Timbuktu Trade Routes: Not from North Africa's Coast, but Trans-Saharan Networks

Timbuktu is located in West Africa, not on the north coast. Therefore, traders did not travel from the north coast of Africa to Timbuktu to trade European goods. Instead, Timbuktu was a major trans-Saharan trading hub for gold, salt, and ivory. Traders from various regions of Africa and the Middle East crossed the Sahara to reach it.