region of Mali
Africa > Sahel > Mali > Timbuktu (region)

Timbuktu is a region in Mali named after the largest city within the region.

Cities

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Map
Map of Timbuktu (region)

  • 1 Timbuktu
  • 2 Arouane Araouane on Wikipedia in the desert to the north.
  • 3 Goundam- A mainly Tuareg settlement, based near Essakane where the Festival in the Desert used to be held.
  • 4 Taoudenni Taoudenni on Wikipedia- in the far north of the department (some 700 km North of Timbuktu)
  • 5 Niafunké Niafunké on Wikipedia
  • 6 Diré Diré on Wikipedia
  • 7 Gourma-Rharous Gourma-Rharous on Wikipedia

Other destinations

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Understand

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Even though Timbuktu is the largest department in Mali, it is largely empty. The majority of Timbuktu is nothing more than empty Sahara Desert. The main towns are all concentrated in the south along the Niger River. The desert areas are largely the domain of the Tuareg.

Get in

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Get around

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The towns in the south can be accessed by bus/taxi. However as the desert to the north requires a 4x4 or a camel, you will probably want a guide who knows what they are doing.

The city of Timbuktu itself is the main attraction in the department.

Drink

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Stay safe

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If you are heading into the desert to the North there is usually considered to be a threat of bandits in addition to the risk of getting stranded. Be sure to register your itinerary and expected return date with the tourist office in Timbuktu.

Go next

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This region travel guide to Timbuktu is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!