What is the best time to visit Burkina Faso?

Best Time to Visit Burkina Faso

The best time to travel to Burkina Faso is during the dry season (November to May) and the wet season (June to October).

Dry Season in Burkina Faso

The dry season in Burkina Faso runs from November to May and is the best time to visit the country. During this time, the weather is pleasant and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C. The dry season is ideal for outdoor activities such as safaris, trekking, and bird watching. It is also the best time to experience the vibrant culture of the country, as many festivals and celebrations take place during this season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso in January

Weather

January in Burkina Faso is typically dry and sunny, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 18°C (64°F) to an average high of 33°C (91°F). Rainfall is rare during this month, and humidity is low.

Events

• The International Festival of the Sahara is held in January in the city of Ouagadougou. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Sahara region, and includes music, dance, and art performances.
• The Festival of African Cinema is held in January in Ouagadougou. This festival showcases films from African countries, and includes awards for the best films of the year.
• The Festival of the Arts is held in January in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. This festival celebrates the traditional arts of Burkina Faso, including music, dance, and visual art.
• The Festival of Traditional Music is held in January in the city of Banfora. This festival showcases traditional music from Burkina Faso and other African countries.
• The Festival of Traditional Dance is held in January in the city of Ouahigouya. This festival celebrates traditional dance from Burkina Faso and other African countries.

Burkina Faso in January

Weather

January in Burkina Faso is characterized by warm temperatures and sunny skies. The average high temperature is around 30°C (86°F) and the average low temperature is around 17°C (63°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 2-3 days of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The International Festival of Nomadic Arts is held in January in Burkina Faso. It is a celebration of traditional nomadic culture, featuring music, dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Peanut is held in January in Burkina Faso. It is a celebration of the peanut harvest, featuring traditional music and dance performances.
• The Festival of the Baobab is held in January in Burkina Faso. It is a celebration of the baobab tree, featuring traditional music and dance performances.
• The Festival of the Camel is held in January in Burkina Faso. It is a celebration of the camel, featuring traditional music and dance performances.
• The Festival of the Mango is held in January in Burkina Faso. It is a celebration of the mango harvest, featuring traditional music and dance performances.

Burkina Faso in March

Weather

March is the start of the dry season in Burkina Faso, and temperatures begin to rise. The average daily high temperature is around 34°C (93°F), and the average daily low temperature is around 20°C (68°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 1-2 inches per month.

Events

• The International Women’s Day is celebrated in Burkina Faso on March 8th. The day is marked with festivities and events to celebrate the achievements of women in the country.
• The Festival International du Film de Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is an international film festival held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival takes place in late March, and features films from all over the world.
• The Festival of the Arts is held in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso in March. The festival features traditional music, dance, and art from across the country.
• The International Day of Francophonie is celebrated in Burkina Faso on March 20th. The day is marked with events to celebrate the French language and culture.
• The Easter holiday is celebrated in Burkina Faso in March. The holiday is marked with religious services and festivities.

Burkina Faso in April

Weather

April in Burkina Faso is hot and dry with temperatures ranging from 28-37°C (82-98°F). The rainy season is just beginning, so there will be some showers and thunderstorms throughout the month.

Events

• April 2nd is National Unity Day, a public holiday celebrating the unity of Burkina Faso.
• April 12th is Easter Sunday, a Christian holiday celebrated in Burkina Faso.
• April 13th is Easter Monday, a public holiday in Burkina Faso.
• April 17th is International Day of Peasants’ Struggle, a day to commemorate the struggles of small-scale farmers in Burkina Faso and around the world.
• April 25th is the anniversary of the start of the revolution in Burkina Faso in 1983.

Burkina Faso in May

Weather

May is the beginning of the wet season in Burkina Faso, with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F). The amount of rainfall increases significantly during this month, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches of rain.

Events

• The International Festival of African Films is held in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, during the first week of May. This festival celebrates African cinema and is attended by filmmakers from all over the continent.
• The International Festival of Traditional Music and Dance is held in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second-largest city in Burkina Faso, during the second week of May. This festival celebrates the traditional music and dance of the region and features performances from local and international artists.
• The International Festival of the Sahel is held in the city of Dori in the north of Burkina Faso during the third week of May. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Sahel region and features traditional music, dance, and art from the region.
• The International Festival of the Arts is held in Ouagadougou during the fourth week of May. This festival celebrates the art and culture of Burkina Faso and features performances from local and international artists.
• The International Festival of the Sahara is held in the city of Fada N’Gourma in the east of Burkina Faso during the last week of May. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Sahara region and features traditional music, dance, and art from the region.

Burkina Faso in June

Weather

June in Burkina Faso is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius (70s-90s Fahrenheit). Rainfall is minimal, with only a few days of showers throughout the month.

Events

• The Festival International du Film de Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in late February or early March. It is the largest film festival in Africa and celebrates African cinema.
• The Festival of the Horse is an annual event that takes place in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso in June. It is a celebration of the traditional horse culture of the region and includes horse races, parades, and traditional music and dance performances.
• The Festival of the Dogon is an annual celebration of the Dogon people of Burkina Faso, held in June. The festival includes traditional music and dance performances, as well as a variety of competitions and games.
• The Festival of the Fulani is a celebration of the Fulani people of Burkina Faso, held in June. The festival includes traditional music and dance performances, as well as a variety of competitions and games.
• The Festival of the Wodaabe is an annual celebration of the Wodaabe people of Burkina Faso, held in June. The festival includes traditional music and dance performances, as well as a variety of competitions and games.

Burkina Faso in July

Weather

July is the beginning of the dry season in Burkina Faso, with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F) and low humidity. Rainfall is minimal, and the skies are usually clear.

