You can enrich yourself culturally in the two largest cities of Burkina Faso. According to itypeusa, the capital city of Ouagadougou is a relatively modest city that can be explored in just a day. Wide boulevards, lush vegetation and colorful local markets with all kinds of local art are characteristic features of Ouagadougou. The capital is a rare city in Burkina Faso that has a thriving nightlife with clubs, bars and restaurants. In Ouagadougou, it is worth visiting the National Museum with a collection of ancient masks, pottery and Aboriginal ritual objects. The museum continues to be built and filled, but there is already something to see here. The cathedral near the Moro-Naba Palace is the largest religious building in all of West Africa. Every Friday at the Moro-Naba Palace there is an original theatrical performance “The False Departure of the Emperor”, which illustrates the historical scenes of the struggle of the Moxi empire with enemies from other states. The city park of Bangre-Veugu with a sacred ancient forest, the monument “Naaba Kum”, the carved granite slabs “Lyongo”, the zoo “Parc Animalier de Ziniaré” and the museum of folk life “Musée de Manega” are the most interesting places in the city. In Bobo Dioulasso, the second city of Burkina Faso, visit the beautiful 1880 mosque, stroll through the Kibidvi artisans’ district, and visit the Sudanese-style regional museum with interesting exhibits of local art. The city of Wahigouya is one of the most popular Muslim pilgrimage sites in Burkina Faso, and Banfort, although it has only two main streets, is a well-known tourist destination, mainly due to the sights located in its area. The most famous natural attraction of Burkina Faso is the cascading waterfalls of Carfiguela, located to the west of the city of Banfort in the reserve of the same name. This beautiful place, also called the “Cascades of Banfor”, is surrounded by mangrove and cotton trees, as well as thickets of sugar cane. Of particular interest to tourists is the fact that the indigenous peoples of Burkina Faso live in the area of the waterfalls, carrying their own culture and traditions. Not far from the Banfort Cascades is the picturesque rock of Dam de Carfighuela, which offers, perhaps, the most beautiful panoramic views of Burkina Faso. If you are lucky, you will be able to watch how the torrents merge with the waterfall into a single whole, it’s incredibly beautiful! The remnants of Sindu are another interesting natural monument in Burkina Faso, which, by the way, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The relics are shrines for local residents, and even if you don’t believe in it, having been here, you will definitely plunge into the atmosphere of a mysterious fairy tale that this place is shrouded in. Rocks towering above the ground in bizarre shapes create unique pictures that excite fantasy and imagination. This place was considered unsuitable for life until the 16th century, even today you can only get here during the dry season. Just a kilometer from Sindu’s Remains is Lake Tegreakute, a great place to enjoy the richness of the local nature. If you wish, you can fish on the lake by renting everything you need from the residents of the nearest village. Lake Tegreakute is home to many waterfowl, which you can admire here in their natural habitat. One of the most popular activities in Burkina Faso is a safari, which can be offered to you in every travel agency and even in a hotel. The most attractive woodland safari area is located between Ouagado and Fada Gourma.
National cuisine of Burkina Faso
The local cuisine of Burkina Faso is a reflection of the common traditions of West Africa. As in other countries of the region, exotic ingredients such as larvae, snakes and hippo meat are found in the national cuisine of Burkina Faso. Many dishes are generously seasoned with drank-drink sauce, which is based on hot red pepper. Due to the long period of famine and severe dry weather, the locals are accustomed to eating almost anything that grows or moves. However, the basis of local cuisine is still quite familiar products: meat (often beef), fish, corn, rice, potatoes, beans and sorghum. The most common dishes in Burkina Faso are sorghum porridge cooked in a pot with baobab leaves, as well as chicken in peanut batter baked with green bananas. The most popular dessert is whipped cream with eggs and bananas. The traditional local drink, which you will be greeted in any home, is “zom-com”, which is an infusion of water with sorghum, ginger and honey. Refusal from it is considered a gross insult! Often there is also coffee, which the locals prepare in 30 different variations. The favorite alcohol in Burkina Faso is Banji palm wine.
Transport
Getting to Burkina Faso by plane is most convenient with Air France, which flies here through Paris, but you can choose any other option with a transfer in an African or European country. Burkina Faso has two international airports in the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. By land transport (buses) you can get to Burkina Faso from Mali or Benin, and from Côte d’Ivoire by train or bus. The domestic monopoly carrier is the local airline Air Burkina, which also flies to countries neighboring Burkina Faso. There is a railway in Burkina Faso, the main line (517 km) runs from the country’s capital Ouagadougou to the border city of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, the secondary (105 km) goes from Uganda to Kaya (Kaua). Of all its neighboring countries, Burkina Faso is connected by rail only to Côte d’Ivoire. Buses and trucks run between the cities of Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Po and Gor Gor. Minibuses and fixed-route taxis also operate in the main cities of the country and are a more comfortable, but also more expensive option for traveling, which is more often used by foreign tourists. Only a small number of roads in Burkina Faso have an asphalt surface, which leaves much to be desired. There are often no markings and signs on the roads, and car theft is a common thing, so renting a car here is not the best idea, although it is implemented in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Urban transport operates only in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, it is represented by small buses with 10-14 seats and trucks that carry passengers in bodies.
