The Republic of Mali is a nation in west Africa, through which the two major rivers the Niger and Senegal run. Mali, which is considered the largest country in Africa, is divided into three designated zones namely the Sudanese, the Sahelian and the Saharan.
Tombouctou, a region in Mali, not only attracts visitors from all over the world because of its unusual name, but also for its mud mosques such as Djinguereber Mosque and Sidi Yahya Mosque as well as water towers and local museums. In the nearby town, Gao, visitors can admire an ancient pyramid-like structure called Le Tombeau des Askia, which was built by Askia Mohomed, the former Emperor of the Songhai Empire in 1495. Aside from the rich history and culture reflected in the architecture and natural surroundings, Mali is also known for the traditional ceremonies of local groups including the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara as well as the fishing groups in Bozo. A popular Mali activity is riding in a boat along the Niger River, where you can see the Falaise de Bandiagara cliffs and Futa Jallon Mountains (over 1,970 feet tall) in the distance as you arrive at nearby villages including Dogon. Within Dogon are several smaller villages such as Songo, Tellum and Amani, where visitors can admire a nearby crocodile pit from the sidelines.