Renowned as the leader of African art and culture, Burkina Faso is a beautiful landlocked country in West Africa. The nation is named after the Faso people, who inhabit the land.
Burkina Faso means the “Land of Incorruptible People.”
The country is challenging to live in, but for travelers who seek adventures and always want something new, Burkina Faso offers amazing landscapes among its more prominent cities.
Some of the best places to check out in Burkina Faso are Ouagadougou, Bobo-Diolasso, Pendjari National Park, and W Benin-Niger National Park.
Geography
Its geography consists of savannah with sparse forests in the south and gradually becomes grassy in the north.
Mali borders the country to the north and west, whereas Niger borders the country to the northeast, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana to the south, and Benin to the southwest.
It is located on an extensive plateau that is inclined towards the south. It has three principal rivers: the Black Volta (Mouhoun), the White Volta (Nakambe), and the Red Volta (Nazinon).
You will find sandstone plateaus in the southwest region of the country.
Sadly, most soil of Burkina Faso is infertile.
Climate
Like any other African country, Burkina Faso also has a hot and dry climate.
The northern region has a Sahelian Zone where it gets three to five months of rainfall. The Sudanic Zone on the south has a tropical wet-dry climate with more significant variations in temperature and rainfall. As a result, it gets more rainfall than the north.
The dry and cool season begins from mid-November and lasts till mid-February.
Hot weather begins from mid-February to June, and the rainy season lasts from June to September.
It also has an intermediate season that lasts from September to mid-November. The country also faces the Harmattan wind.
Nature and Wildlife
Burkina Faso constitutes Savanna in its northern part. There are shrubs and stunted trees that grow during the rainy season.
However, the country’s southern side has scattered forests that get denser as it nears the perennial rivers.
Burkina Faso also has rich animal, bird, and insect life. You can see animals like buffalo, lions, hippopotamuses, antelope, elephants, monkeys and crocodiles and lots of birds and fish species too.
It would be best if you visit its national parks like Po, Arly, and W.
People
The people of Burkina Faso are called Burkinabe.
Mossi are the leading ethnic group of Burkina Faso. These people speak the Niger-Congo language of the Gur branch.
Other ethnic groups prevailing in this country are Fulani, Gurma, Bobo, Senufo, Business, etc.
Mande language is spoken by most people who belong to the branch of Niger-Congo, like Marka, the Samo, the Dyula, and the Business.
Their official language, however, is French, even though it is not widely spoken.
Religion
The primary religion of this country is Muslim, followed by Roman Catholic and traditional religions.
Ouagadougou houses the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishopric.
