Introducing Burkina Faso
Standing at the geographical heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso (formerly Haute or Upper Volta, or just Burkina to the locals) is the sort of place that captures the imagination – how many of your friends back home even know that Burkina Faso exists? – and wins the hearts of travellers with its relaxed pace of life, friendly people and wealth of interesting sights.
From the deserts and unrivalled Gorom-Gorom market in the north, to the green countryside and strange rock formations of the country’s southwest, Burkina spans a rich variety of landscapes. The country, too, is home to a fascinating cultural mix, with the Burkinabé (people from Burkina Faso) almost as diverse as the terrain.
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Portrait of person at Thursday Market in Gorom Gorom.
- Matthew Schoenfelder
- Lonely Planet photographer





















