Places to stay in Bamako & Mopti
 

Anyone have any favourites?

(Normally stay at the Mande in Bamako, but it's probably not the ideal spot for a load of dirty bikes and trucks.)

place to stay
 

the Catholic Mission in the Centre (Bamako) was nice. There is nothing remotely acceptable in Mopti. On the junction before the turn-off to Mopti there are some places but at the end we decided to push on to Bandiagara where there is an excelent camping, about 5 km before town on the right side of the road !!

Cheers,
Noel

Thanks Noel - easy to spot or would we need points?

In Bamako...do NOT stay in the Lebanese mission...somebody should notify Amnesty Intl...

I agree about Mopti...push on to Bandiagra and stay at Auberge Kansaye...the owner is Boubacar and you'll have secure and sheltered motorcycle marping there...there is a bridge heading out to Dogon country...make the left before the bridge and its there...everybody in town knows its...

If you choose to stop in Segou, Hotel Delta is a nice and tranquil spot...very cheap as well...you'll see a sign for it as you head into Segou on your right...nice cheap restaurant when you walk into town on your left...red and white tables...

edde

Auberge Djamilla in Bamako
 

Really this is the place to stay in Bamako. Fanny and Nico. AubergeDjamilla@yahoo.fr From the centre over the old bridge direction Segou, Right after the bridge right. Carry on along the Niger river. 300m then ask. Or get directions and phone numbers beforehand via the email link.
Rgds Manfred

Bamako: Camp chez Jean-Bakir (a little out of town but excellent) N12 36.134 W07 56.133

Bandiagara: Togona Camp just before town, great spot N14 21.475 W03 38.60

Macs Refuge in Sevare
 

Just stayed at Macs refuge in Sevare, 12K south of Mopti which is fantatsic! There are rooms, dorms or places to camp and overlanders are very welcome. Best place we have stayed in West-Africa and people are lovely!

It's been a few years since we stayed at Mac's, but he was definitely a treasure chest of information, and also served an amazing breakfast on the weekends. I presume he still does. We found it much better to use his place as a base camp, and take day trips up to Mopti and other places nearby.

Macs Breaky
 

Oh yeah, breakfast is good! Fresh fruit like nowhere else and pancakes with maple syrop! And best of all... its every day!
Also check out dinners....
Morevoer, great place to find guides for Dogon or anywhere else, look for Bubaka or Mammadou...

Thanks all. Looking forward to checking some of these places out!

hi there is a place called Maison des Arts ,just of rue 106 run by an english artist and her dogon husband ,areally chilled place by far the best in s'evare'

Camping in Bamako
 

Hi,
Camping options in Bamako we stayed or at least had a look to.

Thanks to Manfred and Mario for the tips.

Kaira-So

N 12° 36’ 8’’
W 07 56’ 8’’

A bit out of town at the route to Segou about 2 km after the tour de l’Afrique roundabout. Left between two mini stations into a dirt road.

Run by Franco Malian Jean-Bakir Bertet and his Irish French wife you feel more treated like a guest than a customer. Campsites in their bush / park like huge garden for 3500 CFA per person.

They offer also long term parking (30Euro per month for a 4x4).

They have a driver who used to be mechanic and was very helpful searching spare parts. Jean-Bakirs uncle runs a garage so here is the perfect spot for overlanders.

Contact:
+223 6674 6230
jeanbakir.miriam(you know the sign)yahoo.fr


Auberge Djamilla

N 12° 37’ 21’’
W 07 59’ 31,5’’

Over the old bridge direction Segou, Right after the bridge right. Second left (if you pass the Senegal embassy you are too far) and again second left into a small death end road.

Very cool place. Backpacker like with beduin tent bar, communal kitchen, washing machine (4000 CFA) and WIFI. Sleeping at the beduin tent dorm on the roof, pitch your tent on the roof (2500 CFA per person) or book a room.

If your vehicle is higher than 2,40m it has to stay outside at the street. Smaller cars and bikes can park inside.

Contact:
AubergeDjamilla(you know the sign)yahoo.fr

Thanks to Manfred for the tip.

Camping Hotel Djollyba

N 12° 36’ 34,8’’
W 08 00’ 32,8’’

Over the new bridge direction Airport. First right and first traffic light right again. Along the football field towards the Niger river.

