The main artery of Mali
The Niger river is the central artery of Mali. It provides fresh water, allows exchange of goods, people, and the cultivation of rice. There are nomadic towns by the river, that move with the harvest, by boat, called a "pinasse". You can use one of these pinasses from Mopti to reach Timbuktu in almost a week, if all goes well, but if you have a shorter travel plan, you can rent a pinasse for a day, or evening, and visit the villages around the River. You will see that even the young local children know this river very well, sailing alone and navigating with ease, without worrying about the flow or movement of sand in the bottom, that can block you halfway across the river if you're not careful! It's also possible to visit a fishing village, where you can see a great variety of fish.
