Mali - Adrar des Iforhas
 

I'm making a 3 week visit to Mali, during which I have a week or so for some desert walking. People have been recommending the Adrar area around Kidal, rather than around Timbuctou, for the best scenery.

Does anybody (Chris or any others) have a bit more detail on this area?

1. Can Kidal be reached by any reasonably regular bush taxi or lorry (Time is going to be the problem - with only a week, we can't hang around waiting a few days at each end for a bush taxi to and from Gao).

2. Is there good scenery actually near Kidal, or will we need to hire a vehicle to take us out to a start point way beyond Kidal? (Or do we not need to even go as far as Kidal - are there other towns from which we should be starting with good scenery nearer to Gao).

3. Does anybody have any contacts for organising camels and guide in this area?

I know a week (maybe we can push it to 8 or 9 days) is rushed for this sort of thing, but that's all we've got and we're just trying to make the most of it - it's just going to be 5 days walking plus a few days to get out from Gao and back.

Simon

I think you may run out of time in the Kidal region. It's a bit off the map compared to Tim and Tam and so on, but could be rewarding.
It's not Sahara, but there's always the Dogon Bandiagara treks - regularly done buy tourtists.

Ch

Chris - Unfortunately you've whetted my appetite. If Adrar is that good, it may be worth chopping something else out to make a bit more space.

Do you know where the good areas are - near to Kidal or far away? If I have the names of a couple of areas that would be good to walk in, preferably not too much further from Gao than Kidal, and a rough idea of where they are is in relation to Kidal, then I can go to the couple of outfits with whom I've been in contact in Mali to see what they can offer.

You are a double-edged sword, Chris - you've shown me the chance of some better walking, but in doing so made my Tim plans less satisfactory. However, I already felt Tim was not ideal - it was just where we were getting off the boat - so I'm glad of your advice on Adrar. - Simon

Hi Simon, I've never been to Kidal - even 15 years ago it was off limits - all I know is it looks like a more interesting environment than around Tim, etc (albeit without the kudos).
A mate is there at the moment and there is a 'municiple' web site:
http://www.kidal.info/index.php
When he gets back in a week or so I' may know more. There are no particular beauty spots - it's just the Adrar - and you may not get what you asked for or were expecting, but it will be an adventure.

Ch

Chirs, I'm also interested in hearing from your friend when he returns from Kidal. In particular would like a better sense of how easy it will be to get to Kidal and on to the festival at Essouk without making special arrangements.

Simon, when are you going? Do you know about the festival (Jan 1-3)?

Thanks.
~Gregg

Thanks Chris - if you can put down a reply to this with any info from your mate along the lines of whether he saw any transport to Kidal and ideas for any decent areas for walking near there that would be great - or mail me direct simon.heginbotham@abbey.com

Greg - I'm up there around Christmas but fly home on 3rd Jan, so please don't go and tell me what an amazing festival I'm going to miss - but hope you enjoy it - Simon

[This message has been edited by SDHEG1 (edited 18 November 2003).]

Hi,

I have just been to Kidal. Here some answers:

1. Can Kidal be reached by any reasonably regular bush taxi or lorry (Time is going to be the problem - with only a week, we can't hang around waiting a few days at each end for a bush taxi to and from Gao).

A bus-lorry from Gao once a week. No fixed date. Trucks about every day. Should be about 10 hours driving.

2. Is there good scenery actually near Kidal, or will we need to hire a vehicle to take us out to a start point way beyond Kidal? (Or do we not need to even go as far as Kidal - are there other towns from which we should be starting with good scenery nearer to Gao).

Only near Kidal the landscape starts to get intersting, with big rocks. East of Kidal (Tin Essako) seems also to be interesting. Haven't been there.

3. Does anybody have any contacts for organising camels and guide in this area?
Contact Affala Voyages: 223-6729156. The owner is Cheick ag Baye.

Greetings,
Gerbert

Gerbert - This is really helpful - many thanks. Can I check where Affala Voyages are based - are they in Bamako or Gao (or Kidal)? Also, do they have an e-mail - I have found it almost impossible to phone Mali, and would like to make contact before we get there.

Chris - Has your mate returned from the area yet?

Simon

[This message has been edited by SDHEG1 (edited 30 November 2003).]

Affala are in Kidal, you could contact them via www.kidal.info.

Gerbert is my Kidal connection.

Ch

If you look for affala voyages in google you get their website, with all kinds of details about Kidal and surroundings.

If you want to know more about Kidal, and the most interesting scenery in the region, try tracking down the book:
Herbert Kaufmann - Reiten durch Iforas
(Available in German and Swedish AFAIK)

Very worthwhile, this guy tracked down many rock drawings and charted the area up to Timmissao and Tessalit in the late 50's, much like Henri Lhote.

More info here:
http://home.t-online.de/home/Petra.Bode/inhalt8.htm

Jan