Seasonal/Weather info
Dogon country is located within Africa’s Sahel Belt, which forms the transition between the Sahara Desert to the north and the more fertile regions to the south. This makes the climate hot and dry for most of the year (often over 100°F), with a brief “rainy” season extending from June to September.
The cool season is in the months of November to February with temperatures ranging from 30 to 32 during the day and as low as 15 degrees C (59°F) at night. Both the cool and rainy seasons are ideal periods for visiting Dogon country, with the air quality being the cleanest and driest. Be aware that in some areas, vehicle access to villages may be limited during the rainy season.
During the rainy season, the landscape changes into a dramatic setting of lush green millet fields, waterfalls, ponds, and rivers. The temperatures during the rainy season range from 33 to 36 degrees C (91 – 97°F).
The Harmattan, a wind that blows sand from the desert, covers the cities of sand with a thin layer of dust between late February and April.
Visa and Passport
A visa is required for all visitors to Mali, with the exception of residents of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which countries include Algeria, Cameroon, Andorra, Monaco, Chad, Gambia, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia.
The following is a list of required documents for obtaining a Tourist Visa for entry to Mali:
• A valid passport
• Two (2) recent passport size photographs (Please glue them on the application forms)
• Two (2) completed application forms
• A copy of an airline itinerary or a flight ticket
• A copy of the yellow fever certificate
• Applicants for a transit visa must submit copies of their onward tickets and visas to their destinations.
• Tourists must submit copies of their hotel reservation
The appropriate fee (please consult Mali consular services for up-to-date info)
Currency
It is recommended to exchange money at banks in larger towns like Mopti and Bamako before arriving at Dogon country. Lacking banks and other financial infrastructure, Dogon country operates on a cash-only economy, so your credit cards and travelers’ checks will be of no use.
The currency of Mali is the Central African Franc (CFA or XOF), exchanging at around CFA 458 = USD 1 in June 2011. Please check the current rate here
Health and Safety
The Centers for Disease Control recommends travelers to Mali get <strong>vaccines</strong> for the following preventable diseases: <strong>yellow fever</strong>, <strong>hepatitis A</strong>, <strong>hepatitis B</strong>, <strong>typhoid</strong>, <strong>meningitis</strong>, and <strong>rabies</strong>. In addition, the whole of Mali is considered at high risk for malaria transmission, therefore <strong>preventative antimalarial medication</strong> is also recommended.