Bamako

Fed by the hydroelectric resources of the mighty Niger River, Bamako's landscape of green and earthy tones holds a burgeoning assortment of neighbourhoods, manufacturing complexes and markets. Fabled histories of past emperors are retold in its National Museum, while Grand Marche market features a diverse array of products. Ethnic music fills the air, the harmonies of myriad communities residing here. Timbuktu's close by, but Bamako is plenty exotic on its own.