David Rich has been an international traveler, writer, and photographer for the last 13 years, living in 135 countries to date. He is a full-time international traveler, an occupation he finds far preferable to his former professions of law professor and trial lawyer, from which he says he’s now "mostly recovered."

Visit our David Rich Page with links to all his stories.

When you go:

The twin towns of Mopti and Sevare are central for access to D’Jenne, Dogon Country and the Niger River trip to Timbuktu.

Mopti/Sevare are easily accessible by bus or air from the Malian capital of Bamako, which is in turn flown to by many major European airlines, about $1000 roundtrip, less via internet e-ticketing.

Dogon country is practically accessible only by guide able to interpret the local lingoes and steer the clumsy tourist away from indiscernible holy sites, blundering into which, I can attest, will upset the locals no end.

Access one of the half dozen Dogon country treks from the charming little village of Djiguibambo, pronounced Jiggy Boom Bo, where the sellers of hand-dyed indigo cloth offer bargains at $4 a pop