Things to see and do Dapaong

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.

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 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.