Nope.
Mali remains at a 19/100 safety score, and the US, UK, and Canadian governments maintain level 4 do-not-travel advisories alongside active health alerts for dengue, diphtheria, and measles.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Mali
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Nope.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Unlicensed taxi fraud
Drivers in Bamako use white-plated cars with taxi signs to pose as official transport. Only use vehicles with red plates to avoid this deception.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Improper documentation
Police fine travelers for lacking proper papers. Always carry a copy of your passport and visa, as a driving license is insufficient and risks a trip to the police station.
Bribery for document issues
Police may demand bribes if you are caught without proper identification or documentation. Carrying the original passport and visa in a secure manner mitigates this risk.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Dengue
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Mali is politically unstable and therefore lawlessness is wide spread.
- •The train between Bamako and Kayes is notorious for theft: if taking the train, you should exercise extreme caution, carry a pocket flashlight, and keep your belongings with you and valuables directly on your person at all times.
- •You also have a good chance of encountering the police.
- •Carrying only a driving license is not sufficient and might lead to a ride to the police office unless you bribe your way out.
- •The northeast half of Mali (everything north and east of Mopti Province) is simply not safe for travel, as the murky alliance of Al Qaeda and Tuareg rebel groups have been targeting foreigners for kidnappings.
Staying healthy
- •Vaccinations: Although it is rarely enforced, you are required to have an international vaccination card showing immunization against yellow fever.
- •Malaria: Mali is highly endemic for malaria, including s.
- •Food and water: The rule "cook it peel it or forget it" should be followed.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 17 / ambulance: 15 / fire: 18
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12