Mali–When you go there

Lonely Planet’s entry on Mali suggests many ways to approach the country as an independent traveler, which still seems possible despite several recent high-profile tourist-nappings, though do be wary of political instability before you take a swing out to the north. Most visitors to Mali do their darndest to get to Timbuktu, and to Djenne to snap a photo of the great mosque, and to Dogon country to cavort with traditional villagers.