Ten Days Burkina Faso Holiday.
Burkina Faso means ‘the land of Honourable men. Burkina Faso – Festival of the Dancing Masks.
Day One: Arrival in Ouagadougou
On your arrive at the airport in Ouagadougou, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and then transfer you to the hotel. Dinner and overnight Hotel Grand Calao or similar.
Day Two: Ouagadougou to Po
After beakfast, go for the city tour of Ouagadougou, then we head south to Po. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Envol or similar.
Day Three: Tiebele to Leo
Today, you will head to Tiebele to see the remarkable painted houses of the Kassena people, and then Leo in the west of Burkina. Dinner and overnight at Auberge de la Sissili or similar.
Day Four: Gaoua
After breakfast, we will drive west to Gaoua, travelling through the lands of the Dagarti people. The Dagarti are a traditional people who live in villages consisting of fortified houses, and we stop along the way to learn about their lifestyle. This area is also home to the Lobi people, who have practiced the same customs for centuries. We take time to explore their villages, accompanied by a Lobi guide in order to gain the trust of this rather shy group of people. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hala.
Day Five: Loropeni
On this day, we will head to the UNESCO listed site of Loropeni, a mysterious complex of stone ruins engulfed in the forest, and at nearby Obire we meet the chief of the Gan people. Return to Gaoua for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hala or similar.
Day Six: Banfora
You will drive to Banfora, meeting communities of gold miners on the way. This afternoon we take boats out onto Tengrela Lake, a pretty lake where we hope to see hippos. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Canne a Sucre or similar.
Day Seven: Bobo Dioulassou
For this day, you will explore the surrounding area, visiting the striking rock formations known as the Domes of Fabedougou, as well as the pretty Karfiguela Falls. Then drive to Bobo Dioulassou, Burkina’s second city, and spend the rest of the day on city tour. We visit its beautiful Grand Mosque, built in the unique West African style, as well as exploring the traditional old quarter nearby, and the unique train station among other sites. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Auberge or similar.
Days Eight and Nine: Festima Mask Festival
For these two days in the company of local villagers witnessing the extraordinary Festima mask festival which takes place every two years. People from around forty different villages attend, bringing their own styles of masks, and mask dances take place throughout the day. The costumes range from simple affairs to full body outfits made from grass, with masks up to two metres long perched on the heads of the performers. This is also a time for music and storytelling and a celebration of traditional culture. Few outsiders get to see this, and we are privileged to spend time here and learn about the spiritual traditions of this region. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Diara or similar.
Please note that the program for these days is flexible – celebrations and ceremonies in this part of the world are rarely structured and we will do our best to experience the most interesting parts.
Day Ten: Ouagadougou
After breakfast, we drive back to Ouagadougou, visiting the giant granaries that re typical of this region on the way. Upon arrival in Ouagadougou, day use rooms are available to allow you to freshen up before transferring to the airport for departure.