Innovatia

Maggie, as she’s known to the locals, is sur- rounded by 23 beaches and bays – some, like Arthur Bay, so secluded that you may be the only person there. The golden, sandy beach- es at Radical and Horseshoe Bays are perfect for swimming, or hop on a boat tour to access

70 or more villages in this Sahel country – en- visage a fertile savannah land peppered with giant baobab trees, clay and log mosques and tiny Christian churches. This is a descent into a virtual stone age civi- lization, without electricity. One walks or rides the sturdy little silver mules from village to vil- lage, where the locals have fashioned simple ac- commodation on the roofs of their houses, and awakes to glorious sunrises – the only sound, a woman pounding millet in a giant mortar. At night, drumming and dancing are spontane- ously organised for visitors, along with simple dinners. At an earlier point, the trail was receiving up to 15,000 trekkers a year, but this has sad- ly diminished in recent times. When I travelled through, Al Qaeda had just been removed by the French military, and I was one of only two visitors over a three-week period. However, it is said now to be making a comeback, and it should – as African adventures go, it remains one of the finest and most immersive. Do some reading on the Dogon culture and you will find that places this naturally isolated and cultural- ly authentic are increasingly rare. Here again,

Bamako – the capital city to the south on the Niger river, which is of only moderate interest for two or three days – is a direct 5.5 hour flight from Paris. Then, an overland trip of a couple of days, give or take, is necessary to reach the Dogon Valley, but for the intrepid, this is a pre- cious experience. It makes no sense to do an aller-retour from Paris in under two weeks, and three is much better.

the other stunning bays, including the nudist beach at Balding Bay. Go snorkelling to catch a glimpse of sea tur- tles, manta rays and colourful reef fish, head inland to swim in the cool fresh water at En- deavour Falls, or hike up to the World War II fort complex anchored in the granite boulders above Arcadia Bay. Maria Island, Tasmania For an entirely off-grid adventure, head to Maria Island (pronounced ma-rye-a), a 30-minute fer- ry ride from Triabunna on the east coast of Tas- mania. Visit for the day, or bring your camping equipment and stay, either in one of the camp grounds or at the old convict-built “Penitentia- ry”, but be warned – as there are no shops, you will need to bring all of your supplies, includ- ing your rods if you’re keen to fish. Cars are not

Dogon Valley, Mali Sure, every romantic traveller would like to go to Timbuctoo, but when compared to oth- er venues in Mali, it pails in comparison to the Dogon. Now anointed by UNESCO, this long valley and its surrounding cliffs are home to

Australian Destinations By Rose Lane Magnetic Island, Queensland

If you’re looking to escape the winter chill, Magnetic Island, just a short ferry ride off Townsville, is the perfect place. In winter, the white-flowering paperbark trees are in bloom and the whole island smells of honey. The air is soft and warm and so is the water.

INNOVATIA

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INNOVATIA

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