Standing at the geographical heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso (formerly Haute or Upper Volta, or just Burkina to the locals) is the sort of place that captures the imagination – how many of your friends back home even know that Burkina Faso exists? – and wins the hearts of travellers with its relaxed pace of life, friendly people and wealth of interesting sights. From the deserts and unrivalled Gorom-Gorom market in the north, to the green countryside and strange rock formations of the country’s southwest, Burkina spans a rich variety of landscapes. The country, too, is home to a fascinating cultural mix, with the Burkinabé (people from Burkina Faso) almost as diverse as the terrain.
This may be one of the world’s poorest countries, but it’s also one of the most stable in the region and runs with an efficiency that’s the envy of many of its neighbours. Throw in the continent’s most important film festival, the delightful small-town atmosphere of Bobo-Dioulasso, wildlife safaris in the south, the enjoyable and gloriously named capital, Ouagadougou, and there’s enough here to transform Burkina from the country that no-one knows to an experience you’ll never forget.
Time GMT/UTC
Population 11.9 million
Borders Mali, Niger, Togo and Ghana open; crossing at Niangoloko with Côte d’Ivoire closed
Seasons Wet (June to October), dry (November to February), hot (March to June)
Telephone Country code226, international access code00
ATMs Major towns only
Budget US$15 to US$25 per day
Capital Ouagadougou
Visa Available at borders (CFA10, 000) or Burkina Faso embassies (up to CFA30, 000)
Languages French, Moré, Fulfulde and Lobi
Area 274,122 sq km
Money West African CFA franc; US$1 = CFA498
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