Africa
Mud-brick mosques, Dogon cliffs and the music of the Niger River.
Mali grew rich on the trans-Saharan trade, and its legacy is written in earth and ink. The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud-brick building in the world, Timbuktu's libraries hold centuries of manuscripts, and the Dogon villages of the Bandiagara Escarpment cling to sandstone cliffs. Bamako, the capital, sprawls along the Niger River and is famous across Africa for its musicians.
Travellers should check their government's current travel advice before planning, as much of the country is affected by conflict and most governments advise against all travel. Mali's culture still reaches the world through its griots, kora players and desert blues, and through rice dishes with peanut sauce. Climate-wise, the cool, dry months from November to February are the most comfortable; April and May bring fierce heat.
January, February, November, December.