Travel Info
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Capital | Ouagadougou |
| Government | parliamentary republic |
| Currency | Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
| Area | total: 274,200 sq km water: 400 sq km land: 273,800 sq km |
| Population | 12,603,185 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population |
| Religion | indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10% |
Understand
Passport and a visa are required to enter the country
Get in
By plane
No direct flights from U.S. are available as of 11/4/2005; connections through Abidjan, Brussels, Dakar, Paris on the following carriers: Air Afrique, Air Algérie, Air Burkina, Air France, Air Ivoire, Ghana Airways, and Sabena are available though.
By train
By car
By bus
By boat
Get around
Buses and vans (cars) to Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Togo. Train service Abidjan-Bobo-Ouaga-Kaya. Hitch hiking not common.
Talk
French is the official language, however African languages of the Sudanic family are widely spoken as well.
Buy
The currency of Burkina Faso is the Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFA). There are 528.29 CFA to 1 US Dollar (As of 2004). Credit cards are rarely accepted, but cash may be withdrawn with a card at certain banks. Travellers' checks can usually be cashed at local banks.
Eat
-->Stay safe
Burkina Faso is one of safer countries in West Africa. There are no special precautions, in terms of safety, necessary.
Stay healthy
Yellow fever vaccination required. Malaria is a serious problem. Cholera vaccination may be required in event of outbreak.
Respect
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