Subject related visits
Ségou
Market day in Segou is an experience not to be missed as you will find out for yourself after some hard bartering. Students will have the chance to visit Sékoro, the old Ségou tomb of King Biton Coulibaly and they will also be able to see the first mosque of Ségou. There are plenty of fascinating sights and sounds such as women preparing local beer and also mud cloth which you can try your hand at making for yourself.
Sikasso
With 130,700 residents, Sikasso recently passed Ségou to become Mali's second-largest city. Students will be able to see the Mamelon (residence of the former kings of Sikasso) and the Tata (remnants of a large palisade that encircled the city and for a time held off the French colonial army) among many other exciting experiences.
Gaoua
Attractions in this market town include a sacred grove of trees, a museum and caves. It is considered a sort of "capital" of the Lobi territories in the area. There will also be time to experience the mysterious stone ruins of Loropeni, whose origins are unknown and no trip to Gaoua would be complete without a visit to the Poni Museum, dedicated to the Lobi culture.
Further highlights
- Citizenship & Learning Skills
Sikasso’s primary schools
Your group will spend the day with the school community at Ecole Salama and Ecole Labbe Pierre Kanoute where English is taught to the children from the Kinder Garden to the High School.
Timbuktu
Visit this legendary city whose name is synonymous with ‘The End of the Earth". See the ancient mosques (built in the 14th century) and former universities, the museum, the explorers' houses and the city market which received the Azalaïs, salt caravans from the desert.
Sahara Desert
Students can journey by camel to visit a Tuareg camp and enjoy tea on the dunes with their Tuareg hosts, locally known as the Princes of the Desert.
Mopti
A visit to Mopti will show a fascinating mix of Malian cultures: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg, Songhaï and Hausa. Upon arrival you can visit the beautiful mosque, fishing port and the bustling market, where you can shop for gold or silver jewelry, Tuareg leather work or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool. At the end of the day students will have the chance to witness the spectacular sunset over the Niger.