Timbuktu is a region in Mali named after the largest city within the region.

Cities

• 1 Timbuktu
• 2 Arouane in the desert to the north.
• 3 Goundam- A mainly Tuareg settlement, based near Essakane where the Festival in the Desert used to be held.
• 4 Taoudenni - in the far north of the department (some 700 km North of Timbuktu)
• 5 Niafunké
• 6 Diré
• 7 Gourma-Rharous

Understand

Even though Timbuktu is the largest department in Mali, it is largely empty. The majority of Timbuktu is nothing more than empty Sahara Desert. The main towns are all concentrated in the south along the Niger River. The desert areas are largely the domain of the Tuareg.

Get around

The towns in the south can be accessed by bus/taxi. However as the desert to the north requires a 4x4 or a camel, you will probably want a guide who knows what they are doing.

See

The city of Timbuktu itself is the main attraction in the department.

Stay safe

If you are heading into the desert to the North there is usually considered to be a threat of bandits in addition to the risk of getting stranded. Be sure to register your itinerary and expected return date with the tourist office in Timbuktu.

Go next

Article Geo different to Wikidata
Wikivoyage: Latitude 21.145833, Longitude -4.020833 (Map, Geohack)
Wikidata: Latitude 16.30000, Longitude -3.00000 (Map, Geohack)
Difference: 549.9km