International travelers to Burkina Faso mostly arrive via the Ouagadougou International Airport in the center of Ouagadougou. As most of the accommodation and restaurants of the capitol city is close to the center of town, visitors should spend a few days exploring the numerous attractions Ouagadougou has to offer.
Museums in Ouagadougou
The Ethnography Museum houses an interesting and substantial collection of Mossi artifacts as the town is the center of many ancient Mossi kingdoms according to iExplore, while the National Museum (Musée National) in the Lycée Bogodogo has a large collection of masks. The National Museum, created in 1962, offers visitors a look at the different cultures and tribes of Burkina Faso. A library inside the museum assists tourists in exploring the culture of the people further by explaining the meaning of items sacred to the population.
Other museums worth visiting are the Snake Museum in the Collége de la Salle and the Music Museum (Musée De La Musique) with a display of traditional musical instruments. The guide only speaks French and is only worthwhile using if the visitor is fluent in French.
Cultural Ceremonies and the Moro – Naba Palace
The Moro-Naba ceremony (la cérémonie du Nabayius Gou), takes place every Friday at the Moro-Naba Palace. It is a very formal ritual that lasts only about 15 minutes where several dignitaries visit the palace of the emperor of the Mossi and makes a show of consulting the powerful traditional leader, the Moro-Naba (the 37th). Visitors should approach the compound from the east and refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony. This is an excellent opportunity to view traditional costumes and experience the playing of the traditional drums.
Parks and Artificial Lakes Near Ouagadougou
The urban park of Bangr Weogo is in the center of Ouagadougou and apparently hosts 360 species of plants, several bird species and various animals. The park has a museum dedicated to animals, a play area for children and a restaurant.
Approximately 18 kilometers north of Ouagadougou, tourists can visit a small artificial lake hosting some local wildlife.
Festival of the Cinema
The Festival of the cinema (FESPACO) and the International Saloon of Arts and Crafts (SIAO) are popular tourist destinations although these festivals only take place every two years.
Interesting Facts to Enhance the Stay in Burkina Faso
Respect toward each other is a huge part of the local culture in Burkina Faso. Thus, failure to greet another person in the street or ignoring a greeting equals a slap in the face in the culture of the country, so visitors would do well to greet everyone they pass in the street.
Visitors must always use the right hand when eating, greeting, offering gifts and paying for items as the left hand is used in Burkina Faso in conjunction with water in the place of toilet paper.
Tourists should buy bottled water to drink or bring a water purifier if they wish to venture into the rural areas.
Formal businesses often close between noon and 3 pm for repos and very little are done during this period.
Credit cards are rarely accepted, but cash can be withdrawn at most bank machines in major cities. Preference is given to VISA cards with pins. Tourists should rather carry sufficient cash for their stay.
The official language is French, but outside the big cities, very few people speak or understand the language.
