Burkina Faso

Photo: MattLphotography/Shutterstock

Situated between Mali and the coastal nations of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire, landlocked Burkina-Faso — or Burkinabe as its called locally — is best known for its annual arts and crafts festival in the capital city of Ouagadougou.

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But you’ll find plenty of great outdoor activities here too.

The best hiking in Burkina Faso is in the southwestern part of the country, particularly around the Banfora escarpment. You can also head to Karfiguela Falls, where, during the rainy season, you’d be best advised to take a guide with water-fording capabilities. Burkina Faso was also a key center for the 15th-century Mossi empire, and you can learn all about its history at the Ethnographical Museum in Ouagadougou.