Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres and is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest.
Its capital is Ouagadougou. In 2017, its population was estimated at just over 20 million. Burkina Faso is a francophone country, with French as the official language of government and business.
Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed “Burkina Faso” on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabé.
The landlocked country of Burkina Faso is one of the poorest nations in Africa and, quite possibly, the world. However what it lacks in resources and wealth, it more than makes up for in spirit and natural beauty.
The list of “must visit” destinations may be considerably shorter than many other countries in Africa but the people here will welcome visitors with warmth and charm and endeavour to make their stay a memorable one.
The main attraction here is without a doubt the natural landscapes which range from the rugged outcrops of the Sindou Peaks to the abundant wildlife that can be found at Lake Tengrela or the four of Burkina Faso’s national parks.
The cities in Burkina Faso do not offer many sights or tourist attractions as such but the music and other forms of performing arts on offer are truly some of the greatest on offer in Africa.
The tourist industry has not really taken off in the country and, as such, the facilities can be rough and ready and a little more planning is needed for travellers than in more tourists’ orientated African countries.
The lack of tourists is not necessarily a bad thing however and some of the spots you will visit have a really unspoiled feeling about them and the family run guesthouses feel very intimate and welcoming.
