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Festival in the Desert (Festival-au-Desert)
Where: Essakane, Mali
When: January (annual)
This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience! Billed as the "most remote music festival in the world" the Festival is a three-day Afro-pop powwow held by the Tuareg, the traditionally nomadic "blue people" of the Sahara. It's a tribe often feared for the banditry of its rebels and respected for the fact that it has never really been conquered. Combining traditional Tuareg music and dance, camel races, and competitions during the day, the Festival comes alive at night with modern Malian music, which is becoming popular the world over from incorporation into music as diverse as that of Robert Plant and Paul Simon. Although the centerpoint of this trip is the Festival in the Desert, the itinerary also includes more well-known Mali attractions such as Dogon country, Djenne, and Timbuctu.
The festival is held in the desert oasis Essakane, 65 kilometers from Timbuktu. Accommodations consist of Tuareg tents and ground mats (NB: there are no hotels ); hot meals are prepared on-site.
Desert temperatures in January are hot during the day (~35 C / 85 F) , but quite cold at night (~5 C / 55 F) ? travellers must bring sleeping bags !
This is not a luxury holiday, but a unique cultural experience that requires adapting to local conditions.
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