Loving Burkina Faso

13/14/15/16/17 February 2011

Banfora

Ahh Banfora, where I pass a leisurely week. Staying at the very relaxed Baobab Campement (no power) in my own little hut to spread out in. Day trips to the gorgeous nearby Karfiguela waterfalls, walking the quiet roads, excellent pizza and beer dinners by the light of the moon – ahh the countryside is a wonderful tonic. I rent a pushbike one day then a mobylette another to get out and about to the Domes de Fabedougou – I reckon they’re a lot like the Australia’s Olgas. Another day out to Tengrela Lake, where there are family groups of hippos lazing about. You get a canoe out on the lake and I could have watched them all day – as it was my bloke was getting twitchy after a ½ hr. The hippos were wonderful - rising and up and down in the water, calling to each other and the occasional HUGE yawn. Folk here are very protective of the hippos – tourism livelihood depends on the hippos flourishing, and that seems to be the case here. It was a magical morning on that lake! And of course the canoe bloke was a rasta, and with that comes the obligatory flirting – including my flowery accessories hand made by him. Ahh they make an old girl laugh! Lol

FACT: The current president Compaoré is entering his 24th year in power as of 2011. He "has become immensely wealthy" and purchased a presidential plane to reflect his personal prestige, while landlocked Burkina Faso ranks as the third least developed country in the world and has one of the lowest GDP per capita figures in the world.