Introduction
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What to Do in Gao
Sites & Festivals
Potential Circuits
Desert Camel Treks
Niger River Trips
Great Spots Near Gao

Learn About Gao
History & People
Gao Today
Gao Fast Facts

What Will My Vacation Look Like? Visit the On-line Gao Photo Gallery.

Planning Your Trip
Getting to Gao
Travel Agencies
Tour Guides
Best Times to Visit
Visas / WHO Cards
Gao Trip Planner
Gao Tourist Map

Where to Stay & Eat
Lodging
Restaurants & Bars

Other Info
Gao Cultural Norms
Health & Safety
Mali in the News
More Info?  Links!
FAQs

Other Great Places to Visit in Mali
Timbuktu
Dogon Country
Mopti
Djenn� Mud Mosque
Bamako & S�gou

Learn About Mali
History & People
Mali Today
Mali Fast Facts

Mali Photo Gallery

About Us
What is OMATHO?
Gao Tourist Center
Meet the Staff
Contact Us

Food & Water Safety
The Gao public water source is fully-treated and safe for tourist consumption directly from the tap.  Unbranded water sold in bags in smaller towns is most likely not safe for tourist consumption.  Restaurants tend to follow standards of hygiene and serious food borne illnesses have not surfaced in Gao in any recent times.

Safety & Security in Gao
The city of Gao is completely safe and secure as is traveling into and out of Gao from the direction of Mopti and by the Niger River either north or south from Gao.  Tourists will see that they can comfortably walk around Gao both during the day and the night without any problems.  In fact, what a tourist will usually find is an invitation from Malians to watch a football match or to drink tea.

Petty crimes do occur in Gao (thefts mostly), but they are relatively rare and keeping an eye on your things should prevent you from having any problems.  More serious violent crimes are almost entirely unheard-of in Gao.

Traveling North of Gao
Generally speaking, the Sahara Desert regions north of Gao are considered relatively safe up to the city of Kidal.  Isolated acts of banditism between Gao and Kidal, usually with the goal of stealing a vehicle, do occur occasionally.  Similar incidents have also occurred infrequently on the road between Gao and Bourem, the northern route to Timbuktu.

Traveling to Kidal carries higher risks mostly due to the inability of local security forces to secure huge areas of Sahara Desert.  Current unrest between the Malian government and a small group of dissatisfied Tuareg's may call into question the soundness of a decision to visit Kidal at this time.  An accord was signed to end the hostilities, but the full details of the situation are still somewhat unclear.

Furthermore, the once classic Sahara Desert crossing from Algeria to Gao is generally considered unsafe at this time, although a small number of  people do still complete this trek with the help of local guides.

The best policy if you want to travel to these areas is to check with your ministry that handles foreign affairs or your country's embassy in Bamako or with local security forces here in Gao for the latest information.

Other Info

Gao Cultural Norms

Health & Safety

Mali in the News

More Info?  Links!

FAQs