The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Burkina Faso. So if you are in Burkina Faso, I recommend visiting the following:
- Lake Tengrela, Banfora, Burkina Faso
- Domes de Fabedougou, Banfora, Burkina Faso
- The Grand Mosque, Bani, Burkina Faso
- Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Mare aux Hippopotames, Houet, Burkina Faso
- Karfiguéla Waterfalls, Komoé, Burkina Faso
- Sindou Peaks, Léraba, Burkina Faso
- Ruins of Loropéni, Loropéni, Burkina Faso
- Cathedral of Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Grande Mosquée de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Nazinga Reserve, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Arli National Park, Tapoa, Burkina Faso
- Royal Palace of Tiébélé, Tiébélé, Burkina Faso
See all places on Google Maps.
1. Lake Tengrela, Banfora
Between long rows of trees and reeds lies this lake which is home to many species of birds and a large family of hippos. Many fishermen come to the lake to fish. You can take a canoe trip to observe the hippos from a closer distance. During the dry season it is easier to see them as the water level and the size of the lake is smaller, so this is definitely the best time of the year to visit them.
2. Domes de Fabedougou, Banfora
On arrival you can see a pile of giant boulders. The rest of the way can be done on foot, in the middle of stratified rocks. Some rocks can be up to fifty metres high. The view over the earth-coloured rocks and the lush vegetation is very beautiful. If you like nature or are simply attracted by the exotic, this place is ideal for your next trip, but I advise you to bring suitable shoes.
3. The Grand Mosque, Bani
These mosques were built by an “enlightened man”, the man who is now the imam of the village, began to dream how God told him that he had to build a great mosque, and so he did. Without any architectural knowledge, without any plans, by pure intuition and according to his dreams, little by little he built the Great Mosque; then he continued building mosques, up to 9, all the others are oriented towards his Great Mosque. In the Great Mosque there are figures, some with their arms upwards, others downwards, representing the kneeling positions of the Muslim faithful when praying.
4. Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso, Bobo-Dioulasso
It dates from the 1880s-1890s and is built of adobe, as is typical of these traditional Sudanese-style constructions. Thanks to a policy of understanding between the multiple religions that populate the country, tourism and common sense on the part of its Imam, the mosque can finally be visited inside and even at the top, which can be accessed by the leader of the temple itself.
5. Mare aux Hippopotames, Houet
In a hidden spot in the forest, the current of the Mouhoun River is so slow that the water flows in both directions, creating a backwater that the hippogriffs love. According to the guides, the hippogriffs are submerged during the hottest hours of the day and sometimes you can only see the tips of their ears and snouts! It is easier to see them at dawn when it is cooler and in the dry season when there is little water. During the rainy season it is more difficult because the extent of the water is multiplied.
6. Karfiguéla Waterfalls, Komoé
The walk starts at a large pool at the foot of the waterfalls and after a 15 minute climb you reach the top. The climb is not difficult because there are steps carved into the rock and it is easy enough to carry a good snack with you! The reward is a spectacular view of the plateau and a natural spa full of cool water jets and small jacuzzis. From here you can continue up a little further, splashing along the river bank until you find the ideal place to settle in. In the rainy season the waterfalls are even more spectacular.
7. Sindou Peaks, Léraba
They rise up like long needles. They are somewhat deformed because they are actually natural structures carved by erosion. They were originally sedimentary rocks that took on this shape as the sea dried up. The size of the site is enormous, stretching all the way to Mali. This place has a somewhat particular atmosphere, as it is sacred to the Senufos. It protected its inhabitants during the wars.
8. Ruins of Loropéni, Loropéni
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, it is one of the few oldest and best-preserved surviving ruins in Africa. Visitors may find it a place full of mysteries because it is said that not everything has yet been excavated that can shed more light on the people who used to inhabit the fortress, only that the site was abandoned in the early nineteenth century. Burkina Faso is not exactly one of the most touristy countries, but it is relatively safe. The southwest of the country is the most ethnically rich area, thanks in part to the Lobi country. It’s also one of the most heavily forested.
9. Cathedral of Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou
It is naturally Catholic and the seat of the archdiocese of the African capital. Built of brick, a traditional material in the region, it is reminiscent of the style of European Romanesque basilicas, but intentionally gives the impression of being incomplete, with two bell towers of different heights, neither of them topped by a spire. The town has many other interesting things to spend a few days in addition to its lively streets and markets.
10. Grande Mosquée de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou
Located in the heart of the city, the Grand Mosque is the main place of worship for the Muslim community of Ouagadougou. It has an imposing architecture right in the commercial area close to the city’s large market. It is characterised not only by its beauty and its large space, but also by the warm welcome of the servants who speak to you with great pride about their beloved mosque.
11. Nazinga Reserve, Ouagadougou
A protected wildlife area was established in a protected forest area founded in 1973 which offers, especially in the central part, the possibility of tourism and photographic vision. The stars of Nazinga Park are the 400 elephants that live here in freedom, but not only elephants, but also buffaloes, crocodiles, antelopes, baboons, red monkeys and hundreds of birds. It’s not a very touristy place, nor is it a place where you’ll find such a pompous fauna as in other African parks or reserves, but it’s totally worth it.
12. Arli National Park,Tapoa
In 2017, the park was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The park includes a wide variety of habitats, from tunnel forests along the Arli and Pendjari rivers to the wooded savannahs and sandstone hills of the Gobnangou cliff. It is home to around 200 elephants, 200 hippos and 100 lions. Other species present in the park include buffalo, baboons, tantalus and cercopithecus erythrocytes, wild boar, warthogs and various antelopes.
13. Royal Palace of Tiébélé, Tiébélé
An ethnic group that stands out for the way they build and decorate their traditional houses. They create an authentic open-air museum, through which you can stroll with the help of a local guide. It is possible to make a circular route of a couple of days visiting several villages to admire their peculiar architectural style. In Tiebelé, if you arrive at the right time of year, there is also the option of sleeping outdoors on the roof of one of the traditional houses. The temperature is more pleasant. You can enjoy a sky full of stars. And it is much cheaper.
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