Mysterious and mystical with an end of the earth allure, it’s one of those places that is just so wrapped up in legend, that many people believe it to be a place of fairytales – a fictional, mythical place that exists purely in the imagination.
The legendary city of Timbuktu is, of course, a very real place - albeit a very remote one.
Located in the West African nation of Mali, Timbuktu first gained its reputation as a city of mystery because no European ever saw it and returned to tell the tale until 1828.
Its fame, as Lonely Planet notes, can be traced back to its strategic location, at once on the edge of the Sahara and at the top of the ‘Niger bend’, from its role as the fabulously wealthy terminus of a camel-caravan route that has linked West Africa and the Mediterranean since medieval times, and from the vast universities of Islamic scholarship that flourished under the aegis of some of Africa’s richest empires.
Once only accessible via a lumbering five-day boat ride up the Niger River, or an arduous camel ride spanning hundreds of miles across the Sahara, developments in modern transportation have today allowed travellers to much more easily access this legendary and mystical city.
If you have a yearning to make the pilgrimage to Timbuktu, Adventure World is offering a 23 Day / 22 Night “From Here to Timbuktu” escorted tour.
Departing from Auckland on 10 October 2011, this fully escorted tour - which journeys to Timbuktu and beyond - takes in all the highlights of Mali - from the deserts in the north to the green countryside and unusual rock formations in the south.
Perfect for solo travellers with a sense of adventure who are looking to experience this historically and culturally rich country while travelling in complete comfort and safety, all details of the trip are taken care of – from flights, transportation, accommodation, meals, sightseeing, entertainment and even tipping – leaving travellers free to fully enjoy their journey.
Visit the city of Bamako - home to the best ethnographic museum in West Africa where you’ll find astonishingly beautiful masks, sculptures, musical instruments and other archaeological treasures - before exploring Mande; one of the most beautiful regions along the Niger River where traditionally built villages, stunning landscapes and welcoming locals await.
From there, it’s on to the legendary city of Timbuktu, where sightseeing includes a visit to the Djinguereber Mosque – the oldest clay building in Africa. Take some time out to wander through the city’s narrow, twisting streets and sandy avenues where you’ll find quaint two and three-storey mud houses, and make sure you stop off at the central market, where canny bargainers can purchase anything from leather goods to camels.
Immerse yourself in Timbuktu’s rich history and culture with a visit to a small Tuareg camp, where the nomadic Tuareg people – famous for their fighting ability and metalwork – reside, before dining on the rooftop of a local home in true Timbuktu style.
Journey to the bustling river port of Mopti and then Djenne, home to the most beautiful and genuine examples of Sudanese adobe architecture. Take a cruise along the Niger River, where beautiful adobe architecture strikes the eyes, and visit a fortified village - perfectly camouflaged in the rocky countryside in Sangha - before entering Dogon country, home to one of West Africa’s most intriguing peoples.
Cross the border into Burkina Faso - where the landscape is characterised by millet fields which provide food for the large village communities - before exploring Ouagadougou, where the territories are inhabited by the Mossi people; the ancient and proud masters of the Sahel, a dry tropical savannah.
Watch as old taxis, bicycles, scooters and donkeys pulling chariots vie for space on the streets of Ouagadougou, and meet the Gurunsi people, who live in colourfully decorated houses, which serve as an incredible example of African art.
Visit the Kerfiughela waterfalls in Banfora and take a trip to Bobo, whose sweeping avenues are dotted with Sudanese style colonial buildings and lined with mango trees. Enjoy the many sights of Segou, before you journey back home to Auckland via Bamako, Nairobi and Bangkok.
Adventure World’s From Here to Timbuktu escorted tour is priced from $12,990 per person, twin share. With a maximum of 20 spaces available on the trip, travellers are advised to get in quick to avoid disappointment.
Price includes return economy class airfares ex Auckland via Bangkok and Nairobi to Bamako with Thai Airways & Kenyan Air, airline taxes and fuel surcharges, one way flight Bamako to Timbuktu, twin share accommodation in Superior class hotels or best available, most meals, entrance frees to all sights mentioned in the itinerary, all transfers and touring on a private basis in air conditioned coaches, porterage of one suitcase per person at hotels where available, all group tipping and the services of a New Zealand tour escort.
For more information on Adventure World’s From Here to Timbuktu escorted tour or to book, contact your local travel agent or call Adventure World on 0800 465 432 or visit www.adventureworld.co.nz
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