Events

• The International Festival of Dance and Music takes place in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, during the first week of July. It is a celebration of traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world.
• The FESPACO Film Festival is held in Ouagadougou in late July. It is the largest film festival in Africa, and showcases the work of African filmmakers.
• The Festival of Arts and Culture takes place in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city, in the middle of July. It is an opportunity to celebrate the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
• The Festival of Traditional Music is held in the city of Banfora in late July. It is a celebration of traditional music from Burkina Faso and the surrounding region.
• The International Festival of the Sahel takes place in Ouagadougou in late July. It is a celebration of the region’s culture, featuring performances, workshops, and exhibitions.

Burkina Faso in August

Weather

August in Burkina Faso is typically hot and dry, with temperatures reaching up to 38°C (100°F) during the day and dropping to around 25°C (77°F) at night. Rainfall is minimal and the humidity is low.

Events

• The Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) is held in August in Ouagadougou. This festival celebrates the culture and art of Burkina Faso and includes traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and more.
• The Festival International du Film de Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is held in August in Ouagadougou. This festival showcases the best of African cinema, with screenings of films from all over the continent.
• The Festival International de la Musique de Bobo-Dioulasso (FIMBO) is held in August in Bobo-Dioulasso. This festival celebrates the traditional music of Burkina Faso and features performances from local and international artists.
• The Festival International des Arts et des Cultures des Jeunes (FICAJ) is held in August in Ouahigouya. This festival celebrates the culture and art of Burkina Faso’s youth, with performances, art exhibitions, and more.
• The Festival International du Sahel (FISA) is held in August in Ouagadougou. This festival celebrates the culture and art of the Sahel region, with performances, art exhibitions, and more.

Burkina Faso in September

Weather

September in Burkina Faso is a hot and dry month, with temperatures ranging from an average high of 35°C (95°F) to an average low of 22°C (72°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of just 0.3 inches (7.6 mm) of precipitation during the month.

Events

• The Festival of Dama is held in the capital city of Ouagadougou on the 15th of September. This festival celebrates the traditional game of Dama, a board game similar to draughts.
• The Festival of the Mask is held in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso on the 15th of September. This festival celebrates traditional masks and the craftsmanship of mask makers in Burkina Faso.
• The Festival of the Horse is held in the city of Banfora on the 22nd of September. This festival celebrates the traditional horse culture of Burkina Faso, with horse races, parades, and other activities.
• The Festival of the Peanut is held in the city of Gaoua on the 29th of September. This festival celebrates the peanut harvest and the importance of the peanut crop to the people of Burkina Faso.
• The Festival of the Baobab is held in the city of Dori on the 30th of September. This festival celebrates the baobab tree, which is an important part of the environment and culture of Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso in October

Weather

October in Burkina Faso is generally hot and dry, with temperatures reaching an average high of 33°C (91°F) and an average low of 21°C (70°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of 1.3 inches (33.0 mm) of rain throughout the month.

Events

• Festival of Arts and Culture: This annual event is held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital city, and features a variety of cultural performances, art exhibitions, and traditional music.
• Festival of the Horse: This festival is held in the northern region of Burkina Faso and is dedicated to the local horse culture. The festival includes horse races, traditional music, and dancing.
• Festival of the Bull: This festival is held in the central region of Burkina Faso and is dedicated to the local bull culture. The festival includes bull races, traditional music, and dancing.
• International Day of the Girl Child: This event is held on October 11th and is dedicated to raising awareness about the rights of girls and the challenges they face around the world.
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: This event is held on October 17th and is dedicated to raising awareness about poverty and promoting social justice.

Burkina Faso in November

Weather

November is the start of the dry season in Burkina Faso. Temperatures are warm and pleasant, with an average high of 33°C (91°F) and an average low of 17°C (63°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 8mm (0.3in) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Ouagadougou International Film Festival is held in the capital city of Ouagadougou during the first week of November. This event celebrates African and international films and provides a platform for filmmakers to come together to discuss their work.
• The Festival of the Horse is held in the town of Sabou during the first week of November. This event celebrates the importance of the horse in the culture of Burkina Faso and includes traditional horse racing, music, and dancing.
• The International Crafts Fair is held in Bobo-Dioulasso during the third week of November. This event showcases the traditional crafts of Burkina Faso, such as pottery, basket weaving, and jewelry making.
• The Festival of the Peanut is held in the town of Dano during the fourth week of November. This event celebrates the importance of the peanut in the culture of Burkina Faso and includes traditional music, dancing, and peanut-based dishes.
• The Festival of the Mango is held in the town of Diébougou during the fourth week of November. This event celebrates the importance of the mango in the culture of Burkina Faso and includes traditional music, dancing, and mango-based dishes.

Burkina Faso in December

Weather

December is the start of the dry season in Burkina Faso. Temperatures range from a low of 17°C (63°F) to a high of 35°C (95°F). The days are sunny and dry, with occasional showers.

Events

• The International Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is held in the capital city of Ouagadougou. This event is a celebration of African cinema and is held every two years in late February or early March.
• The International Festival of Music and Dance is held in Bobo-Dioulasso. This event features traditional music and dance from all over West Africa, and is held in December.
• The Festival of the Horse is held in Ouahigouya. This event celebrates the importance of the horse in Burkina Faso’s culture and features traditional horse races and competitions.
• The Festival of the Baobab Tree is held in Ouahigouya. This event celebrates the importance of the baobab tree in Burkina Faso’s culture and features traditional music and dance performances.
• The Festival of the Peanut is held in Ouahigouya. This event celebrates the importance of the peanut in Burkina Faso’s culture and features traditional music and dance performances.