Mali - Kidal security
Thanks to those who have given info to my previous questions on Mali trip. Now in Bamako. Have hooked up with a decent sounding outfit, Mali Discovery, who seem able to sort out decent value walking north of Tim. However, they say they won't do anything around Kidal due to bandits - OK just driving there, but not walking outside the town.
I've no idea whether this is because they don't operate in Kidal and so want to persuade us to stick with Timbuctou, or whether the threat is real. We have been unable to contact Cheik ag Baye at Affala Voyages, mentioned by some of you, to get his view, and don't want to travel to Kidal to find we can't then walk from there.
Discovery will take us walking to an area known as La porte du Desert and assure us that despite its name, it is up a different route to the one used by people just going out for a couple of nights in desert with crap Tuareg canp for souvenirs etc. Does anyone know La Porte du Desert who can tell us whether this is the real thing, or just the local tame "have a night in the desert circuit".
Thanks - Simon
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