Situated 354 km (220 miles) southwest of Timbuktu on the floodplains of the Bani and Niger rivers, Old Djenne is thought to be the oldest known city in Sub-Saharan Africa. Situated along the ancient trans-Sahara trading routes, by the 16th century Djenne had developed into an important settlement in the region and a centre for Islamic learning. Completed in 1907 to replace an earlier mosque, the famous Djenne Mosque (also known at the Grand Mosque) dominates the old town. Built in the Sudanic style and constructed from sun-baked mud-bricks, each year after the rainy season the entire town turn out to repair the structure at the Spring Festival. Wooden posts that adorn the structure enable workers to scale the walls during the restoration process. A traditional African market is located around the mosque’s perimeter. In 1988, Old Djenne and the Grand Mosque were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.

For more information on the Djenne Mosque, contact the Tourist Office of Mali (see Tourist Information above).

Air: Bamako International Airport. Water: River taxis along the Niger River. Rail: Train: Bamako Station. Road: Bus: Public services or share bush taxis to Djenne.

Office Malien du Tourisme et de l’Hôtellerie (Tourist Office of Mali)
Rue Mohamed V., Bamako, Mali
Tel: 222 5673
Website: www.malitourisme.com

There is no active Tourist Office for Mali in the UK.

Mali