Mali and Ramadan
 

I'll be in Mali in November with my girl-friend for 2 weeks during Ramadan period. Are we going to have any problem with this? What about eating and drinking during the day, and what about transportation, do they run as usual?
I'll be in Bamako in the evening of November 14, any suggestion on how to reach the town from the airport and on a clean hotel?
Thanks
Angelo

Re: Mali and Ramadan
 

Good health and high spirits!

I will be in Mali from the 1st till the 15th of Dec. I will be in Moroc
from the 16th-31st of Nov.

Ramadon will be celebrated in both countries. Your only going to have a
problem with this if you don't respect the culture. you can eat and drink
as normal but have to be aware that you respect the religion and don't eat
in front of them... that's rude. Drinking, same rules apply. A real
cultural experience is to break fast with someone,, food and drink galore!!
music dancing etc...
transportation will usually be as normal.. every one has to make a dollar.,

a bus meets most international flights and will go to town (city center) for
$3us/person. taxis are approx $9-15usd
when coming from the city center take the a Taba city minibusto the major
road junction at the South en of route de Segou, take a taxi the last 5kms's
for $2us
the minibuses run between town and airport via pont du roi and the highway.

what is your itinery for Mali? are you going to Timbuktu? I have no major
set itinery yet..

ciao
tashi

Re: Mali and Ramadan
 

Hello,
Sorry, i'm french and my english is poor.
You can send a mail to a firend of me. His name is : XOR Coulibaly. He =
speak English very well.
He have a travel agency in Bamako. i can reach you from the airport and =
find a clean hotel.
If you prefer, in his house, he have 2 rooms in Bed and Breakfast. it's =
more pleasant than an hostel.
His mail : [email protected]
Phone (223) 672 08 77

You can see his web site (only in french)
www.bienvenueaumali.com

Good travel

Thierry

Re: Mali and Ramadan
 

In Morocco, I have been there several times during Ramadan. I had practiced fasting one year but because I must take daily medicine, I do not fast.
I am sure some of the following can apply to you,

Most shops and restaurants are closed in the daytime. I found a McDonald's in Casablanca open and I am sure all are open.

I also found restaurants of 4 star hotels open during the day.

In the larger cities, Marrakech and Casablanca, some of the crowds get rowdy at night so I stayed out of the way.

It is amazing how people who are fasting and who work with tourists just seem to cope. Many people sleep during the day and eat and work at night.