There is very little published information about variation in the wood properties of African tree species. To expand markets for wood products from these species, we must understand the factors that affect wood properties, and select the best species and sites to produce wood with the preferred properties. Wood color may be affected by edaphic and climatic conditions, tree age, wood density, and other biological and environmental factors. The major objective of this research was to determine if the mean and variability of wood color variables (L*, a*, and b*) of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Combretum glutinosum Perr. ex DC., Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel., Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst., and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. trees varied among regions, soil types, land-use types, and terrain types; and were linearly related with geographical coordinates and mean annual rainfall in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali. Correlations were also investigated among color variables and between wood density and color variables. Results indicated that there was considerable intraspecific variation in wood color variables due to all factors except land-use type; variation patterns were similar for some wood color variables and species, but there were notable differences among some species; and correlations among wood color variables and wood density differed among some species.