Tomb of Askia
Gao, Mali UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Tomb of Askia is a 17-meter-tall pyramid located in Gao, Mali. Commissioned by Askia Muhammad I in 1495, this structure is built in the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style using mud. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as a place of Islamic significance. The tomb is one of the most looked-up sights in the country.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit is during the cooler months of December and January, when daily highs range from 30 °C to 31 °C and rainfall is nonexistent. Temperatures rise significantly from March through June, often reaching 42 °C. The rainy season occurs between July and September, with August being the wettest month, experiencing about 18 days of rain. Visitors should plan travel accordingly to avoid the extreme heat of the mid-year months and the precipitation during the late summer.
Gao International Airport is the nearest arrival point, situated 6 kilometers from the tomb. For those traveling from the capital, Bamako, the distance to the site is 947 kilometers. The structure covers an area of 0.042 square kilometers.
Weather by month
The warmest month is May, with an average high of 42 °C. The wettest is August, with about 66 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 30 | 33 | 37 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 39 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 35 | 31 |
| Average low, °C | 15 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 20 | 16 |
| Rainfall, mm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 51 | 66 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
