Gao
Getting to Gao - You can get there by steamboat from Timbuktu (see general info section for details).
- You can also take a bus from Mopti. Including the usual breakdowns, this can take 36 hours.
Accommodation -
Camping Bangu has very simple rooms for 2.500 CFA pp or you can put your tent for 1.500 CFA pp.
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Hotel Atlantide is better located close to the Niger river, and it is more comfortable when camping. They charge 10.000 CFA for a double and 2.500 CFA pp for a tent (11/98).
Restaurants Definitely recommended is
Restaurant Ghardaia chez Ablo. It's located on the Place de l'indépendance where the buses leave. Both service and food are excellent.
What to do - You must register with the police.
- The daily market along the Niger is great.
- You can also do a camel trip through the desert to the Adrar des Iforhas mountains, about 250 km away. You drive there by jeep, and then you go 4 days by camel (total 6 days). Price is 200.000 CFA pp.
- You could go to the Rose Gardens by pirogue through ricefields along the Niger.
Hombori
Gao-Hombori This is a 5 hour trip by bus.
Accommodation Campement Mangou Bagni is very good and clean. Staff is friendly, a tent on the roof costs 2.500 CFA including a room to lock your gear. Food is good and cheap.
What to do - This village is situated in a beautiful area full of rock formations along the road Mopti-Gao.
- The market on tuesday is unique.
- Don't miss the walk to the upper town, with all the houses built in rocks. Also walk to the waterpits through the palmtrees.
Trips around town You could make a great walk in the area towards
La Main de Fatima. The road is flat, but make sure to leave early as the heat gets oppressive from 10 am onwards. The walk to Daari takes 4 hours, take enough water.
From Hombori, walk up the hill towards the old part. Daari is in the west along the road to Bamako. The walking path goes southward of the hills going to the west. At La Main de Fatima, you join the road again, and you can then hitch hike back to Hombori. You don't need a guide to do this, but don't walk too close to the hills.
Go to Dogon country
