16 Best Places To Visit In Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, is known for its lush hills and fertile plains. Its capital, Ouagadougou, was founded in 1888.

The country is home to historical sites dating back to the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods, and its history is heavily influenced by the Mossi warriors, who established an empire that lasted 800 years.

Burkina Faso offers notable attractions like Orange Lake and Lake Yoa. The Mossi culture remains prevalent, with many people working as farmers and agriculturists. Their leader, Mogho Naba, resides in Ouagadougou, the capital of the former Mossi kingdom.

Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, is a cultural hub known for its performing arts scene and craft markets. It offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere with diverse art and music, including a vibrant music scene and a National Museum of Music.

The city is also a center for Mossi culture, with a museum housing Mossi artifacts and a traditional leader, the Yatenga Chef. Parc Bangr Weogo is a notable park with a museum displaying masks, traditional costumes, and ancestral statues, along with sporting facilities. The city is served by Burkina Faso’s national airline, connecting to domestic and regional destinations.

Bangr Weogo Park

Bangr Weogo Park, located in central Ouagadougou, offers a tranquil, wooded environment with a national museum and restaurants. It houses various plant and animal species, including a significant elephant population. The park’s museum showcases Burkina Faso’s history, culture, and traditional masks and statues.

Additionally, the park features a zoo, a children’s playground, and a restaurant. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sharing its grounds with Niger National Park.

Evidence of early Neolithic settlements can be found within the park, which can be explored via walking tours or 4×4 drives. Notable landmarks include a large mosque and colonial-era buildings.

Bobo-Dioulasso

Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, offers a relaxed atmosphere with a lively nightlife, including various restaurants and nightclubs. It boasts notable architecture, such as the Grand Mosque with its distinctive minarets and checkerboard design.

The city is also home to the Bobo-Dioulasso Provincial Museum, which houses a collection of rare artifacts. While it is no longer the country’s capital, Bobo-Dioulasso remains an important business hub. Street vendors are common but generally not aggressive.

The Mare aux Hippopotames

Mare aux Hippopotames, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Burkina Faso, is known for its hippopotamus sightings. Established in 1937, the park hosts diverse wildlife, including elephants, crocodiles, warthogs, and various bird species.

The lake and surrounding forests offer a rich ecosystem with over 160 waterfowl species and 34 fish species. It’s an important nature reserve, home to more than 100 hippopotamuses in their natural habitat.

Gorom Gorom

Gorom-Gorom, a town in northern Burkina Faso, is known for its colorful market offering diverse goods from various ethnic groups. These include African cotton prints, Tuareg silver, leatherwork, and local foods like tamare and gib-gib. Livestock such as camels, goats, and sheep are also present.

Historically significant, Gorom-Gorom was a key location on the Sahel and retains its character. Visitors can explore the mountainous region, especially beautiful at sunset, and browse market stalls for souvenirs. The town is the capital of Oudalan province, known for gold mining.

Tiebele

Tiebele, Burkina Faso, is known for its traditional culture and architecture, maintained for centuries by the Kassena ethnic group. The town features mud huts decorated with intricate paintings by local women, depicting symbols of fertility, leadership, and more.

Visitors can explore these huts, learn about Kassena culture, and observe locals painting at a mud castle. Nearby, the city of Ouagadougou offers further insight into local history.

Arli National Park

Arli National Park, in southeastern Burkina Faso, is accessible via the N19 highway from Diapaga. It adjoins Benin’s Pendjari National Park and the Singou Reserve. The park is home to various wildlife species, including lions, hyenas, duikers, waterbucks, and buffaloes.

Covering over 700 square kilometers, Arli National Park hosts diverse mammals like African lions and hippopotamuses. Visitors can spot elephants, monkeys, and buffalo, and engage in activities such as hiking and birdwatching. The park features numerous waterbodies and lakes.

The Ruins of Loropeni

The ruins of Loropeni, located near the Burkina Faso-Cote d’Ivoire border, were a hub for the trans-Saharan gold trade and are now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fortress walls stand up to six meters high.

