Things to Do at Sankore Mosque and University

The Sankore Mosque and University stands as one of Timbuktu's most significant historical landmarks, representing what was once the intellectual heart of medieval Africa. Built around the 15th century during the height of the Songhai Empire, this wasn't just a place of worship - it was actually one of the world's first universities, attracting scholars from across the Islamic world who came to study everything from astronomy to Islamic jurisprudence. The complex housed thousands of manuscripts and supported up to 25,000 students at its peak, making it a genuine rival to European centers of learning. Today, you'll find a more modest but still deeply atmospheric site that gives you a real sense of Timbuktu's golden age. The distinctive pyramidal minaret, rebuilt several times over the centuries, rises above the surrounding neighborhood in that unmistakable Sudano-Sahelian architectural style - all earth-built walls and wooden support beams jutting out like ancient scaffolding. While much of the original university structure has been lost to time and conflict, what remains offers a tangible connection to when Timbuktu was synonymous with learning and scholarship rather than remoteness.

Sankore requires getting to Timbuktu first. You'll fly into Bamako, then catch a connecting flight to Timbuktu airport when security allows, or face the long overland slog. The mosque sits walking distance from town center. Hire a local guide. They know current conditions and can navigate the tricky sandy streets that confuse outsiders-plus you need them for security. The walk takes 15-20 minutes from central Timbuktu.