Yes, it’s real. There is a place called Timbuktu and it is not just an imaginary figment at the end of an exclamatory statement. What child has not muttered at some time that he, or she, was “going all the way to Timbuktu!” What adult has not dismissed it as “some far away place,” not knowing quite sure where it actually was, if it did exist at all.
It does exist and grown up people do go there and an occasional child with them. Situated between the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and the great bend of the Niger River, Timbuktu is the best known and the most remote city in Mali, the crown jewel of West Africa. Nine centuries old, it abounds with legends of wealth and power, culture and learning, conquest and intrigue.
Due to the writings of Leo Africanus, a sixteenth century African who had been there and who spoke of the plentitude of gold, wealth and learning, Europeans pictured it for what it truly was, a place where Menelik met Africa.
It has been a long journey for Europeans to really know and appreciate what Timbuktu was all about. Until today, it has been a place for travelers to mystify themselves.
It is not until you get close to the place that you realize it is nothing like they imagined. The culture is largely based on Islam, but there are a myriad of other religions and sects tucked in the pockets of the mountains that contribute to its unique social and cultural traditions. There are more than a few churches in the area, some of them are splendidly simple, others are stunningly luxurious. Here, you will find it easy to find the sanctuary of local saints such as the Kabyleh who lived here in the 1500s and still has not been seen by human hands.
The Kabyleh is himself a major attraction as he is believed to be the incarnation of Kabaji, the legendary king of the sand dunes who still has not appeared to people who live in the desert. Instead, believed to be in hiding, the Kabyleh has appeared in the dreams of Lebanese soldiers who fought their way into the sacred city in the 16th century and lived amongst its people. Later, the French soldiers stayed at the fort and helped put it to good use. They brought with them a Wahhabite, Nathmal Khuri, who came up with the idea of spreading the Wahhabite religion among the Bedouins. Khuri’s ideas have also found usefulness not only to the French, but also to the members of the Ottoman Empire who ruled Egypt during the time.
Timbaktu is very much in keeping with the traditions of the area. It is typically Malian in its simplicity and diversity. You can see a mix of the urban heat and the quiet of the desert in the old city, which is in keeping with the name. Timbuktu is far more than just “the school ofouls,” it is also the best place to see traditional architecture in the world. The city has little in the way of contemporary architecture, in keeping with the Tuaremos traditions. In fact, there are several structures that are built on traditions of the old city.
The Cratisani hill is a breathtaking sight, rising some Reasons 12 feet or more from the plain that comprises the site. Looking from the flat of the plain across the top of the mountain, you can just make out some expanses of sandy beach, which stretches as far as the eye can see, even further than the eye can see. The waves are busting against the side of the rock, making this area perhaps the most attractive place in the world.
The historians have long since written off the mass of ruins that comprise the region to the West as “Algarve rouge” (almost forgotten). The prominent ruin of GaoMu is only a tourist attraction in this area. Even so, the beauty of Timbuktu as a whole is without equal. Presently, the largest and best-preserved population of the surviving members of the Patagonian Ainosophers is located in this mountain wilderness.
To get to Timbuktu from the central plateau of Mali, the rainbow displayed above the desert wastes of Sahara no matter what season befalls them is an apt description of the Timbuktu region. Timbuktu is the “rainbow city” of the Sahara and it also happens to be the “gem of the Saharan” as well. The rainbow city has quite a few days of sunshine in the year. The best months for cycling this region are from November to April, but the rainy climate almost certainly prevents the Timbuktu area from becoming a popular cycling destination.
The white sandy beaches of Timbuktu are remarkable in their own right.
