"Mali - Sand, people and water" a Mali Travel Page by Petit_Prince

Both Mali and Burkina Faso (see my page about this country) are among the poorest countries in the world. Don't expect amazing wildlife, not even spectacular landscapes.

So what is giving these countries their particular charm? There is only one answer: people. People in lively markets, people in the street of main cities or in the villages, thousands of children, people in the mysterious city of Timbuktu...

... That is what makes a trip to Mali and Burkina Faso an unforgettable experience.

Poverty is there, no doubt. But there is a fantastic lesson to take out of people making their life and being happy with so little.

It is impossible to come back from Mali with the same mind about water, about such a treasure we waste in such a foolish way. The Niger is essential to Mali's life. Water is a treasure for all of us.

When you see how people lack water in Timbuktu and in general in the desert, when you drink boiling water because it's 45ºC and you have nothing else, when the greatest pleasure after one day trip is drinking cool water, something definitely changes in your mind.