• It is worth visiting Mali, and you should visit Niger and Burkina Faso too. In these countries you see a very different west Africa from the coastal strip. Much less westernised and much more traditional. Mali is also the centre of African pop music. I tried to fly to Timbuktu but we couldn't land due to excessive sand on the runway. If you get there, let us know if it was worth the journey.

C. W. Miller

• You can fly to Timbuktu from Bamako or Mopti with Air Mali - if it's still running. Probably the best option is to travel Mopti-Timbuktu-Gao and do one leg by air and the other by river passenger boat (when the river is high enough). The latter are not exactly tourist class but a good way of experiencing a slice of Mali life. It took me two days and two nights to do the Kabara (port for Timbuktu) to Gao leg this way. It's also possible to reach Timbuktu by bus or shared bush taxi in the dry season, but it would be a long and rough ride.

Mopti itself is a fascinating river port, while nearby Djenne with it's mud-built mosque is a must, especially on market day. Nearby Dogon country, with the unique houses perched on the Bandiagara escarpment, needs a bit more organising to get to, but transport can be organised from Mopti. Alternatively get to Bankas along a very sandy road and approavh the escarpment by horse and cart.

Lonely Planet's West Africa Travel Survival Kit has more details, but leave plenty of time for transport delays.

Brian Furness

• There are regular flights to Timbuktu from Bamako. Timbuktu itself is quite small and warrants two days at the very most. The return flight stops off at Mopti, itself an interesting walled town. Try the Bar Bozo and watch the sun go down over the Niger/Bani. From Mopti and its adjoining town, Sevaré, you can take a bus to Djenne (one of the largest mosques in Africa) or on to the Dogon Plateau. Alternatively, take a bus to Mopti from Bamako - about 12 hours along a tarmac road.

There is a 24-hour bus (converted lorry) service from Bamako to Timbuktu but flying is advised. Hiring a vehicle and driving yourself is not recommended as there have been armed holdups on this road. However, if you have lots of time and no set itinery, try taking a river boat from Mopti up to Timbuktu. This is only possible during October and November although the boats do sometimes run up until Christmas. Allow a week or longer.

The best time to visit Mali is January/February when it is much cooler. Avoid April and May as the temperature rises to 46C. During the rains, June-October, travel is not so easy as the roads are often impassable.

It's a fabulous country with lots to see. Don't expect electricity and showers to work all the time. Good place to stay in Bamako is the Rangooli, an Indian restaurant with three rooms to let. Two are en-suite and there are electric fans. They also have a generator so no power cuts. Food and service excellent as is their quiet garden.
Jennifer Turner

• Yes, you can fly into Timbuktu. There are internal flights from Mopti and Bamako, the latter being the capital and to which there are a number of international flights from Europe. However, the toughest and most memorable way to arrive is to get yourself to Mopti by bus and then hitch a ride on a rice barge. It will take three days and you will get nothing to eat except fish and rice. There will be no toilets, you just hang over the side of the boat, and you will have to sleep on rice sacks that are stolen from under you as merchants get off with their cargo. In the right season, with sufficient depth of water, there are more luxurious boats.

Timbuktu is anticlimactic. Arriving there is much of the point. You may also have a problem getting out of the town afterward. The next boat could be a week later but you can get a bus back to Mopti or fly out. Whatever the problems, talking about it afterwards will last your lifetime.

As to the rest of Mali, visit Djenne especially on market day. The mosque is the largest mud building in the world. Finally, take a trek through the Bandiagara Escarpment where you will see the animist Dogon people and their intriguing villages. If you like trains, take the three-day journey, that often takes four, to Dakar, Senegal.

Michael Chapman

• Eight of us will be travelling to Mali on October 4 on a sponsored trek to raise money for various charities. We approached EXPLORE WORLDWIDE who organised a bespoke itinerery for us, visiting Bamako, Djenne, five days' hiking in the Dogon, Mopti and finally up river and a camel transfer to Timbuktu. Explore Worldwide (res@exploreworldwide.com) will subsequently be offerring this trip in their brochure with just minor deviations from ours. For information on worthwhile sightseeing, Bradt Travel Guide has an excellent edition on Mali.

Lynda Lawlor

• Yes, you can get to Timbuktu from Sevare, Mopti or Bamako - it's not amazingly easy but well worth it for the magnificent mosque alone. Join a tour group or be independent and take a bus (and plenty of water). And, yes, there is lots to see in Mali. Go to Bandiagara (I stayed in La Femme Dogon hotel) and visit (with a guide) the hauntingly beautiful villages (such as Ireli) of the Dogon huddled along the foot of the spectacular cliffs. The Dogon granaries are topped with conical thatch roofs. Marvel at the skill of people who farm maize, beans and onions in such a tough environment. And when in Bandiagara, have a look for the wonderful carved Dogon doors depicting the Dogon story of creation. In Mopti, hang out in Le Bozo bar and watch the magnificent sunsets and the hustle and bustle of trading along the banks of the Bani, which flows from the great Niger - the Niger is absolutely the lifeblood of Mali. And of course the music in Mali is an absolute treat as are the beautiful textiles and blankets and the silver Tuareg. jewellery. And its a wonderful place for photographers.

Hope you're convinced!

Louise Douglas