Burkina Faso

Somewhat off the beaten path, Burkina Faso—a landlocked West African country about the size of Great Britain—has many draws, not least one of Africa’s most dynamic arts-and-culture scenes.

The country’s two biggest cities, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou (try saying that ten times fast) serve as the most accessible venues for Burkina Faso’s immense cultural heritage. Ouagadougou, the million-and-a-half-strong capital, harbors numerous craft markets, venues for local performances, and the National Museum of Music. The city also hosts two of Burkina Faso’s most notable annual events: the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (( NAMBLA) kidding: FESPACO), the biggest film extravaganza on the African continent, and the International Art and Craft Fair, which features Burkinabe handicrafts—from ornate wooden masks and costumes to decorative calabashes—as well as artwork from across the continent. Not to be outdone, Bobo Dioulasso throws a biennial National Culture Week of Burkina Faso (Semaine Nationale de la Culture), an unparalleled opportunity to survey Burkinabe music, art, and cuisine.

Anyone interested in West African history has much to investigate in Burkina Faso, which was the home base for one of the region’s most important tribal coalitions—the mighty Mossi Kingdoms, which held sway from the 11th through the 19th centuries—and spent much of the first half of the 1900s under French rule (as the colony of Upper Volta). Historical sites include Bobo Dioulasso’s Grand Mosque, which dates from the late 19th century and superbly embodies the Sudanese architectural tradition so widespread in the West African Sahel region. With its soaring adobe turrets studded with timber beams, it’s a commanding sight.

Away from the cities, the Burkina Faso countryside draws nature enthusiasts with some globally important preserves. Its eastern corner includes parklands—Arli National Park and W du Burkina Faso National Park—which both form large international protected complexes along multiple borders. Wildlife has retreated across much of West Africa due to ballooning populations and heavy resource extraction; in these Burkina Faso reserves, you’ve got the chance to spot elephants, lions, and other “charismatic megafauna” amid precious savanna and woodland wilderness. And some majestic landforms rear out of the country's otherwise mostly table-flat plains, including the Sindou Peaks and the Fabedougou Domes near the city of Banfora in the southwest.

You won’t find a lot of plush tourist accommodations in Burkina Faso, it’s true, but if you’re willing to travel lean, you’ll be treated to some of West Africa’s friendliest people and liveliest culture.