Falaise de Bandiagara, Mali

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A hiking trek to the Dogon country, travelling the length of the Falaise de Bandiagara or Bandiagara Escarpment, is likely to be the highlight of any visit to Mali. The Dogon have a complex and elaborate culture and are well known for their art work. The treks are a great way to get a first hand look at the pink sandstone houses and granaries carved out of the cliff face, and to gather tips on gardening in very small spaces. The Dogon grow their crops in small plots on the cliff ledges.

If you are there in April you can see the spectacular five-day Fęte des Masques which is the Dogon's major festival and involves liberal amounts of dancing and millet beer. The other regular event in Dogon life is market day, occuring every five days. These are lively affairs that don't get into full swing until around noon and are usually greased with a bit of a joke-telling session, some local gossip, and the ubiquitous millet beer.

The Bandiagara Escarpment is 135km (84mi) long and runs from Douentza in the north to near Bankas in the south. Bandiagara, Bankas and Sanga are all popular starting-points for hikers. Bandiagara and Bankas are both about 550km (340mi) northeast of Bamako, while Sanga is about another 40km (25mi) further north. To get to these jumping-off points take a plane, bus or boat from Bamako to Mopti, and from Mopti a mini bus or bush taxi.

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