Hostels in OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

City Ouagadougou – The Cultural and Administrative Centre of Burkina Faso

Capital of Burkina Faso, City Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and at the same time the administrative, cultural as well as economic centre of the country. Largest city of Burkina Faso, it houses around 1.5 million inhabitants. While the city is referred as Ouaga, inhabitants are called Ouagalais. Primary industry in the country is food processing and textiles.

Accommodation
Luxury hotels, mid range hotels and budget hotels are available in the city. Guest house, resorts, rented joints are also available though one may not find the youth hostels around. Some of the joints also perform the task of bed and breakfast and backpackers for the visitors.

Brief History
Ouagadougou evolved its name way back in the 15th century with the inhibition of Ninsi and Yonyonse tribes in the area. When Wubri, the Younyonse leader won the tribal battles, he renamed the area as Wogodogo that ultimately gave rise to the current name. Name of the country was changed from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso in the 1980s.

Getting Around
Ouagadougou can be approached through the international airport in the city. Conversely one can use the rail links from Abidjan or the highway to Niamey, Niger, or such other places. Internal movements can be made using city automobiles that are usually small two-stroke engines. Another mode of transportation is green cabs that takes passengers anywhere in the town at lower prices before 10.00 A.M and after 5 P.M.

Popular Places and Monuments
Bangr-Weoogo urban park with an area of 2.63 square kilometres was previously considered a sacred forest. After renovations, the park was renamed as “Parc Urbain Bangr-Weoogo” in January 2001. “L Unite Pedagogique” is the other important park around Ouagadougou that serves and museum of the country with an area of approximately 20 acres. Garden of Ouaga-Loudum friendship was green space renovated in the year 1996 and is located centrally near the “Nation Unites” crossroad.

Other notable monuments are Naba Koom that is a statue depicting woman handling calabash pouring water and is 6 meters high facing railway station. Laongo that is 30 kilometres east of the city features numerous granite slabs exhibiting art and sculpture of five continents. La Place du Grand Lyon is a monument reflecting relationship between capital cities of Burkina Faso with Lyon in France.

Places of Entertainment
Many cinemas and nightclubs are there in the city that counts for an exotic night life. French, Zaka, and American cultural centres, the grand market that is one of the largest in West Africa which burnt out in 2003 and is closed till date, National Museum of Burkina Faso, Moro-Naba palace that is the site for the Moro-Naba ceremony as well as several craft markets are the additional attractions in the city.

Currency
Currency used in Ouagadougou is CFA franc with the code of XOF. Central Bank of West African States regulates the movement of the currency internally and externally. Exchange rate currently for one US dollar and one Euro is 499.30 and 655.957 CFA Franc respectively. However travellers and visitors may keep view financial news on the Internet or take help of newspaper and electronic media for learning about the latest exchange rates.

Ouagadougou group accommodation | Hostels & budget hotels