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What to bring

CLOTHES: Mali is dry, hot country. What Malians call winter is seasonal for North American summer. From April to July, temperatures can climb over 40°. So take comfortable, lightweight clothes. Natural fabrics (cotton and linen) are cooler than synthetic. Keep in mind dark colours absorb the sun while solid colours show stains and dirt - light patterns work well. While you want to take clothes that can be washed by hand, Malians show respect by dressing well, so take a few things that would be suitable for summer office wear. You will also likely be invited to weddings, political ceremonies, etc. during you internship.

GIRLS: In the cities it is common for women to wear jeans or pants, but if you are posted to a village, you may want to opt for cotton skirts. You can also easily purchase fabric (see photo below right) to wear as pagnes - wraparound skirts. T-shirts are fine, as are button-up shirts. Tanktops are permissible, but know that in Mali married women keep their shoulders covered and by doing the same you my attract less unwanted attention.

GUYS:  Most Malian men do not wear shorts, so guys might want to opt for lightweight khakis and cotton pants. You might also want to take a couple of button-up shirts which will do for more formal occasions.

 

FOOTWEAR: As with clothes, think light and comfortable. Flip-flops are very practical, but you may also want to bring a pair of more formal shoes (comfortable dressier sandals for girls, closed shoes for guys). But keep in mind that most roads are dusty and dirty, so don't take anything that can't stand up to some rough terrain and a lot of grit.   

TOILETRIES: Don't count on being able to find toiletries in Mali, especially things like contact solution. Best to take everything you will need for the duration of your stay. However, items moderately available in Mali are indicated with *.   

  • soap*and plastic container   (soap for washing clothes is easily found in markets)
  • toilet paper   (rare and expensive!)
  • shampoo* & conditioner*
  • towel* & facecloth
  • toothbrush*, toothpaste* and dental floss
  • razors & shaving cream
  • nail clippers
  • feminine hygiene products
  • eye care & contact solution
  • sunscreen
  • mosquito repellent!!
  • lip balm
  • condoms 
  • soap-free disinfectant

+ First Aid Kit
adhesive bandages, tweezers, thermometre, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone ointment, antihistamines, laxatives, rehydration sachets (for episodes of diarrhea), Tylenol, throat lozenges (women may also want to take a couple treatments for candida if they will be taking antibiotics)

PAPERS & ID : Obviously you need your passport, but here are few more things useful to bring:

  • photocopies of your passport, vaccination record
  • medical insurance phone number, provincial health card number
  • travellers cheques and separate records of cheque numbers (more on financial matters)
  • extra passport photos (needed for visa)
  • emergency contact numbers, including embassy
  • paper copies of any documents you need for your internship. (If you are not in Bamako or Ségou, don't expect to have Internet access.)

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    EXTRAS: While not all these things are essential, they may come in handy:
  • swimsuit
  • water purification tablets - easier than boiling water!
  • Swiss army knife
  • lightweight sleeping bag or cotton camping sheet
  • string or light rope (for attaching mosquito net, making a clothesline, etc.)
  • flashlight
  • small backpack for weekend trips
  • money belt
  • gifts - see 'living with a family' for more info 
  • pens, notebooks, etc. for personal use
  • camera, film & batteries
  • photos from home to show Malian friends (and to look at when you get homesick!)
  • several floppy disks (If you will be in an office with computers, these will be useful since they are not easily purchased in Mali. Also, since the Internet is painfully slow, it is nice to be able to type up emails before connecting. Be aware though that disks are likely to be ruined quickly by dust and contaminated computers.)

    • UNNECESSARIES : Of course, you're free to load up as much as you'd like, but you probably don't need to take the following:  

  •  mosquito net - these are easily found in Bamako - and cheaper then in Canada
  •  raincoat - not necessary unless you will be there in the rainy season (June - October)
  •  valuable electronic devices (You may want to take a cd player or walkman, but it's best to take an old one. Theft is not much of a problem, but grit and dust are. Similarly, laptops are not recommended. If you do choose to take an electronic device, purchase a surge protector and plug-in converter prior to leaving. Mali has French style plugs - two circular prongs.)

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