Hi Africa mongers,
I'll be in Bamako in April and would greatly appreciate any info on the scene there.Thanks and have a nice day.
I met this incredibly gorgeous woman from Mali the other day. Now I'm wondering what people are like from that part of Africa. I didn't even know where Mali was until I did a search on the Internet. I guess I'm asking the same ? as Macro, what is it like there. I heard it's one of the poorest countries on Earth. The life expectancy for both women and men is less than 50 years, according to the info I got last night. Ouch.
Well Africa mongers,as no one has posted any info on Mali I guess it's up to me "to boldly go where no monger has gone before"(with apologies to Captain Kirk).I'll be leaving on Friday and will be back in two weeks with a full report(unless the heat over there kills me first-it's now 47°C in the shade!)
Well,I'm back from Mali having survived the heat.Here's my report.
Mali is the largest country in West Africa(over 1 million square kilometres) but it only has 12 million people. Most of the country is desert and semi-desert and the mighty River Niger flows through it before making a sharp right turn and going down into Nigeria and the sea.
The people are very friendly and the country is one of the liveliest democracies in Africa.The "rainy" season is from June to September and the hot season is from March to May(not a good time to go,particularly if you want to go up north to the historic cities of Djenné,Mopti and Tombouctou).
There are a number of cheap but good restaurants in Bamako ,the capital city.Avoid eating in your hotel restaurant-you'll get the same food outside for a much cheaper price.
The recommended restaurants are:
Akwaba-you can eat inside or outside.Outside is great for dinner under the stars.
BlaBla- better than Akwaba in my opinion.Much frequented by expatriates.
San Toro-my personal favourite.Rustic setting-walls of beaten earth,stone floor.The place is decorated with fine art and craftwork.There's an art gallery in the compound where you can buy the stuff.The food is excellent though the restaurant does not serve alcohol.Instead ,apart from the usual soft drinks, you can order fresh fruit juices made from tropical fruit such as tamarind and sorrel.
PiliPili-here you can eat in the open air and there's a small dance floor inside if you feel like dancing to a selection of taped music-mostly African but there's also salsa and funk.
All the above(except for the PiliPili) are on or near the Route de Koulikoro.The PiliPili is in the Hippodrome area.Taxi drivers know where they are.Don't pay more than 2000CFA francs for a taxi and even then you may be able to negotiate for 1500 francs particularly late at night when customers are scarce.Like in most countries in Africa taxis do not have metres so agree on the price before you get in.If the driver insists on 2000 francs or more you can always say no and tell him you'll take another cab.There are plenty of them around.
Recommended nightclubs:
Byblos-on Route de Koulikoro.A hang out for lonely expatriate men.Lots of locals there too-particularly women.You're not going to believe this but there seems to be a flourishing trade in Eastern European prostitutes,particularly Ukrainians.I was told the owner was Ukrainian so that probably explains it.Don't know what they charge but I wouldn't be surprised if they cater to rich Africans and expatriates and therefore charge what they would charge in Europe.
BlaBla-the same owners as the Bla Bla Restaurant but the nightclub is on the other side of the river.If the taxi driver doesn't know where it is(though I doubt it)just tell him to take the Pont des Martyrs(Martyr's Bridge)and drive on until he reaches a gas station then turn left.This is a bit more sedate than the Byblos but the music is good(there's a large dance floor) and plenty of available women.Most of them are non-pros and are easily approachable.Just practice your best pick-up lines.A tip-try to chat up the girls serving at the bar.They are all stunners.Either you ask the one you choose to meet you after the club closes(around 4 or sometimes 5a.m.) but then you run the risk that she might be tired and would not "perform" as you might have liked. Or you do what I did.Agree to meet her in the afternoon after she's woken up and then bonk her in your hotel room all afternoon until she's ready to return to work at 8p.m.these girls won't ask you for any payment but it's always nice to give them something even if it's just taxi money so she can go home and change for work.Or you may choose ,if you end up spending some more time with the same girl,to take her out shopping-it's amazing how much they appreciate little gifts and being taken out to dinner on their night off.
Right,I hope this report will be of use to anyone who is going to Mali or thinking about going there.I'll be glad to answer any questions .
What are the costs? I travel to Ghana so, I imagine they are similar.
HarryDHo,
No the costs are not similar.According to the 2004 UN Human Development Index, Mali is at number 174 out of 177 countries whereas Ghana is at 131.The cost of living in Mali is lower than in Ghana so 1 Euro or 1 Dollar goes a long way.
macrohard has given very useful information...I will be in Bamako for a week and hope to exprole the scene and will give a report for others
I am back from Bamako Mali after stupid experiences with Air Senegal and Mauritania. However, the city itself has alot on offer for mongers.
I started my sojourn with Pilipili in the hippodrome. I wouldn't recommend. It looks unsafe and you find dirty women. I went on to Akwaba which looked fine though i did not pick anything. My FRENCH is terrible. Moved on to Bla Bla where there was alot of fun. I coaxed a bar tender who claimed to be from Cameroon and spoke some English...took her to my hotel room where i tore her pussy with my weapon......then the next night got a bar tender from my hotel to her house.....she was too incredibly fine. I spent my nights at Hotel Salam along the many highway to the airport. The latest hotspot is Plantinum not far from Hotel Sofitel. Happy huniting but leran some french.
Dear Macrohard and Beef76, I met a Nigerian girl in Gambia.. she tolde me she had travelled OVER LAND FROM lAGOS.. via Mali... have either of you travelled overladn... cannt see how it can be done...any ideas on the rout and cost.. must have ot go through Bamako I guess....
do you know what the roads are like... Enjoyed your posting on the women... am brushing upi my schoolboy french.
Kev the Monger
Kevb 38,
Travelling overland from Lagos to Gambia through Mali is possible .May take you four or five days.If you travel by bush taxi from Lagos you'll have to travel north,enter Niger,go to Niamey, the capital , and from there ,several bush taxis later you'll end up in Bamako.I've never done it but I know someone who did.The roads are pretty good because for landlocked countries such as Niger,Mali and Burkina Faso road transport is the only way to import and export goods so they give priority to maintaining the roads.
Yes,you need to speak French if you're travelling through those countries.
Hope this info helps.
Kevb 38,
Forgot to tell you that from Bamako you have to go through Senegal before you reach Gambia.Bush taxis are the cheapest way as they are elsewhere.
Great info, guys, especially Macrohard.
Just wondering, for those of us who are not such smooth talkers and prefer not to wait untill 5am or next pm to get laid, is there a street scene or places where you just pay for it straight up? Anything decent under $10/short time?
At least until a few years ago there used to be the street walkers along the Route de Hippodrome. They should be there still. All kinds of shades and nationalities, mostly Nigerians though. They're usually on the darker parts of the street not under the streetlights. You'll meet them when walking along the street. Sometimes the police takes them off the street but they usually come back.
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