"Burkina Faso" by Eric Montfort via Flickr Creative Commons

Burkina Faso Taxis and Car Rental

Taxis are the best way to get around cities in Burkina Faso, and cabs are abundant in many areas. Prepare to share a ride with strangers – in fact, you will have to ride with as many passengers as the cab can hold if it’s a green vehicle. Fares are relatively cheap, but drivers do charge foreigners extra especially if you have a lot of extra bags. Prices also double at night, but remain negotiable, especially if you have a good number of people to share the ride with. White cabs are private and are more expensive, but if you want comfort and reliability they’re the way to go. Several cab companies operate in Ouagadougou, including Taxi Urbains (+226-50-343-634), Taxi Radio Les Rapides (+226-50-343-838) and Stmb (+226-50-306-982).

Renting a car is possible, but vehicles are often in poor condition. It is recommended that you lease a car for at least a day or two before signing a longer contract so you can gauge the quality before committing. In Ouagadougou, rental cars are often available from hotels via international providers like Europcar (+226-50-300-909), which has a meet and greet service at the airport. Getting a car with a chauffeur or a guide is also a good idea.

Burkina Faso Trains and Buses

Using the train to get from Ouagadougou to Bobo-Dioulasso is recommended if you have plenty of time to spare and if you want to enjoy the view. If you are on a tight schedule, take the bus or a taxi, as the rail takes a longer route, running through the palm-fringed beaches of Côte d’Ivoire.

The bus is the cheapest way to get between cities in Burkina Faso. Lines serve major towns and trips are available regularly between Ouagadouga, Bobo, Banfora and Gaoua. Roads are fairly smooth, except in remote places. Even the wealthy locals prefer to ride the bus than drive long distances.

Click here to learn about Airports in Burkina Faso