Mali is the jewel in West Africa crown, a destination that has all the right ingredients. The country occupies the heart of an area that once supported Africa’s greatest empires and is rich with historical resonance. This history bequeathed to Mali some of his most dramatic attractions – the legendary city of Timbuktu (Tombouctou), whose name has never lost its charm for travelers, the gloriously improbable mosque at Djenne and the bustling river port of Mopti are just three among many.

Mali’s history has always been a story of its deserts and rivers. The lucrative trade routes of the Sahara once made the region among the world’s richest, and Niger, one of the great ancient rivers in Africa, remains the lifeblood of the country; to travel along the Niger river route (preferably on a slow boat to Timbuktu) is one of continent’s big adventure. Not far from the riverbank, the extraordinary Falaise of Bandiagara rises up from the plains, and shelters one of West Africa’s most interesting people – the Dogon, whose villages and complex cultural rituals still cling to the edge of cliffs. If you visit a place in Mali, go to Dogon Country: it is quite unforgettable.

But all in Mali is alive with a fascinating cultural mix of people, from the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara to the Niger fishing societies in Bozo. As a result, you go anywhere there are fascinating ceremonies, world famous musical tradition with strong roots in local soil, and traditional cultures as accessible to travelers as any you’ll find in Africa.