The Bandiagara Escarpment is a sandstone cliff running roughly 200 kilometres through the Mopti Region of Mali, rising up to 500 metres above the Seno Plain below. The cliff shelters a chain of ancient Dogon villages — some perched on the rim, some tucked into the cliff face, others clustered at the base — that have been inhabited for centuries, and the trekking routes that link them are among the finest walks in West Africa.
From Djiguibombo, the main paths head south along the base and mid-face of the escarpment to Ende, Teli, and Kani Kombole, each reachable in a few hours of walking. The terrain is open and exposed, the rock underfoot often loose, and the heat can be extreme from mid-morning onward. Start at dawn, move steadily, rest in the shade of the cliff during the hottest part of the day.
Each village along the route has basic guesthouses where you can sleep for a modest sum, which makes it practical to walk the full length over two to four days. A local guide is more than recommended — without one you will miss the locked granaries, the sacred areas, the conversations with elders that turn a walk into something memorable.