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Follow Niger River towns, mud-brick mosques, and desert blues of Mali
Visit Timbuktu, a historic city in Mali known for its ancient Islamic scholarship and desert trade. Explore the Djinguereber Mosque (a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1327), see the Sankore Madrasah (once a leading center of learning in Africa), and wander through the old town with its mud-brick architecture and manuscripts.
Learn Modern Standard Arabic and its unique script
Visit Bamako, the capital and largest city of Mali. Explore the National Museum of Mali (Muso Kunda) showcasing Malian cultural heritage and archaeological finds, stroll through the Grand Marché (large central market with textiles, crafts, and local goods), and see the Bamako Grand Mosque (a prominent Sudano-Sahelian style mosque built in the 1970s).
Attend a live concert by Tinariwen, the Tuareg desert blues band
