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- <text id=93CT1775>
- <title>
- Mali--Travel
- </title>
- <history>
- Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook
- Northern Africa
- Mali
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>CIA World Factbook</source>
- <hdr>
- Travel
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p> Health: Malaria suppressants are strongly recommended.
- Several doctors are available in Bamako, but medical facilities
- are limited. Bring a supply of any needed medication; local
- pharmacies do not always carry even simple remedies. Insects,
- rats, and rabies are prevalent. Tapwater is not potable and
- should be boiled and filtered. Avoid local dairy products. Meats
- should be thoroughly cooked. Health requirements change; check
- latest information.
- </p>
- <p> Climate and clothing: Summer clothing is suitable for Bamako.
- Sturdy shoes are needed because of sand, gravel, mud, and
- unpaved roads.
- </p>
- <p> Telecommunications: Long-distance telephone service is often
- unsatisfactory. Local telegraphic service is unreliable. Mali is
- on Greenwich mean time, 5 hours ahead of eastern standard time.
- </p>
- <p> Transportation: Privately owned automobiles are the principal
- means of transportation in Bamako for Americans. Bus service is
- unreliable. Taxis are available at stands, and fares are
- inexpensive. The road between Bamako, Mopti, and Gao, and those
- branching south to Bougouni and Sikasso are paved. Other roads
- are of laterite and usually passable in the dry season without
- four-wheel drive. Depending on the seasons, between two and four
- flights a week arrive in Bamako from Paris. From New York, the
- best connections are made at Paris or Brussels. Currently, there
- is no scheduled internal air service.
- </p>
- <p> Tourist attractions: The best time to travel to Mali is
- during the cool season, November-February. Mali also is
- comfortable during the rainy season from June to September, but
- transportation is less reliable. Mali has some of West Africa's
- most photogenic sights and a growing tourist business, but trips
- are still quite difficult to arrange.
- </p>
- <p> National holidays: Businesses and the U.S. Embassy may be
- closed on the following Malian holidays:
- </p>
- <p>New Year's Day, January 1; Army Day, January 20; Easter Monday*;
- Labor Day, May l; Day of Africa, May 25; Ramadan*; Tabaski*; Independence
- Day, September 22; Prophet's Baptism*; Mawloud*; Liberation Day, November
- 19; Christmas, December 25.
- </p>
- <p>*Date varies.
- </p>
- <p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs,
- December 1989.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-