Mali Day 11 - Essakane to Bandiagara

After enjoying a few days in the sun relaxing, and enjoying a few tunes, it was time to join the mad rush of people leaving Essakane and start the long drive back to civilisation.

Unfortunately there's only one way out of Timbuktu, and that involves a ferry across the Niger just south of town. Luckily we managed to sneak our car onto the ferry so we only had to wait 15mins (while we had a coffee). We'd heard stories at the festival of people who drove to Timbuktu waiting for hours as literally hundreds of cars queued for the ferry that only takes fourteen at a time. Our car, being brand new (we literally put the first 6,000 km on it) decided that it didn't really like deserts so much, and after emptying a small bucket of sand from the air filter we were forced to drive at snail's pace as the fuel filter was blocked until we found a village with a mechanic. Half an hour later - while we had lunch at a small shack on the side of the road - we were back in business. I think I preferred it when the driver was forced to go slow...

The Timbuktu road
whilst only new, this dirt track through the desert doesn't
make it any easier to get to "the middle of nowhere"

A group of Bella (slaves of the touareg) transporting grain by mule towards Timbuktu

The Bandiagara Escarpment rises out of the desert from nowhere

Our hotel bar in Bandiagara - nice place after driving literally all day