Things to Do in Dogon Country

Dogon Country stretches across the dramatic Bandiagara Escarpment in eastern Mali, where ancient cliff-dwelling communities have maintained their traditional ways of life for over a thousand years. The region encompasses dozens of villages built into and around towering sandstone cliffs, creating one of Africa's most remarkable cultural landscapes. You'll find yourself in a place where animist traditions run deep, where granaries perch impossibly on cliff faces, and where the rhythm of daily life follows patterns that haven't changed much in centuries. The Dogon people's sophisticated cosmology, intricate wood carvings, and architectural ingenuity make this UNESCO World Heritage site genuinely extraordinary - though getting here requires real commitment and respect for local customs.

Food in Dogon Country tends to be simple but satisfying, built around millet, rice, and vegetables with occasional meat or fish. You'll likely eat most meals with host families if you're doing village treks, experiencing genuine local cuisine including millet porridge, hearty stews, and locally brewed millet beer. In larger towns like Bandiagara, small restaurants serve basic meals, but don't expect extensive menus. Bringing some snacks from Bamako isn't a bad idea, especially if you have dietary restrictions.

The dry season from November through March offers the most comfortable conditions for trekking, with clear skies and manageable temperatures. December and January can actually get quite cool at night, so bring layers. The hot season from March to May becomes brutally hot, while the rainy season from June to October makes many paths impassable and village access difficult. That said, the landscape turns green during rains, which has its own appeal if you can handle the mud and humidity.