Timbuktu
Timbuktu is a town in Mali situated 12 miles north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. It had a population of 54,453 in the 2009. Starting out as a seasonal settlement, Timbuktu became a permanent settlement early in the 12th century. After a shift in trading routes, Timbuktu flourished from the trade in salt, gold, ivory and slaves. It became part of the Mali Empire early in the 14th century. Muslim scholars from Walata fled to Timbuktu and solidified the significance of Islam, Timbuktu's bond became strong with the religion through it's openness to strangers.
Grand Mosque of Djenne
There are no adobe or mud-brick building on earth larger or more impressive than Djenné’s Grand Mosque, whose current structure was built in 1907. A mosque has stood on the present location at the Niger and Bani rivers since the 13th century, when Djenné was an important Islamic learning center and trading post. Today, the Grand Mosque is the centerpiece of Djenné’s Old Town and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bandiagara Cliffs
The Dogan people who live behind the 125-mile long sandstone chain belong to one of Africa’s oldest surviving cultures. However, the caves in the Bandiagara Cliffs belong to an even older group called the Tellem, who used to bury their dead far above the frequently flooding grounds. Many centuries later, the Dogon used the caves to create an elaborate tunnel network which was used to hide and drive away intruders. Mali’s highest mountain, the 366-foot tall Hombori Tondo, is the end point of the towering Grandamia massif.
Djenne, Mali
Djenne, founded in 800 AD, is one of sub-Saharan Africa's oldest cities. Situated on an island in the Niger River delta, Djenne was a natural hub for traders who carried their goods between the Sahara desert and the forests of Guinea. Through the years Djenne also became a center of Islamic learning and its market square is still dominated by the beautiful Grand Mosque. Djenne is located a few hundred miles downstream from Timbuktu.
The Niger River
The Niger is a world in its own, it provides Mali with a connecting link between the savannah and the desert and a valuable way of communication. Over an area of 30,000 sq kilometers, the water hesitates, wanders, breaks up into bachwaters and runs together again, thus forming the unique landscape where it is difficult to say where the land ends and the water begins. During and immediately after the rainy season, from July to December, the entire plain is flooded, allowing the navigation of ships of considerable difficulty.
The Niger is also the realm of commerce from the ancient times of the Empire of Ghana until now, traffic on the river has hardly ever stopped. The opportunities provided by this watercourse have always been big, a 1,500 kilometer long open road, accessible in all weathers and times, naturally linking north and south. It is the heart of Africans.
The Niger is also the realm of commerce from the ancient times of the Empire of Ghana until now, traffic on the river has hardly ever stopped. The opportunities provided by this watercourse have always been big, a 1,500 kilometer long open road, accessible in all weathers and times, naturally linking north and south. It is the heart of Africans.