Gao- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Gao, a historic city in eastern Mali, sits on the left bank of the Niger River, 320 km southeast of Timbuktu. Once a key hub of trans-Saharan trade, it flourished as the capital of the Songhai Empire in the 15th century before declining after the Moroccan invasion in 1591. The city briefly became the declared capital of Azawad during the 2012 rebellion before being retaken by French forces in 2013. Notable landmarks include the 14th-century Kankou Moussa Mosque, the UNESCO-listed Askia Tomb (1495), and La Dune Rose, a striking sand formation. Archaeological excavations in Old Gao have uncovered early mosques, including one from the 10th century, among the oldest in West Africa, reflecting the region's early Islamic influences.