Mali borders to the north with Argelia and Mauritania, to the south with Burkina Faso, Cotê d'Ivoire and Niger, and to the west with Mauritania and Senegal.

Mali’s relief is formed by a plain that rises towards the southwest, in the Mandinga plain, with heights over 600mts. In the northeast, it stands out the highlands of Adrar of the Iforas, with heights between 500 and 800 metres.

The north of the country is a true desert except for the few oases along the old trans-sahararianas camel routes. The Tuaregs still live around these oases and camel routes.

The south is populated by the nomadic Peulh, who are cattle breeders. Almost all the population live on the savannah region, in the south. The tribes of this region are the Songhai, Malinke, Senoufou, Dogon and the Bambara (the biggest ethnic group).

The main rivers are the Niger and the Senegal, which are the two arteries vital for the economy.