mali

area
population
capital
head of state
official language
currency
exchange rate

(source: lonely planet)

1,240,140 sq km
10.9 million
bamako
amadou t. toure
french
west african cfa
check out oanda.com
for current exchange rates

this information comes from a visit to the country in april - may 2002. things might have changed since then. these are my personal impressions and it's well possible that other travellers will not share my views.

ouagadougo: one month tourist visa: CFA 20'000 issued the same day, very friendly

getting in and out

bobo dioulasso burkina faso - sikasso: immigration no problem. you get a laissez passer for cfa 2000 at the border. but you have to confirm it with the police in sikasso (anther cfa 2000). it’s only valid for 8 days. i extended it in sevare, near mopti, at the office de la douane and got another 21 day free of cost.

bankass – tiou, burkina faso: no problems at all, on both sides. (laissez passer in burkina for cfa 5000). 

places to stay

mac’s refugee in sevare has very nice rooms and excellent meals!

other

visa extention in mopti cost cfa 5000 for 30 days and can be obtained any time (you don’t have to be running out of your original visa)

entry to djenne cost cfa 1000.

the road between douantza and tombouktou is very sandy. deep soft sand tracks make your life hard on a motorbike. 

the police never stoped me at their roadblocks.