Capital: Bamako
Time zone: GMT
Telephone services: Country Code: 223
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Not present
Tourist information: Ministry of Industry, Handicrafts and Tourism BP 1759, Bemako, Mali Tel: 228 058. Fax: 230 261
Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Benin Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia in possession of a valid ID or a passport expired not more than five years. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except the nationals exempt from passport requirements.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving from all countries.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and Rabies.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: XOF Franc (XOF Fr) = 100 centimes Exchange: should be available from most banks however sufficient time must be allowed. French Franc notes are sometimes accepted in cash transactions.
Limited use of MasterCard and Visa. They are accepted in the capital city only. Travellers cheques: French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable
Cost of living: Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and is looking to develop a tourist industry.
Languages: French and some African languages are also spoken.
Weather: Jun – Oct is the rainy season. Oct – Feb = Cool season. Mar – May = Hot season.
Electricity: 220 Volts Ac, 50 Hz. Larger towns in Mali have their own locally generated supply.
Post: Airmail takes approximately two weeks to Europe. International post is limited to main towns and central post offices.
Transport: FLIGHTS: Limited provision. ROADS: Range from moderate to very bad. Driving can be difficult during the raining season. Police check points frequently interrupt journeys.
Special information: There has been a rapid increase in violent incidents in Northern Mali. Three Dutch citizens were found murdered on 7 March in the north-east and Western aid workers have been attacked. The FCO advise against travel in the Kayes region near the border with Mauritania and in the area near the border with Niger. Religious customs should be respected. The people are very proud of their traditions. Discussion of politics should be avoided. Travel to the north of the country should be avoided; and in some cases visitors should only travel in groups.