OBLIGATORY

Any foreigner who desires to come to Mali must have :

• a valid passport
• an entry visa, except for neighouring countries and ECOWAS (Economical-Community of West African States)
• a vaccination certificate against yellow fever.

OPTINAL, BUT RECOMMENDED

Your health is not obligatory but it is recommended. Therefore you may :

• have vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphteria and meningitis
• a malaria prophylaxy should be done. You are also recommended to take some anti-mosquito medicines
• a repatriation insurance

Take advice from your doctor or phisician before your journey.

CURRENCY
THE LOCAL CURRENCY IS THE CFA FRANCS./ 100F.CFA-1 FRENCH FRANC

Many banks are at your disposal in Bamako. Some of them may be affiliated to your bank in your country. Please get informed by your bank before leaving your country. There is also the Western Union Bank through which you can get money from your country. Beware ! Bank cards are accepted only in very few hotels, for your private shopping, local bank notes are required.

PEOPLE

Malians are welcoming people. They are naturally kind and there are few theft cases, but be careful and never take the risk. There are more than 10 ethnic groups in Mali they live peacefully together. Even the Touareg, no longer, create problems since their social integration. The official language is French but since 1992, the languages classified as "The national languages" are used - Bamanan is the most spoken of these languages. Your may, during your trip, learn some words of it, then you will make the users proud.

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

rom the most pituresque to the modern ones, means of transportation are always available.

The "Dourouni", 404 Peugeot Bâché cars are the less expensive : 75 francs CFA. It is the most used means of transportation by the Malians. They are green and can carry 11 to 12 persons. Taxis, old R 12 cars, are yellow and their fare vary from 750 francs CFA to 1000 francs CFA ; you may even bargain sometimes. There is no air conditoning or other comfort.

For more sophisticated means for the inner country, the plane is suitable and Air Mali is always available. Internationale Air Travel agencies : Air France, Sabena, Corsair, Suisse Air and Royal Air Morocco operate in Mali.

COMMUNICATION

You can easily communicate abroad but the lines are sometimes very busy. The fax, telex and internet are available. An e-mail address will, also cost you less.

In some big towns, you can buy a SOTELMA (the national telecommunication company) phone card and use it in a public phone box. You can also phone in private telephone boxes but at a higher rate and much more friendly.

Generally there is no problem with your mails but you may wait for weeks to get your answer.