Burkina Faso Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Women are always expected to dress modestly since this is a Muslim country. Within the urban areas, many French customs prevail. Dress should be casual and appropriate for hot weather (yet short skirts and shorts are best avoided). Lounge suits for men and formal wear for women are required for evening entertainment. Burkina Faso is a fascinating country because of its diversity: over 60 ethnic groups dwell in this country, proud to be Burkinabé, and yet keen to preserve their own social and cultural idiosyncrasies. Outside the cities, little has changed for centuries and visitors should respect local customs and traditions.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Air Burkina (2J) (website: www.air-burkina.com).

Departure Tax
None.

Main Airports
Ouagadougou (OUA) is 8km (5 miles) from the city. To /from the airport: Taxi and bus services are available to the city. Facilities: Banks, post office, shops, restaurants and car hire.

Borgo, 16km (10 miles) from Bobo Dioulasso, handles mainly domestic flights (see Getting Around).

Getting There by Rail
The only route is the international line from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, running through to Ouagadougou. However, passenger services are currently suspended.

Getting There by Road
Routes are from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo, although these are often barely adequate. Regular bus services run during the dry season, from Bobo to Bamako in Mali, and from Ouagadougou to Niamey in Niger and to Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. The road from Ghana is being improved. Bush taxis also serve most routes.

Overview
The following items may be imported into Burkina Faso by persons over 15 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.
• 0.75l of spirits and 0.75l of wine.
• 500ml of eau de toilette and 250ml of perfume.

Note: Permission from the Ministry of Administration is required for the use of photo-, film- or video cameras.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Borgo, 16km (10 miles) from Bobo Dioulasso, is the principal domestic airport. Air Burkina (website: www.air-burkina.com) runs flights between Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou. Air taxis are available.

Getting Around by Rail
There is a limited daily service from Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Two classes are available, but can become overcrowded.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. The majority of roads are unpaved. In general, roads are impassable during the rainy season (July to October). It is inadvisable to drive at night, as there are few street lights and some vehicles do not have headlights.

Bus: Buses and vans are called cars in Burkina Faso. Regular bus services are operated in the dry season to all major towns and it is necessary to book at least 48 hours in advance. These buses are also cheap and plentiful.

Taxi: Shared taxis are available in major centers; fares are negotiable.

Car hire: Available from hotels in Ouagadougou. Car hire is still a recent phenomenon in Burkina Faso, and vehicles may be in poor condition. Visitors are therefore advised to lease cars for a day or two before committing themselves to a longer contract. Chauffeur-driven cars are also available.

Documentation: A temporary license to drive is available from local authorities on presentation of a valid national driving license, but an International Driving Permit is recommended.


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