Fly from
Budget
£679 - £2,081
Route
Depart
Return
Price
London GatwickBamako
LGW - BKO
LGWBKO
London Gatwick
Tue 1/10
1 stop9h 25m
Bamako
Wed 2/10
1 stop12h 35m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Thu 17/10
1 stop13h 55m
Bamako
Sun 20/10
1 stop12h 35m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Thu 17/10
1 stop17h 55m
Bamako
Mon 21/10
1 stop29h 00m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Thu 17/10
1 stop17h 55m
Bamako
Mon 21/10
1 stop29h 00m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Thu 17/10
2 stops37h 25m
Bamako
Mon 21/10
1 stop29h 00m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Wed 14/8
1 stop9h 10m
Bamako
Wed 14/8
2 stops11h 20m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Thu 17/10
2 stops34h 20m
Bamako
Sun 20/10
2 stops35h 05m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Wed 14/8
2 stops14h 10m
Bamako
Wed 14/8
2 stops11h 20m
London HeathrowBamako
LHR - BKO
LHRBKO
London Heathrow
Wed 14/8
2 stops14h 10m
Bamako
Wed 14/8
3 stops17h 05m
The best time to visit Bamako and find cheaper flights is from October to February. From April temperatures begin to soar and when the rains come from July to September the malaria carrying mosquitoes are at their worst. The mainly unpaved roads will be dusty in the dry season and muddy during the rains. The town is the finishing line for the gruelling Trans-Saharan rally, which starts in Budapest. Hundreds of rally cars and motorcycles will arrive in the city on the last Saturday of January. Also, the Dakar Rally often passes through Bamako.
BKO Temperature | 24 - 31 °C |
---|
If weather is an important factor for your trip to Bamako, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, April is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 31.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 24.0 C).
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Crew
Entertainment
Boarding
Comfort
Food
Overall
Reviews
Departure was late. Plane much too small for an 11 hour flight. One bathroom was out of order in a completely full flight.
Bamako, or ‘Crocodile River’ in the local dialect, is the capital of Mali, a landlocked country in western Africa. The town sits either side of the River Niger. The people of Bamako live their lives mainly on the streets and you will find it a colourful and noisy place both day and night. When the Scottish explorer, Mungo Park, reached Bamako in 1806 it was only a small riverside fishing village, but it developed rapidly with French colonisation in the late 19th century. The old area, to the north of the Niger, is a precisely laid out colonial town with public areas and green spaces. The Musee National is only a small museum, but exhibits some wonderful ethnographic artefacts such as wooden masks, old textiles and marionettes. You won’t find any English language labels, but English speaking guides can be booked. Few tourists venture as far as the Marche de Medina, but if you do, you will really feel that you have arrived in Mali, shoppers come here to buy second hand clothes, get their hair elaborately braided or their hands and feet decorated with henna. Shop in the market for traditional handicrafts to take home with you, such as wood carvings, jewellery, leather goods and musical instruments. The stall holders will expect you to bargain over prices. When you want to escape from roads crowded with motorbikes and street traders find the quiet places and beautiful gardens set along the river banks. The area is generally very flat, but two hills rise just outside the city. On the Hill of Hope is the newly refurbished zoo providing a haven from the crowded city. Opposite is the Hill of Power with its gleaming white presidential palace at the top. In the evenings enjoy the live music you will find everywhere and sample local Malian dishes such as poulet au coco, couscous and ragout.
Taxis are the most efficient way of getting around Bamako, these are either cars or motorcycles. Negotiate a price upfront as they do not carry meters. There are also green minibuses which operate on set routes. Boat trips on the Niger or Bani Rivers can be organised for you by the tourist office.
Senou International Airport (BKO) is 9 miles (15 km) from Bamako. Apart from renting a car the only transport link is by private taxi which will take about 40 minutes. Confirm a price before you start your journey but, strangely enough, the return journey to the airport is generally cheaper.