The Niger River is the third longest river in Africa and is a major thoroughfare in Mali connecting Mopti to Timbuktu. A quintessential experience of travelling in Mali is to take a river cruise to Timbuktu aboard a pinasse - traditional wooden boats powered by engines. On the way you can visit riverside villages such as those belonging to the Bozo, a tribe of nomadic fishermen, view the wildlife of the river including hippos and bird species such as egrets, herons, sandpipers and hammerkops and camp at night on the river's edge. The real highlight however is simply watching the scenes of life on the river - Fulani herdsmen taking their cattle into the river for watering, boats carrying goods, livestock and passengers down the river and women lining the banks washing clothes.
Location:
Mali
Travel to Niger River Cruise
