FOLLOW  THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED … Join us for TEF’s
6th Annual “From Here to Timbuktu” June  2008 CulturalExchange

February  8, 2008
Dear Prospective Delegation Member:

Welcome to 2008! 

We hope that with this coming new  year you would embark on a totally energizing and uplifting  experience by joining TIMBUKTU EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION's "Back  to Africa Cultural Exchange Program:  From Here to  Timbuktu."   Should you decide  to join us and embark on this historic and educational  experience, you will be an honored member of the delegation  group from the United States to Mali, West Africa. This  year, we are offering our delegates a 14-day trip to Mali  and Senegal.  The primary focus of this  summer's cultural exchange is to bridge a connection between  the African scholarship of the past and the African scholarship  of the present -- with the idea of the continuance of this great tradition across the great Atlantic Ocean to the  shores of the American continent.

We are offering only one  price option for this trip:  (Minimum 10 participants)

OPTION 1:Without roundtrip  airfare from United States to Bamako, Mali -- $3,000

•  (if applicable) round-trip airfare from U.S. to Mali  (from JFK International in New York)
• all ground transportation in Mali and Senegal
• guided tours with English speaking historians and lectures  translated into the English language
• charter flights within Mali  (Bamako to Timbuktu;  Timbuktu to Mopti)
• Double-occupancy accommodations in both countries (additional charge for single room supplement.)
• visits to many historical sites such as the famous  University of Timbuktu libraries and manuscripts, the  cities of Dogon, Segou & Mopti in Mali; Goree Island,  the city of Touba in Senegal (just to name a few)
• boating excursion down the Niger River and a camel  trek across the Timbuktu desert on camel with overnight  camping at a Tuareg camp
• authentic African cuisine; half-board meals i.e.,  breakfast & dinner in Mali; ALL meals in Senegal
• opportunity to meet and mingle with city officials  and locals

 

Enclosed, please find a “Proposed Itinerary” for  2008’s Cultural Exchange Program.  We want to  remind you that the trip itinerary is subject to change depending on flight

Page Two (Cultural Exchange’08: cont’d)

Schedules from Bamako to Timbuktu, Timbuktu to Mopti.  The  order of activities may shift in order to accommodate  the times for the once a week flight to these remote  areas of Mali.
                        

 

Space is limited!  We are NOW currently  accepting $500.00 deposit to go towards first payment  and in order to reserve a spot for you!  Please  send checks made out to:

TIMBUKTU EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
P.O.  Box 222, Alameda  CA  94501
(Please indicate: “Cultural Exchange” in  memo portion of check
            

                       
 Thereafter, two payments will be  due in the mid-month in March and again mid-month  in May.  TEF delegation members are  expected to have a valid, updated passport.  If  you are just now applying for a passport, allow at least  FIVE WORKING WEEKS to receive your new passport – keeping  in mind, calendar dates and having to submit your passport  to the Malian Embassy in order for them to issue you a  tourist visa for entry into their country.  The  country of Senegal DOES NOT have any visa requirements.

In addition to your $500.00 deposit, we request individual  delegation members to COMPLETELY FILL OUT the enclosed “Tour  Questionnaire” (this would help us  in trying to best determine your travel needs and expectations),  as well as the “Waiver & Disclosure” forms.  For  your convenience we have enclosed a self-addressed envelope.

After receipt of your deposit and paperwork, delegation  members will then receive a”2nd Informational Bulletin” outlining  visa application to Mali and travel immunization requirements. 

For  those travelers purchasing their own airline tickets  to Mali, please note that A COPY OF THE AIRLINE ITINERARY  OR PHOTOCOPY OF AIRLINE TICKETS are needed in order to  successfully file for a visa entry into Mali.  Airline  tickets SHOULD BE PURCHASED NO LATER THAT THE MONTH  OF APRIL!!!  There is no visa requirement  for entry into Senegal.

We, at TIMBUKTU EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION are very excited  to bring you this unique opportunity to join us and be  a part of a culturally rich learning experience.  If  you have any additional questions, please feel free to  contact our Cultural Exchange Director, Ms. Aiesha Bah  at (510) 534-7798 or at this e-mail address.

We  are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Prof. Musa Balde’             
CEO / President
2/08