Things to see and do Savannah Region

Not far from the Campement Hotel, this museum is particularly rich in objects from the Moba-Gurma culture, such as pottery, musical instruments and jewelry sets. The curator offers a guided tour, which may include a visit to the blacksmiths of Dapaong. For a complete cultural overview of the region, the museum's archaeologist puts on his accompanying clothes to show travellers the sites of Namoundjoga and the Nok caves.

Just behind the mound, there is a lake where hippos splash around. They can be seen around the lake early in the morning, around 6:00 am, or late in the afternoon, from 4:30 pm. During the day, the myriad of hippos submerge completely to avoid the heat, sometimes leaving a pair of eyes to surface. A promontory has been built to observe them. The trail is as admirable as the activity itself, with the rice fields imported by the Chinese decades ago, and still farmed by local families.

Discovered in 1990 by missionaries, these strange paintings seem to come from the depths of time. They were probably painted by nomads on a huge megalith in the shape of a mushroom. These drawings, which were studied by several teams of scientists, still keep their secret. One distinguishes there however rather distinctly horsemen, animals and geometrical forms. Under the rock, one finds some scraps of objects in flint and shards.

It is a colorful market where people drink tchoukoutou, amillet beer. It is most lively on Wednesdays and Saturdays when people flock from all over the region as well as from neighboring countries (Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana). You can find a little bit of everything: cereals (sorghum, millet, corn...), tubers (yams, sweet potatoes...), vegetables, fruits, meat, clothes and various kitchen utensils. On busy days, you will have to make your way through the crowd, and therefore be very careful with your belongings.

The sacred pit is a deep depression that has been transformed into a small lake fed by the Kouloungona River. It is a sacred place inhabited by the spirits. During the rainy season, it offers a striking spectacle when the waterspouts gush from all sides. To appreciate the view at its best, you have to go down below. Possibility of fishing, swimming and bivouac. You can even reach the pit by kayak from Nano. The green natural setting is the perfect place for a picnic with family or friends.

Without doubt the most beautiful site of the region. Only the Nok caves have been "fitted out" in order to allow their visit. They are also called the caves of Nano because they depend on the village. When you arrive in Nano, you have to contact the guide Mikabini Koulbème, who will give you a presentation of the place and will guide you towards the iron staircase on the edge of the cliff which leads to the caves. You will go inside the fault, sometimes at a height of one meter, between each attic, the whole facing a vertiginous panorama. These caves were used as a shelter and refuge for the native population during the various periods of insecurity that occurred in the region from the 17th to the 19th century. A lookout was located on the heights, in charge of warning the population. When a danger arose, he lit a fire to warn the villages. The women and children would then take refuge in the caves. The village could live in autarky for several weeks. Many granaries (134) can still be seen, as well as chicken coops that were compartmentalized to save space. They are cylindrical, oblong or semi-spherical in shape and open upwards. Carved in the traditional architectural style from local materials, these granaries contained the crops. A small spring ensured the water supply. The caves and granaries of Nok and Maproug are on the list of sites proposed to the Unesco World Heritage.

The Dalwak cave is about 4 km from Dapaong, on the road to Mango-Kara. Follow the road for about 2.5 km and turn right. Originally, it was used as a refuge during the ethnic wars (about 700 years ago), then during the colonization period. Today it has become a place of pilgrimage and retreat, which explains the presence, at the entrance, of a statuette of the Virgin Mary. As you leave the site, don't miss the superb panoramic view as you follow the pipes in the direction of the Water Board.