Distances to the nearest foreign port from most places in Mali are at least 1,300km, and, not surprisingly, there is much seasonal and permanent emigration. There are two main vegetation zones that correspond to the climatic regions of the Sudan and the Sahel. In the Sudanic zone there are localized forest corridors along the Guinean border and the river valleys. The rest of the area is covered with savanna. The incidence of trees decreases to the north as the Sudanic zone merges with the Sahel.
All vegetation gradually disappears as one enters the Sahara region.
The animal life of the Sudan and of the Sahel is rich and varied. Large, herbivorous mammals include gazelles, antelopes, giraffes, and elephants. The main carnivores are lions, panthers, and hyenas.