Bamako
Travel Guide > Africa > Mali > Bamako
In this Article
- Introduction
- Neighbourhoods
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Work
- Learn
- Keep Connected
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Introduction
Bamako is Mali's capital and largest city, located in the southwest region of the country. It has been dubbed a "sprawling village"[1].
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
Events and Festivals
Weather
Bamako has a hot and generally dry semi-desert climate with a short rainy season from June to September when there can be severe thunderstorms with occasonial floodings. Rains can be unpredictable though and sometimes the rainy season means just a few showers now and then. The coolest time is between July and January during the rainy season and shortly afterward. Temperatures still are between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius during these months. March to May are very hot with average daytime temperatures of 39 degrees Celcius, but maximums of 47 have been recorded. Nigths average between 16 in January to 24 degrees Celsius in April and May.
Getting There
By Plane
Bamako Senou International Airport (BKO) is the main airport in Mali. It serves flights to destinations throughout Africa and Paris. Domestic destinations include Mopti, Timbuktu, Kayes, Yelimané, Gao, Kidal and Sadiola.
By Train
Theoretically, a weekly train travels between the capitals of Senegal and Mali. The train is supposed to leave Dakar on Saturdays around 10am, arriving in Bamako just under 48 hours later. In the opposite direction, the train leaves Bamako on Wednesdays at 9.15 am, taking about the same amount of time. Because of works on the railway, the train now (since 2008) leaves every 8 or 9 days and there is no fixed schedule at the moment, so ask around in both cities when the next train is supposed to leave.
By Car
By Bus
Bamako has international buses to Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger. Regular connections go to Bobo-Dioulasso (15 hours) and Ouagadougou (21 hours) in Burkina Faso. There is a weekly bus to Conakry in Guinee, but there are more frequent connections from Bamako to Siguiri by bush taxi's.
Bittar Transport is one of the major bus companies, with scheduled domestic services travelling to all major cities and towns, including Mopti and Timbouktou.
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Work
Learn
References
- 1 Images and Sites of Mali: Bamako - http://homepage.mac.com/melissaenderle/mali/pages/bamako.html
This is version 9. Last edited at 20:13 on Jun 27, 09 by Utrecht (+235). 12 articles link to this page.
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