Timbuktu is located deep inside the Malian desert.
During many centuries, Timbuktu was off-limits for foreigners and non-Muslims.
Its geographic location and complicated political, religion and ethnic conflicts make Timbuktu a very hard place to get in or come out from still today.
If you visit Timbuktu, you can add this to your list of personal travel life achievements.
“THE MEETING-PLACE OF ALL WHO TRAVEL BY CAMEL OR CANOE”
...in old Sudanese 16th century chronicles
Woman walking aside Sankore Mosque - Travel to Timbuktu
Timbuktu is one of Africa’s ultimate travel destinations and a dream come true for hard core / off the beaten path travelers.
Timbuktu, also spelled Timbuctoo, Timbuktoo or Tombouctou was founded back in the year 1100. It started as a Tuareg nomad seasonal camp but during a couple of centuries it came up to be one of the most important commercial and religious outposts in all West Africa.
Timbuktu is also famous for its ancient manuscripts and the three mosques and mausoleums of Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia.
“TIMBUCTOO THE MYSTERIOUS”
...by Felix Dubois 1862–1945
NOTE: Back in July 2012, Timbuktu fell in the hands of Islamist rebels who captured the city from a rebel group. French troops came to liberate the city and reaching Timbuktu is once again possible. But travelers have to be extremely cautious. Even before the crisis, the desert areas of Timbuktu were known to have al Qaeda groups from the Islamic Maghreb and Tuareg rebels. Kidnappings and foreigner abductions have been normal for almost 2 decades.
On this page I gather 52 Photos of Timbuktu – a place of mystery and spirituality.
I hope you enjoy.
52 PHOTOS OF TIMBUKTU IN NORTHERN MALI
Welcome to Timbuktu city sign
Timbuktu is a sister city to the following cities: Chemnitz (Germany), Hay-on-Wye (United Kingdom), Kairuan (Tunisia), Marrakesh (Morocco), Saintes (France) and Tempe AZ (United States).
Beautiful wooden door in Timbuktu
Timbuktu's houses are ornamented with beautiful wooden doors with metal decoration. This peculiar aspect gives the city great charm and certain old vibes.
Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu
The Sankore religious complex (university, mosque and madrassa) is the oldest of the three teaching schools in Timbuktu. It was a very important religious educational center from the 14th until the 18th century.
Woman shopping inside Timbuktu central market
Mud bricks
Traditional hand made bricks drying in the sun. The majority of the buildings in Timbuktu are built with these mud bricks.
Timbuktu street scene
Timbuktu is a very peaceful and easy going desert city.
Donkeys parked in the outskirts of Timbuktu
American Trans-Saharan Expedition sign
D.W. Berky memorial sign from the 1st American Trans-Saharan Expedition from Biskra to Timbuktu, 1912-1913.
Amazing old door and traditional Timbuktu architecture
Grands Moulins du Mali sign
(GMM) Grands Moulins du Mali sign, a wheat flour and rice milling company.
Djingareyber Mosque side entrance
Traditional wooden door in Timbuktu
Boy playing football near sacred mosque
Tombouctou written in wall
Tea house and bakery panel in Timbuktu
Timbuktu street market
The Timbuktu street market is one of the most lively places in the city. Many women have little stalls where they sell dried fish, spices, fruits such as mangoes and bananas, vegetables, second hand clothes, etc.
Malian Women selling in Timbuktu street market
Dried fish for sale in Timbuktu market
Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library street sign
Boy reading the Koran near the Peace Monument
Charcoal oven advertisement in Timbuktu
Modern Malitel billboard
People waiting to go inside the bus
Panoramic view of Timbuktu
Gao to Kidal? Next destination?
City center Timbuktu
Timbuktu Museum entrance
The Municipal Museum of Timbuktu exhibits artifacts and maps to better understand the history and culture of this mythical city.
Cultural Museum Timbuktu Mali
Traditional mud bricks
Door in Timbuktu
El Mokhtar Hamalla Square sign in Timbuktu
Architecture of Timbuktu
Sidi Yahya mosque and madrassa
The Sidi Yahya mosque and madrassa was built back in 1440.
Sidi Yahya tombstone
Sidi Yahya tombstone dating from 1463. Sidi Yahya Tadelsi was the first imam and head professor of the Sidi Yahya religious complex in Timbuktu.
Festival Au Desert poster - traditional Tuareg festivities in Kidal
Malian house courtyard
Peace Monument in Timbuktu
The Flame of Peace or "Flamme de la Paix" is a monument located on the northwest part of Timbuktu facing the desert.
This white construction with several used guns is the actual place where more than 3000 weapons were burnt at the end of the Tuareg rebellion back in the 1990's.
Old weapons used to make the Peace Monument of Timbuktu
Pharmacy sign in the center of Timbuktu
Traditional wooden door
Traditional wooden door and metal decoration in Timbuktu
Spices in Timbuktu market
Empty market in Timbuktu
Timbuktu central market corridor
The Timbuktu Andalusian Library street sign
Top view from Timbuktu central market
Panoramic view of Timbuktu
Restaurant wall painted with Tuareg motifs in Timbuktu
Boy sleeping on the terrace of the Timbuktu market
Wooden decorated window
Djinguereber Mosque tower
How to get to Timbuktu
My transportation from Gao to Timbuktu - 22 hours!
► Read more about this journey in my Best Travel Experiences.
Transportation out of Timbuktu
After my 22 hour trip from Gao to Timbuktu on top of a Mauritanian smuggler pickup truck along with other 18 people, I wasn't expecting that my way out of Timbuktu would be difficult. Well, it wasn't easy and the reputation of Timbuktu being hard to reach and tough to get out proved to be true. My 4X4 taxi broke down near Hombori, adding 5 hours on my travel time to reach Mopti.
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