For a truly unique experience, consider visiting Dogon country in Mali on horseback!
The horses are Malian-bred, medium-sized and docile; they will allow you to cover more ground than on foot, yet you will experience a more personal approach to the Dogon people than is possible when touring in a vehicle. The horses will also enable you to visit villages that are inaccessible by vehicle.
  Our horseback touring follows Dogon country's Bandiagara escarpment along its base; an escort vehicle awaits us at the rendez-vous point, at the end of every day.
  You will accompanied by your guide of course, but also by a groom if necessary, depending on the length of your tour. Your horse will have a local saddle, and you should bring along a water bottle, sunglasses, sun block lotion and a hat. The escort vehicle will carry your regular baggage, plus all of our camping supplies, as necessary.
  Horseback touring is done with an eye on daily temperatures-we offer horseback outings only during the cooler months: August through February or March. We cover the most ground during the morning hours, give the horses a break at mid-day which allows us to visit villages, then resume our ride if necessary in the late afternoon.

  We offer -
  A half-day ride: in the morning, ride along and explore the base of the escarpment, with a village visit; in the afternoon, resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
An all-day tour: ride approximately three hours in the morning, with a mid-day break to visit our destination village, then ride back in the afternoon to our point of origin; overnight there, then resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
  A two-day (overnight) tour: a morning ride, mid-day break to visit a village, then continue on to a second village where you will spend the night (camping); next morning, visit the second village, then depart to our mid-day rest point; finish the ride by day's end; overnight camping, then resume your regular Saga Tours itinerary
  We cannot list here the specific villages to be visited, as this will vary from tour to tour, but we can provide this information once your complete itinerary is determined.
Our unique 13-day horseback tour:
Bamako, Mopti, Djenne and 10 Dogon villages, which includes 7 days on horseback
Day 1 : Arrive in Bamako; airport to hotel transfer; evening free; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
Day 2 : (B) Drive to Mopti; overnight in Mopti (hotel)
Day 3 : (B) Visit Mopti in the morning, then depart for Dogon country; visit the Dogon village Songo en route (see the rock paintings and circumcision grotto); overnight in Kani Kombole (village inn)
Day 4 : (B,L,D) Get acquainted with the horses, and begin the horseback portion of the tour; ride to the village Sagourou ( ~ 17km); after lunch, visit this typical plains village containing large granaries and sculpted toguna; overnight camping in Sagourou
Day 5 : (B,L,D) Ride to Nombori ( ~ 17km); after lunch, visit this fascinating cliff village which features mysterious and unique stone formations; overnight camping in Nombori
Day 6 : (B,L,D) Ride to Yawa ( ~ 8km); visit this highest of all the Dogon villages; opportunity for a spectacular climb through a cleft in the rock face, on an old, traditional Dogon ladder; overnight camping in Yawa
Day 7 : (B,L,D) Ride to Guimini ( ~ 12km); wander around the unique old-style houses; overnight camping in Guimini
Day 8 : (B,L,D) Ride to Doundiourou ( ~ 10km); see the ancestral village fetishes, still revered to this day; after lunch, ride to Yabatalou ( ~ 5km); see another style of village fetishes and meet the fetish-keeper; overnight camping in Yabatalou
Day 9 : (B,L,D) Ride to Ende ( ~5 km); meet the Hogon in his cliff dwelling above the village; see ancient Tellem houses; after lunch, ride to Tely ( ~ 4km) where you will meet traditional healers; overnight camping in Tely
Day 10 : (B,L,D) Ride to Kani Kombole ( ~ 5km); this is the end of the horseback portion of the tour; free day to explore Kani Kombole; overnight at the village inn
Day 11 : (B) Drive to Djenne; visit Djenne, see the fabulous Grand Mosque, one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites; overnight in Djenne (hotel)
Day 12 : (B) Drive to Bamako; overnight in Bamako (hotel)
Day 13 : Day-room; visit Bamako: the National Museum, the market, the artisans village; airport transfer for final departure

Each day of the horseback portion of the tour has allotted time on foot, to properly explore each village; the camping is in dome tents with ground mattresses; food is prepared by the camp cook who accompanies the tour group in the escort vehicle; bathing is done via bucket baths-there are no showers in the villages.

 

Tour package includes:
· your horse and his care and feeding
· experienced guide for the entire tour
· groom for the horses
· 4x4 vehicle with fuel and driver
· 6 nights hotel accommodation in tourist class hotels, with breakfast (B)
· day-room in Bamako on the last day
· 6 nights camping - bring your sleeping bag
· all camping equipment and camp cook during the horseback days
· full board during the horseback portion of the tour: 7 breakfasts (B), 7 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D), including bottled mineral water
· airport transfers upon arrival and departure
· all village visit fees, hotel taxes, and local tourism taxes
Tour does not include international travel to/from Mali, entry visas, non-specified meals, drinks, tips, insurance, and personal expenses.