Culture
 Musée National  (Avenue de la Liberté, route de Koulouba) Open Tuesday-Sunday. Fabulous art exhibits. Well worth the trip and admission cost (1,000 FCFA)
 Maison Des Jeunes (near Patrice-Lumumba square) Great place to hang out, meet people and learn about art and music. You can take djembé (tam-tam) classes or try your hand at bogolan.
 l'Institut national Des arts (behind the Maison des artisans) Possible to see artists' studios and meet local artists, sculptors, musicians, dramatists, etc...
 Centre Culturel Français Boulevard de l'Independence - Concerts, art exhibits, dance and drama performances... there is also a good library complete with European and African newspapers. Often artisans set up stalls nearby. www.ccf.org.ml

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Ségou

Restaurants
(a 'toubab' meal costs 'toubab' prices : 3000 -5000 FCFA)
Le soleil de minuit (quartier centre commercial)
 Le Djoliba (quartier centre commercial) Every Saturday, Albert, the owner, prepares made-to-order pizzas in his wood-burning oven on the lovely 2nd floor terrace. It's typically a rendezvous for expats in Ségou and offers a great ambiance. But a word of warning: try to avoid the guides who hang out around Djoliba & l'Auberge.

Night Life
 Le Moba-So (quartier centre commercial) translation: house of the 'grands' - tall ones! Great garden with a splendid mango tree in the centre. Full to bursting on weekends, mellow during the week. There is a dance floor (complete with disco balls!) and meals are available - including pigeon!
 Le Lavazza Located in the Catholic mission, this club has a great feel. Samba, owner and amateur whiskey connoisseur, is always good for a few laughs. Live music on the weekends - balafon and djembé (tam-tams).

Respite from the heat & relaxing
 L'Auberge (quartier centre commercial) Manager Samer is hospitable and never short on stories! The pool is officially reserved for hotel clients, but available (and oh so refreshing) for a small fee.
Hôtel l'Esplanade (quartier centre commercial) On the bank of the Niger River, this hotel has a terrace perfect for watching pirogues and sunsets while sipping a cool drink. Lovely.

Groceries
 Chez Moussa Close to the main market mosque, this boutique is stocked with European products often difficult to find.

Culture
 Centre culturel Malick Coulibaly (quartier centre commercial) There are classes in African dance and djembé - ask for Daouda, the best player in town! Classes shouldn't cost more than 2000 FCFA/hour and you may want to buy a djembé of your own. There is also a library (annual membership : 1000 FCFA) with a good selection of books.

There is also a cybercafé in the Sokalakono quartier - 1500 FCFA per hour.

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Mopti

Hostel
Max's Refuge - actually in the village of Sevaré just outside Mopti, this friendly, clean hostel is a wonderful respite for travellers. Possibility of sleeping on the roof (for those on a shoe-string budget), there is also a little swimming pool, aperitifs with Max, the owner. But it is the breakfasts that will make you want to stay another night... or more.

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