timbuktu update
 

all quiet on & around timbuktu front ... the beards seem to have joined their kin in Samaria or elsewhere ... no tourists either ... had a nice stay at ex-Sahara passion, now brit owned Anafia or something auberge ... the desert is very green ... crossing the niger flood plains quite demanding ... some cholera cases reported 20m km out of Timbuktu all the way to Mopti ... so bring a lot of whiskey :) & most of all Don't believe the hype

Ah good to hear - - you should have Timbuktu to yourself now, and being swarmed with 'guides'
Did you go from Douentza?
How is the road project Bamako-Timbuktu progressing - do you know?
Of course we never believe the hype :)
Otoh, many of us would go elsewhere at this time.
Kidal next? Seen any military posts along the piste?

actually I was shocked at how few "guides" aka chasse touristes there were, vitually none to my surprise
from Douentza, yes
the road project Bmk-T'too is progressing well - very slooowly :) the stretch T'too - Goudam - Tonka is a good piste but very currogated, on to Niafunke quite lousy
no military posts, little paperwork with the douane at Kabara and the gendarmes in town - but it is still ramadan, bear in mind
the desert NW of T'too VERY green at the moment
ach, the hype :)