Travellingman reisverhalen - - Bamako - Segou
Day 3: 1 februari 2006
Bamako - Segou

Normally I'm not the person to wake up early, but during travels I always experience that rising early in a warm country never is a problem. Actually it is more difficult to stay in bed longer, because the heat will force you out of bed, unless you have an air conditioning (but even that is not a guarantee). So at seven I was bright and shiny.

I had my breakfast (again French bread and coffee) at the courtyard of the hotel and packed my luggage. In the mean time I met my tour mates. David and Marcie from the US I already met, but for the next two weeks I also could enjoy the company of a Swiss couple, Peter and Mely and two American girlfriends Aleen and Lara. The only problem was that Momo, the guide, was nowhere to be found. So we waited, till he appeared around at 10 am, apologizing for being late. He had asked the reception of the hotel to wake him at 8 am, but obviously something went wrong.

Around 11 am we took off and went back to the market. The place was still crowded and dusty, because the roads are not paved. Also all kind of traffic wants to pass by, so walking is not without risk. The covered part of the market consists of small paths, where you easily can be lost. After wandering around for some time we ended up at the local art market where you can buy a lot of handmade stuff such as wallets and bags, shoes, clothes, jewels, instruments, woodcarving and instruments. I watched the stuff, but was not really interested to buy something. So I just sat down, and watched the people. On my left they were colouring goatskins, behind me they were weaving, some kids wanted to polish my shoes and others used a basin to wash their feet and faces, which is important for Muslims, especially before their prayers (5 times a day).

Some of my travel mates bought jewels and other stuff, before we had lunch at the National Museum, in the north part of town. Again there was a problem, they had not enough food, and we just asked to bring whatever they had. This took a very long time (and afterwards I heard there has been some fighting about this in the kitchen) and only after 1½ hour we got some food. Because this took so long, there was no time to visit the museum. We still had to drive to Segou, which is 225 kilometers northeast of Bamako. It took 3 hours and along the way the landscape was dry, but still with a lot of green bushes and small trees, although it changed the further we got away from Bamako.

A little bit after 18.30 pm we could stretch our legs again. We arrived at the Savanne hotel, where we were supposed to stay, but nothings seems to be as it is.

After we got our bracelets for the festival, we were brought to an empty villa with four rooms. After we figured out how to get water and electricity, we went to our rooms and had a (cold) shower. It was not really what we expected, but it was at least something. Complaints we saved for later. The place itself was not too bad, but it was just the lack of everything (towels, pillows, chairs, tables etc).

Around 9 pm we were picked up again and brought to the hotel, where we had dinner (hardly warm spaghetti). Nearby a group of musicians made music, which we enjoyed. It was a kind of jam session and the musicians regularly changed. Around 11 pm we went back to our villa and talked a little bit. On the roof it was nice to sit and watch the stars. Around midnight we turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Initial publication: 26 maart 2006
Last update: 25 mei 2008
© A. Heeroma

  • Travel route

Mali - Ghana 2006 tour
»Day 1 Amsterdam - Bamako
»Day 2 Bamako
»Day 3 Bamako - Segou
»Day 4 Segou
»Day 5 Segou
»Day 6 Segou
»Day 7 Segou
»Day 8 Segou - Djenné
»Day 9 Djenné - Mopti
»Day 10 Mopti - Dogon (Banani)
»Day 11 Dogon (Banani - Tirelli)
»Day 12 Dogon - Bandiagara
»Day 13 Bandiagara - Teriyabougou
»Day 14 Teriyabougou - Bamako
»Day 15 Bamako - Siby
»Day 16 Siby - Bamako

Goto next trip Ghana tour

  • Overige info

  • Mali
    »Bamako
    »Bogalan
    »Djenné
    »Dogon
    »Festival on the Niger
    »Kalabougou
    »Mopti
    »Segou
    »Siby
    »Teriyabougou
    »Road Bamako-Segou




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