Directly at the banks of the Niger this is a good place for Trucks. Overland trucks and Rotels stop here. Camping 3500 CFA per person.

regards
Bernd

Bamako - Catholic Mission opposite the cathedral (not the Sisters' mission) - cheap (6000cfa, inc breakfast), centrally placed, secure parking, clean.

Sevare - Mac's Refuge - slightly expensive (various prices inc. b/fast), secure parking, a little out of the way.

Mopti - Campement - excellent position, cheap, secure parking, a little past its best, decent bar/restaurant.

Douce Rêves - in the Old Town, quiet, friendly, cheap, on street (guarded) parking, 15 min walk from Mopti port

Y'as pas de problem - backpacker favourite (though not mine), popular, expensive, no secure parking, a little out of the way.

Dave

Motorcyclist in Bamako
 

2 ardent motorcyclists :scooter:Gael and Sonja from the USA are currently opening a guesthouse in Bamako, Mali. They are still organizing themselves, but they certainly put us up. They are also a wealth of information they can be contacted at 9408143 the international code is 223 or email sonjagael@gmail.com
We were there just a few weeks ago
Janet and Tom '
Africa Overland | Follow our travels through the West African countries | Overlanders

.............................

Mopti
 

We stayed on the roof at Hotel Y Pas un Problem - parked Landcruiser out front, nice place, super swimming pool, restaurant OK but pricey. Only downside was that we couldn't cater for ourselves there, but only a 1 night stop and the pool compensated!Easy to find - just follow signs. Wish we'd read this before we went - couldn't find anywhere to camp in bamako - ended up in grotty and pricey hotel! Catholic mission was fully booked =should have phoned!

Auberge Djamilla- Bamako...Macs -Sevare
 

"Really this is the place to stay in Bamako. Fanny and Nico. AubergeDjamilla@yahoo.fr From the centre over the old bridge direction Segou, Right after the bridge right. Carry on along the Niger river. 300m then ask. Or get directions and phone numbers beforehand via the email link.
Rgds Manfred "
I stayed at Auberge Djamilla and it was just what I needed. Clean, cold beer and secure! ( Very French )But I was on my own and couldnt speak frence!! so not a lot of people made an effort to chat. Pissed me off a little. Got over it after 3rd beer. The communal dorm seems to fill quick. Well when I was there. Internet just 100m down road. Didnt get any visa in Bamako as could get visa at Niger border.
Mac's in sevarre is also greate. Swimming pool!! and cold beer. Great place to dump stuff for quick trip to timbuktu. he also will prepare a feast fit for a king with that meal deal he does. It is a little costly but after a long day back from Timbuktu its a nice treat. Can also camp there, on roof!
also this man can tell you everything bout the country and people. Dogon.
Hope it helps
Orrin

Stayin' in Mopti
 

As someone else said don't even think of staying in Mopti, in Sevare we stayed at Maison des Arts, about 400 m from Mac's Refuge, really nice and chilled out.

hee
so there are more campings........good to hear.
what kind of prices do they ask? we have never been to this kind of countries in west africa (always north africa and middle east). we are five persons (family) tent car etc. we like to camp.
I saw there is camping in bamako, bandiagara, timbouctou.......? who knows more places.

thanks
brend

Hi,

Thanks Tom for your post. Gael and I are starting a bed and breakfast in the Hippodrome area of Bamako. We won't be open for a few months and are pretty busy completing construction, but we would like to offer travelers a free place to stay when they are passing through. We've really enjoyed the people we've met this way, and as long-time travelers understand the importance of a comfy place to rest for a while, especially in a busy capital. We really like the Hippodrome neighborhood; it's on the city center side of the bridge, centrally located and near some of the better restaurants, while remaining quiet. As a point of reference, we're just a few streets down from Tamana, Lonely Planet's favorite. We already have WIFI and since Gael is half swiss, we speak french as well.

Also, I liked Ya pas de probleme in Mopti, I think it has a lot to offer different budgets and it's charming. The downside is that it's big and full of tourists so if you're trying to get off the beaten track, it's probably not for you.

pm us or email sonjagael@gmail.com if you'd like to stop by. you can also call us at 223 7 940 8143.

Happy travels.

Sonja and Gael