Must See

Ouagadougou

In the middle of this landlocked country, the capital city stands at the crossroads of several ancient trade routes. It's relaxed and friendly - hospitality is one of the city's trade-marks and also has a lively nightclub scene. The Ethnography Museum contains a substantial collection of Mossi artefacts, the town being the centre of one of the many ancient Mossi kingdoms. Other museums include the Snake Museum in the Collège de la Salle and the National Museum in the Lycée Bogodogo. In October-November, visitors can go bargain hunting at the International Arts and Crafts Fair in Ouagadougou.

The Moro-Naba ceremony (Burkina Faso's equivalent of the changing of the guard) takes place outside the Moro-Naba Palace early every Friday morning around 6am. This traditional drama depicts the magnificently bedecked emperor being restrained by his wife and subjects as he sets off to make war with his brother.

Reserva De Nazinga

South of the capital, near the Ghanaian border, this game park plays an essential role in protecting native wildlife and has been instrumental in the growth of elephant numbers in the country. As a result, Burkina Faso is now estimated to have the largest elephant population in west Africa.

Bobo-Dioulasso

Home to the Bobo people, this is a laid-back and friendly city, characterised by tree-lined streets and a lively street-cafe scene. The town also boasts a number of thriving market places, including the bustling Grand Marche. Other places worth a visit are the old Kibidwe district, full of artisans, along with the Musee Provincial du Houet, which showcases regional African art, batik and sculpture.

Excursions outside Bobo-Dioulasso include the excellent bathing pond of La Guinguette, located in La Fôret de Kou, 18 km from the city, the scenic sacred fish pond of La Mare aux Poissons Sacrés de Dafra, 8km southeast of the city and the Mare aux Hippopotames, 66 km northeast of the city, where visitors may be taken out in a pirogue to view the hippos for a small fee.

Banfora

Although the town itself is pretty lifeless, the surrounding countryside is among the best in Burkina Faso. As such, Banfora is a great jumping-off point for hikers and bikers and excellent views of the whole region can be had from the top of the Banfora Escarpment. Karfiguela waterfalls is one of the most interesting spots on the trail, located 12 km northwest of the town.

Sindou

Approximately 50 km west of Banfora is the town of Sindou, an area where the extraordinary Sindou Rock Formations can be seen.

Gorom-Gorom

A typical Sahelian town, surrounded by a sea of sand dunes and wide open spaces. The town's busy and colourful market is a fascinating spot to watch the various Sahelian and Saharan ethnic groups mix.