Travel to Burkina Faso — everything you need to know
When to go to Burkina Faso?
- November – February — Cool dry season : Best time to go: cool harmattan winds (20–30°C), clear skies and passable roads. Ideal season for visiting Ouaga and the southwest.
- March – May — Hot dry season : Very high temperatures (35–42°C) and dusty harmattan winds. Tough but dry. Less favourable overall.
- June – September — Rainy season : Rainfall increases sharply (80–150mm/month) and bush roads become difficult. The north and Sahel remain very hot even with rain.
Weather in Burkina Faso
Check the weather city by city, starting with Ouagadougou.
- Ouagadougou: daytime highs from 32 to 40 °C depending on the season, 68 mm of rain per month on average.
- Banfora: daytime highs from 30 to 37 °C depending on the season, 91 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahelian country long known for its legendary hospitality, FESPACO (Africa's biggest film festival), sacred Mossi masks, the Banfora escarpment with its waterfalls and roan antelopes, and the sites of the Comoé region. Warning: the security situation in the north and east has seriously deteriorated since 2019 — check official travel advisories BEFORE any departure.
Ouagadougou — Culture & FESPACO
Ouagadougou ('Ouaga') is West Africa's cultural capital: FESPACO (the Panafrican Film Festival, held in February of odd-numbered years) is the largest African film festival in the world. The Grand Marché, the National Museum and cultural hubs such as the Institut Français and Espace Camille Guichard are full of life. The music scene, from djembe to balafon, is exceptional.
Highlights : FESPACO — Panafrican Film Festival (odd-numbered years, February), National Museum of Burkina Faso — Mossi masks and bronzes, Grand Market of Ouagadougou — fabrics and handicrafts, Ouagadougou craft village.
Banfora & Karfiguéla Waterfalls
The Banfora area is Burkina Faso's natural paradise: the Karfiguéla waterfalls (10-metre cascades set in lush greenery), Lake Tengrela with its hippos, the Sindou Peaks with their spectacular rock formations, and the Fabédougou domes. The region is accessible and relatively safe.
Highlights : Karfiguéla Waterfalls — spectacular falls in the bush, Lake Tengrela — hippos (seen by pirogue), Sindou Peaks — spectacular rock formations, Fabédougou Domes — red rock formations in the countryside.
Laongo — Symphony of the Rocks
Thirty kilometres from Ouagadougou, the Laongo International Granite Sculpture Symposium has brought together sculptors from around the world since 1989, carving directly into huge granite boulders. It is a unique open-air gallery in Africa, where African and international contemporary art blends into the Sahelian landscape.
Highlights : Laongo granite sculptures (international symposium), Endless landscape of pink granite boulders, Laongo village and local craftspeople.
Travel budget for Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is one of the most affordable countries in West Africa. The security situation has sharply reduced tourism in recent years, making services less widely available. The CFA franc, pegged to the euro, is a stable currency.
- Backpacker : 35–60 €/j — Guesthouse + local food + shared transport
- Comfort : 80–130 €/j — 3★ hotel + restaurants + guided excursions
- Luxury : 200 €+/j — Top hotel in Ouaga + private tour
Practical tips for travelling to Burkina Faso
- Flight from Paris : ~6h (Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines with a stopover)
- Safety : WARNING: large areas in the north, east and Sahel are unsafe. Check your country's official travel advisories BEFORE departure.
- Visa : Visa required — obtainable from the embassy or on arrival. Check the current procedures.
- Currency : CFA franc (XOF). 1€ = 655 XOF at a fixed rate. Cash is essential outside Ouaga.
- Language : French (official) — French is widely spoken.
- Electricity : Type C/E (European) — 220V.
- Health : Yellow fever vaccination required. Anti-malarial medication is essential. Meningitis vaccination recommended.
- Tap water : Not safe to drink — bottled water is essential.
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