Transportation in Mali

Mali's transport backbone is the bush taxi network, shared Peugeot estates and minibuses that leave when full and connect every town you'll realistically visit. They're cheap, hot, and the only way to reach Timbuktu or Dogon Country without a private vehicle. For city hops, Bamako has a growing fleet of ride-hailing motos booked through local apps. They weave through traffic faster than any car and cost a fraction of a taxi. Skip the station touts at Sogoniko or Gare Routière de Bamako, walk straight to the vehicle, check the driver's license on the dashboard, and sit behind the passenger seat for the smoothest ride. From Bamako-Sénou International, the official taxi rank is your only reliable option, ignore the freelance hustlers inside the terminal. The ride to downtown takes 30, 45 minutes depending on traffic. Agree on the fare before you load bags, as meters are rare. There's no public transport link, so if you're on a tight budget, wait outside the airport perimeter and flag a passing bush taxi heading to the city center, just be ready for multiple stops and zero luggage space.