Bamako is the capital of Mali and straddles the Niger River. With a population of around 2.5 million in 2020, it's the largest city in Mali and one of the largest in West Africa.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Bamako has been continuously inhabited by humans since prehistoric times. In 1883 it was conquered by French troops, and in 1908 became the capital of French Sudan. The city has only a few paved main roads (goudrons), the rest of the city's roads are unpaved, and get dusty during the dry season (November to May) and muddy during the rainy season, offering breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The city can be hard to navigate through due to the lack of road signs, the complicated layout of the streets and the one way system in the city. The roads are very crowded both with motor vehicles and motorcycles who appear to fill every available space possible.
Mali National Park (take highway RN1 north out of downtown). This park sits slightly above the city under the outcrops of the Koulouba plateau and incorporates both the botanical garden and zoo along with a trail network. Located adjacent to the National Museum and Presidential Palace Complex, it is a patch of green in the overall arid area. (updated Jul 2020) 1 Bamako Botanical Gardens. Relaxing green setting. 2 Bamako Zoo (towards the presidential palace), ☏ +223 73 09 44 44. Reopened in mid-2013 after complete renovation. Fewer than 200 animals from more than 100 species. Nice lion exhibit.
At the end of each January, Bamako hosts the finish line to the gruelling trans-Sahara rally, the Budapest-Bamako. Hundreds of rally cars and motorcycles arrive in the city on the last Sunday of January. 1 Casino de l'Amitie a Bamako (Friendship Casino of Bamako), Avenue de la Marne, Bamako Mali. Sa 11:00-04:00, Su-Th 11:00-03:00, F 14:00-04:00. In case you want to see what a Malian casino is like (apparently this is acceptable in Malian culture?) Gambling machines, roulette, even a restaurant with fine dining. (updated Jul 2020) 2 Cultural Palace Hamadou Hampaté Ba (Palais de la Culture Amadou Hampaté Ba). The national performing arts centre in Mali, the centre hosts various performances.
1 Pizzeria de Guido, Rue 250, off Blvd Nelson Mandela. Decent Italian restaurant - just don't expect taxi drivers to know where it is. Love them or hate them, the French have left one decent legacy in West Africa: bread. Fresh delicious baguettes are ubiquitous, and travellers should not be worried about becoming sick because of the bread. Vegetarians will have a hard time in Bamako. Asking for a meal without meat will usually be met with the kind of look reserved for children and elderly relatives one does not wish to upset.
The Evasion Jazz Club can be pretty cool on Fridays and Saturdays. The Hippo d'Or (close to Hippodrome) is also a nice place for enjoying non-stop live music on Fridays and, even more, on Saturdays. There is a big casino near the Hotel L'Amitie. Ibiza, Blyblos and Terrace are still the hippest places to dance and drink. For some less seedy drinking establishments, try No Stress & Jet Set (formerly Privledge), which both have pool tables as well. Bla Bla and its twin in Badalabougou are known to get pumping on weekends. Crazy Horse has some good food and is well priced. 1 Ibiza, Rud Princess. Weekends from midnight.
In Bamako you have a high chance of encountering the police. You should always at least carry a copy of your passport and visa. It is often not sufficient to just show your driving license and this might lead to a ride to the police office - if you're not prepared to bribe your way out. Notice that the police often stops taxis. If the price of the 'ticket' seems high (more than, say, CFA 5,000 for a minor offence), ask to go to the police station. There you can get an official receipt which shows the true price of the offence. Many locals consider it a moral issue to pay proper fines rather than grease the pockets of corrupt police.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Aug, Bamako typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 25 rainy days.
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