Things to see and do Burkina Faso

Visits to the reserve are allowed all year round, but from July to November visibility is reduced by the abundant vegetation, and secondary trails are more difficult to use due to wintering. This visit must be accompanied by a guide, whose role is to locate and identify the fauna and flora, he will guide you to the animal crossing points and guide you on the right conduct to have in their presence (prohibition to leave the vehicle, do not turn off the engine...). It will also help you to find your way around the 700 km of slopes and its 91,300 hectares. Throughout the reserve, water reservoirs with observatories are particularly interesting for wildlife observation. You will be able to observe elephants of course (population around 800 animals), as well as buffaloes (quite rare to see), various antelopes (Cob Defassa, Cob de Buffon, Bubale, horse antelope, harnessed Guib), or other warthogs, baboons, crocodiles, calaos... Schedules are limited between 6am and 6pm, the best times for outings are from 6am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm.

Interesting information: Night outings are under study.

Recommended by several readers, it is based in Bobo-Dioulasso but knows very well the Sahel and the Southwest. Member of the Bobo Tourist Guides Association.

Good guide to the region.

The best way to get there from Bobo is through the airport on the road from Dinderesso to university. At about 12 km, after the roundabout, take the first left and continue the paved road straight up to the main entrance of the forest. For the Baignade bathing area, continue straight after the roundabout on 3 km (entrance and parking fee). Both sites offer catering and beverages. During winter, torrential rains prohibit access to sites. It is possible to meet the Yanta Women's Union by contacting the guides. A difficult track allows you to reach Koumi directly at the forest of Kou (direction Séminaire) when you come from Orodara. In the context of decentralization and participatory management, Kou's forest, site of the Guinguette (main source feeding Bobo-Dioulasso in drinking water), was classified in 2002. The forest classification prohibits bathing (first factor in water pollution and river destruction) and forest exploitation (impoverishment of vegetation cover). For bathing, a site has been tastefully furnished in Dinderesso (sandy beaches and sandy banks). The cessation of the old forest-based logging, the Yanta Women's Union («Moving Forward»), supported technically and financially by the BKF project, benefits from alternative income-generating activities. The main activity is now the exploitation of 600 hectares of cashew of the classified Forêt forest and the transformation of cajou'organic'nuts. The payment of the site's entrance provides a background for the maintenance and protection of the site and the remuneration of the villagers of Nasso (depending on the forest) and the guides. It is, in fact, a reliquat of the primary forest characterized by its dense vegetation cover of forest-gallery, which is not without thinking of the equatorial forest. The 115 hectares of this sacred forest are completely closed. Several walking paths have been created and an explanatory statement at the foot of each plant essence makes it possible to realize not only the great arboreal diversity but the role of each of these species. A small museum, in the form of Bobo habitation, is located at the entrance to the forest, explaining the traditional life of the villagers of Nasso (objects, musical instruments and agricultural instruments). Attention, on weekends, there are many people.

Another good guide you can find on Facebook at "Patrice Nikem"! He also founded a group "Visit Banfora".

An excellent guide to the region, Baby, originally from Djikando, 6 km from Gaoua, is based on the Maquis maquis that he created and works with many agencies. It offers one week trekking from the Ghana border to Gaoua. Like all the guides, he has his own secrets!

Kader is an excellent guide for the Lobi country. His strong point lies in particular in his in-depth knowledge of the history of his people. Assistant to a director of ethnographic documentaries, he has already made three films, Mémoire entre deux rives, Bois parlant and Visions. They can be viewed at the Poni Museum and travellers are strongly encouraged to watch them with Kader. The films focus on the colonial period, and some images are harsh, as is the story. In addition, Kader, a sculptor and painter, has a small gallery at home and organizes internships. He takes visitors to meet the women of the Association pour la promotion des femmes de Gaoua (APFG), but also to see the house of the canton chief, of which there are still some elements from the colonial era, and to drink a calabash of dolo in a cabaret... He also creates his own tours, with a canoe trip on the Volta River.

Recommended by Tiémoko, an excellent guide based in Sindou, Doumbia is a driver guide to whom you can hire a 4 x 4.

Guide based in the museum.

Kompienga Lake is formed by the dam on Oualé, a tributary of the Pendjari becoming Ito in Togo. This large hydroelectric dam, built in the late 1980 s, feeds Ouagadougou and Kompienga into electricity. This vast water restraint leads to increasing migration to the Kompienga area, on which vegetable crops and fishing allow for the development of more dynamic local economic activity than in Pama.

Not far from Zigbéri, the Mare mare is the second largest mare in the Sahel region, a paradise of resident and migratory birds, has nothing to envy the Mare mare (some think it is even richer in avifauna: teal, casqués ducks, souchets, migrating, Gambia geese…). To achieve this, it is absolutely necessary to use a guide that knows the region very well, because the tracks are losing very easily. Travelling with a local guide offers the advantage of getting acquainted with the Sahel lifestyle (the importance of nomadic life, the annual rhythm on the need for the herds and the availability of water, the use of natural elements through traditional crafts…). In particular, we will notice the edge of the pond, holes that serve as wells to the water table, where water is healthier than that of surface. At certain times, there are also large red and light roots. They are apparently used to manufacture musical instruments. From the mare, it is possible to make a magnificent crossing off the trails of Oursi via Kona, Soukounou, Bengao Nagui and Boulé. A good local guide is always needed to find its way. You need to know how to read the tracks, which is almost impossible for an uninformed eye. For the lucky ones, it will be possible to observe the local fauna (hyena, jackal, gazelle…). You can also go back to Zigbéri and go back to Markoye, or go on this same track to Tin Akoff. In addition, the surroundings of Zigbéri are rich in tamashek and fulani camps. As in Markoye, the Darkoy region offers a wonderful experience in the Sahel.

These galleries, established during the colonial occupation and appointed as caves of 1914, were for a long time abandoned and served as a playground for the children of Diébougou. Today, this curiosity has been developed for tourism by ONTB and is managed by the city hall. Youssef will guide you in "war-dingê" (dioula). The site allows for a pleasant and fresh break in Diébougou. But be careful, it seems that caimans hide inside! Youssef also proposes to continue with ranches to discover the surrounding villages.

Richard is a great specialist in the region, which is not far from geological, archaeological and customary. He is one of the guides that organize hiking tours from Sindou, following the fault and passing through the Wara country (Niansogoni, Niegeni and Fawnsfoot).