Ségou

Ségou is a town and urban commune in south-central Mali, located 235 kilometers northeast of Bamako on the Niger River's right bank. The town serves as the administrative center for the Ségou Cercle and the Ségou Region. It is Mali's fifth-largest town, with 130,690 inhabitants in 2009.

It was once the beating heart of the Bambara Kingdom, a power that ruled over the lands of central Mali until the turn of the nineteenth century.Today, its prowess and capital title are gone, but the city retains a few relics from that illustrious era.

Check out the tomb of Biton Mamary Coulibaly, the former Bambara monarch, or the bustling port sides, which were once the town's trading powerhouse.

Ségou is also known for its charming French colonial architecture. This can be found fringing the inner streets in a medley of Parisian facades and romantic governmental houses.

• Hotels to stay: Hambe Hotel Bar Restaurant, Segou Grand Mosque, Papillon Reizen, Ndomo Bogolan Textile Workshop, etc.
• Best places to visit: Soroble Centre, Segou Grand Mosque, Papillon Reizen, Ndomo Bogolan Textile Workshop, etc.
• Location: South-centre Mali