Dating back nearly 1000 years, the Loropeni Ruins were inhabited from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Despite damage from climate issues, the ruins retain an air of mystery. They are cared for by a scientific council and committee dedicated to their sustainable development.

W National Park

W National Park in Burkina Faso is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its diverse wildlife. It is home to cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, buffalo, aardvarks, West African lions, and numerous migratory birds.

The park is part of a tri-national complex shared with Niger and Benin. It hosts the last viable population of West African lions and Northwest African cheetahs, as well as rare West African manatees. Rangers play a crucial role in protecting the park’s wildlife and visitors.

Nazinga Reserve

Nazinga Reserve, located near Po, is one of Burkina Faso’s four national parks. It spans 97,000 acres and is home to elephants, antelopes, monkeys, warthogs, and 275 bird species. Visitors can access the park 24 hours a day for a small entrance fee.

The reserve offers guided trekking tours and game drives to see lions, leopards, and other wildlife. It also provides opportunities for cultural experiences, such as local dances.

Ouahigouya

Ouahigouya, founded in 1757, is a large town in northern Burkina Faso near the Mali border. It is the capital of the Yatenga region and a center of Mossi culture, ranking as the fourth-largest city in the country. The town features a barrage on its north side.

The climate in Ouahigouya varies significantly throughout the year. The wettest month is August, while December sees the least rain. The wet season, from June to September, is humid and oppressive, with temperatures ranging from 64°F to 104°F. The best time to visit is during January and February, when vacation packages can be up to 60% cheaper.

The Peaks of Sindou

The Sindou Peaks, a 3-kilometer-long natural attraction, feature eroded sandstone formations towering 50 meters high. A one-hour hike offers breathtaking views, especially at sunset. Guides are available to provide local insights.

Located near the historic trading town of Sindou, the peaks are surrounded by wildlife. The area was once underwater, but erosion has created striking anthropomorphic features. Nearby attractions include W National Park, home to diverse animal species and the last remaining wild savannah in West Africa.

Banfora And The Karfiguela Waterfalls

Banfora and the Karfiguela Falls offer a relaxing retreat, with waterfalls and picnic spots along the Komoe River. The town is near natural wonders like the Sindou Peaks and is close to other Burkinabe attractions.

Nearby, Banfora Lake is home to sacred hippos, viewable via safe, affordable tours. Local fishermen can be seen casting nets. The Fabedougou Domes are a good spot for picnics.

The Wonders Of Ziniare

Ziniare, in Burkina Faso’s Oubritenga Province, is known for Ziniare National Park, home to lions, elephants, giraffes, and hyenas. The city is 35 km north of Ouagadougou, with a population of around 12,700.

The wildlife park offers large enclosures housing various African species, providing an opportunity to observe these animals in their natural habitat.

Lake Tengrela

Tengrela Lake, near Banfora, Burkina Faso, offers a serene atmosphere with traditional architecture and fishing opportunities. The lake is home to sacred hippos and is suitable for canoeing.

The village’s traditional houses and granaries create an inviting ambiance. The lake, spanning 1.5 km by 2 km, is a peaceful wildlife sanctuary.

Sabou And Its Sacred The Crocodiles

Sabou, 30 kilometers from Ouagadougou, is known for its sacred crocodiles. Over 100 crocodiles live alongside villagers, who lure them with chickens for tourists to observe and photograph.

The crocodile cult dates back to the 1500s, with an annual thanksgiving ceremony honoring them. Today, these crocodiles are a major tourist attraction, living in the shallow waters of Lake Bougouni.

Conclusion

Burkina Faso offers tourists beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife, and friendly people. The landscape varies from green to dry, with notable friendliness in cities like Ouagadougou.

The best time to visit is from late October to early December, post-summer rains. Harmattan winds from the Sahara keep heat and humidity at bay. During this time, tourists can attend mask festivals and local art performances.