Burkina Faso

Introduction

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is bordered by Niger in the east, Benin in the southeast, Togo and Ghana and Ivory Coast in the south, and in the west and north by Mali.

The country consists, for the most part, of a vast lateritic plateau in the West African savanna, approximately 650-1000 ft above sea level. This plateau is slightly inclined toward the south and notched by valleys formed by the three principal rivers, the Black, White and Red Voltas, and their main tributary, the Sourou. These rivers flow southward and meet in Ghana. They are alternately dry or in flood and all are unnavigable. In general, the land is dry and poor.

The Africa Guide's recommended book
		Burkina Faso Bradt Travel Guide   (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK by Katrina Manson the Bradt guide brings to life the many attractions of this stable country which offers a thriving culture, laid-back cities, and wildlife encounters. The authors help visitors discover dramatic mask festivals, Fulani horse-dancing, and both the pan-African film festival in Siao and the craft fair in Fespaco, two of the largest events of their kind on the continent. The romance of the Sahel desert can also be explored and information on desert markets, camel safaris, and secret dune encampments is covered for the intrepid traveler.

The Africa Guide's recommended Map
		Burkina Faso   (Maps Worldwide) Institut Geographique National (IGN) - Folded Map, Scale 1:1 000 000 Format Folded Map, Scale 1:2 000 000 A tourist map of Burkina Faso with a few basic street maps.