Mali (Bradt Travel Guide Mali) (Paperback)

~ Ross Velton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A Paris-based travel writer shows why the second largest country in West Africa deserves more tourist attention. The guide includes maps, colour photos, useful French and native language phrases, and websites.

From the Back Cover

Mali is one of the most exciting destinations in West Africa. At its heart is the River Niger which winds through vast areas of Sahelian landscape, linking the fabled city of Timbuktu with the capital, Bamako. Travelers can explore Dogon cliff villages, the famous mosque at Djenne and much more in a country enlivened by colorful markets and arguably the best music in Africa.
In Mali: The Bradt Travel Guide, author Ross Velton looks at every aspect of travel in this seldom-visited country, enabling the visitor to get right to the heart of a land whose people are some of the most amicable in Africa.
Inside you will find information on: planning and preparation, including health and safety; rail links, transport on the River Niger and other travel routes; where to stay and eat, with a guide to Malian food; ancient civilizations and culture, including the Tuareg and Dogon people; a comprehensive guide to Malian music; communicating in Bambara and French.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1898323933
• ISBN-13: 978-1898323938
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,029,261 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

Peace Corps volunteers need guidebooks that focus on the country they're working in. I took this book with me to Mali and it's proved to be an absolute inspiration. Great background information sensitively written as well as accurate and detailed practical stuff. I've been working in remote places that I didn't expect to be covered but this book has it all. A must for travelers to Mali.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tried and true, November 6, 2000

By	David J Burke (Paris France) - See all my reviews

My wife and I just returned from a month-long trip in Mali, and the one book we found indispensable there was Ross Velton's Bradt Travel Guide to Mali. We would have been lost without it - literally, because the maps in this book are outstanding - clear, accurate and easy to use, unlike those in other books we had (the Lonely Planet maps, for instance, were very disappointing). Velton's writing is clear, lively and accurate, with excellent descriptions of all the main destinations and cultural attractions, and provides a judicious selection of hotels, restaurants, and other practical travel needs. Best of all, Velton conveys a deep understanding and appreciation of the Malian people, preparing visitors nicely for their first encounter with these warm, open, exceptionally likable men and women.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, though somewhat dated, introduction to travel in Mali, March 31, 2003

By	m_noland "m_noland" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

There is a dearth of material on Mali in English (much more in French) so at least in English, this volume has little competition. I found the information in this book quite accurate, though a bit dated: as of March 2003, a number of new roads have been paved, and, as the book correctly anticipates, a number of hotels etc. were constructed after the book's publication for the Africa's Cup soccer tournament, and, as a consequence, are not included in the descriptions. The material on Pays Dogon is good, but far from comprehensive - some of the most interesting villages I visited were not even mentioned in the book. Like other Bradt guides it shows a good cultural sensitivity to travel in very low income countries, for example providing some useful suggestions on how to constructively handle the frequent requests one gets from village children for candy or pens. (The claim in another review that the book encourages giving such gifts is a flat misrepresentation of the author.) So, the book is quite good though a bit dated - nothing that could not be addressed easily in a new edition.