Burkina Faso Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Africa: Burkina Faso Travel Notes

Burkina Faso tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Burkina Faso links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.

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Burkina Faso Country Information

Burkina Faso is a land-locked country in West Africa, formerly known as Upper Volta.

Countries neighbouring Burkina Faso are: Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo and Ghana.

Upper Volta gained full independence from the French in 1960, and the name was changed to Burkina Faso in 1984.

Burkina Faso was once a Mossi Kingdom, built up by those migrating from the north of present day Ghana.

By the 19th century, the Mossi states were considerably weakened and the French set up a protectorate over the kingdom of Ouagadougou in 1896.

French is still the official language of Burkina Faso.

Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, was the centre of a powerful Mossi state around 1400, and you can visit the palace of a Mossi chief.

Bobo-Dioulasso

Bobo-Dioulasso, in the west of Burkina Faso, is smaller and much more interesting for travellers who like to get to know the people.

Bobo-Dioulasso is the site of some ancient tombs and there are also a few mosques.

Weather in Burkina Faso

View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Burkina Faso.

Bobo Dioulasso Weather, Ouagadougou Weather.

Getting Around Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso by Air

Airports

The international airport (OUA) is 8km from Ouagadougou.

The domestic airport in Borgo, is about 16km from Bobo Dioulasso.

Airlines

Air Burkina (VH) is the country's national airline. The country also holds minority shares in the regional Air Afrique airline.

Other airlines flying to Burkina Faso include Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air France, Air Ivoire, Ethiopian Airlines and Sabena.

Air Volta operates flights to Bouake (Côte d'Ivoire), Tambao and Bamako (Mali).

Burkina Faso by Road

You'll have no problem with buses to the major towns in Burkina Faso, during the dry season, although things start to get sticky when the rains arrive.

Shared taxis also run on set routes when full.

Burkina Faso by Rail

The only train line is between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Trains run daily although you may have people sitting in your lap.

Burkina Faso Photographs

Burkina Faso Photo Gallery:
Captioned photographs from around Burkina Faso -- covering Banfora, Bobo-Dioulasso, Boromo, Gaoua and Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso News

Burkina Faso News:
Latest up to date news stories concerning Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso Tours

Burkina to Timbuktu:
Stroll around the central market in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, before moving on to visit the Mossi, a strongly individualistic people who have resisted the wave of Islam that swept the Sahel..... and then onto Mali and Timbuktu.

Land Tours - Burkina Faso:
Visit the countryside and markets of Burkina Faso and meet the Tuareg, Bells, Peuhl and Songhai people. Spend a half day camel riding to local villages in the Sahel. City tour of Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.

Ouagadougou Accommodation

Budget Accommodation in Burkina Faso.

Eden Park:
Ougadougou's Eden Park, located on Avenue Bassawarga, has a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

Hotel Palm Beach:
The hotel is located on Avenue Kwame North Krumah and has a swimming pool.

Independence Hotel:
This 3-star Ouagadougou hotel, on Avenue de la Resistance du 17 Mai, has 4 Single Rooms, 132 Double Rooms and 3 Suites. Bar, restaurant and 24 hour room service. Also has a tennis court and swimming pool.

Mercure Silmande: Ougadougou.
Only one mile from the city centre and two miles from the airport (shuttle), the Mercure Silmande Ouagadougou offers a spectacular view of the nearby lake and surrounding woods. The hotel offers 154 rooms and 10 suites, with French cuisine and African specialities served in the 'Le Samandin' restaurant. 'Le Beli' is ideal for barbecues and light snacks by the pool.

Sofitel Ouaga 2000:
5-star hotel located in the heart of the new administrative centre of Ouagadougou.In addition to a fitness centre with sauna, hammam and jacuzzi, guests can take advantage of free ADSL access in all the rooms. The Tenakourou restaurant offers modern gastronomic cuisine, while the Coffee Shop and Bar Wamde are the hotel's perfect meeting places.

Burkina Faso Travel Guides

Books on Burkina Faso Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Burkina Faso.