a coke or some food. Its up to you to choose whether you will accommodate but take in mind that giving will lead them asking the next tourist as well. Remember one thing, always remain cordial and friendly, even if the official might not be. A smile and a joke go way further then getting angry
More problematic are the police men who are searching for something to take your money. They will ask for your papers and once they have them, might invent some bogus violation to take your money. They prey on your patience and will assume you do not have the patience to play the waiting game. I avoid paying these bandits. Of course if I do violate the law, it's a different matter but if you are sure you did not run the red light, refuse any cooperation and demand the name and identification of the officer. I have had instances where it took me some hours to get my papers back. Nowadays I carry good copies which I hand over first. So in short, if you feel the demand for money is unfair, refuse cooperation and be patient. Those in a in hurry will pay!
Checkpoints
Most major towns will have a checkpoint on the main access roads. So often you will be checked going in and going out. Mostly it takes form of a wave through or a cordial question or two. Where are you from, where are you going. Often the checkpoints will be combined police/military/custom. Its their job to stop and check you, so remain friendly and cordial, even if you have been asked the same questions two minutes before. The process should be quick and painless. Between major towns their are not many checkpoints.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas price in Mali and Diesel price in Mali
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | €1.40 EUR per Liter[1] |
| Diesel | €1.23 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Driving at night should be avoided. With exception of perhaps the capital Bamako there is no road lightning elsewhere. Their are lots of goats, sheep, cows and mules that might be on the roads, specially in rural areas. These animals obviously do not carry lights and accidents are a big risk. Besides that there are huge speed bumps without warning, even in daytime. But at night they are more difficult o spot. So please, park for the night when getting dark.
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Mali - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Mali
As in most of west Africa, campsites are not very common but do exist. Most major cities have hotels with big parking lots and in most you are allowed to camp for a nominal fee. Of course the Hotel owner hopes you will eat and drink at their facilities. There are a few campsites known. Some are no more then a fenced of piece of land, others will have some facilities but do not expect European or South African standards. Some known campsites are Sleepy Camel in Bamako, Cool Camp in Manantali.
You should be paying between FCFA2,000.00 XAF and FCFA5,000.00 XAF per person per day..
Wildcamping is a good option when there is no campsite near. Mali is a huge country with lots of uninhabited space and it should not be hard to find a quite place to park for the night. Wildcamping is safe, as long as you keep basic safety rules in the back of your mind. Currently, it might not be a good option to wildcamp east of the Segou-Sikasso line, due to the trouble in the far Northeast of Mali in the rest of the country there should be no trouble.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Mali
GPS Maps of Mali
Tracks4Africa are the undisputed best GPS maps for Africa.
Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Mali
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Mali
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Mali: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Mali - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mali travel guides at wikivoyage
- Mali - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
