Kayes (city)

Kayes is a city in the Kayes Region on the river Senegal in the West African country of Mali.

The city is told to be the hottest town in Africa. Until 1908 it was the colonial capital of French Sudan. The town is a stop of the Dakar-Bamako railway. The area is rich in iron and gold.

Map of Kayes (city)

Kayes is on the railway between Dakar and Bamako, however due to the deteriorating of tracks international trains are suspended, leaving only a slow thrice-weekly service from Bamako.

• 14.4344-11.42731 Kayes railway station (Gare de Kayes) (Southwest of city centre).  (updated Jan 2023)

• 14.3768-11.36821 Medina Fort (12 km east of Kayes, along the road to Bamako). Site of a major battle between the Toucouleur Empire and French colonizers. The fort still stands and is open to the public.  (updated Jan 2021)

Take a truck to Keniéba, in southwest Mali. One hell of a journey!