Timbuktu is the legendary city founded as a commercial center in West Africa nine hundred years ago. Dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the ancient manuscripts presented in this exhibition cover every aspect of human endeavor and are indicative of the high level of civilization attained by West Africans during the Middle Ages.

For a descritption of Justin's (our Mali expert) most recent visit to Timbuctu, please click through here

Hotel Colombe, Timbuctu
The dreary concrete exterior does not fill one with confidence. Inside the concrete structure the rooms are basing and boring but they are clean and do have hot water with air-con, TV and phone.
12 rooms with six rooms on each of the two floors. Top floor rooms are preferable.

Tuareg camp, Timbuctu
Ignore the inauspicious start (mounting your camel on the edge of Timbuctu amongst the litter and plastic bags). Once into the desert this is wonderful, if basic. Away from the babble of Timbuctu, the silence and stillness of the desert are soothing. The camps are small family groupings (usually of 3 -4 Tuareg tents) enclosed by a low scrub fence.