Things to Do in Burkina Faso in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Burkina Faso
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak Harmattan season brings clear skies and spectacular visibility - you'll see the Sahara dust creating those famous golden sunsets that photographers wait all year for, with daytime temps around 30-37°C (86-99°F) making outdoor exploration actually pleasant before noon
- FESTAC celebrations and traditional mask festivals happen across the country - December is when Bobo-Dioulasso comes alive with cultural events, and you'll catch authentic ceremonies in villages around Banfora that tourists rarely witness other months
- Dry season means accessible roads to remote areas - the Route de l'Espoir to Gorom-Gorom is finally passable after rainy season, and you can actually reach the Sindou Peaks and Karfiguéla Falls without getting stuck in mud
- Low tourist numbers compared to West African coast destinations - while Senegal and Ghana see holiday crowds, Burkina stays relatively quiet, meaning better prices on accommodations in Ouagadougou and more authentic interactions in markets
Considerations
- Harmattan dust can be intense - that same Sahara wind that creates beautiful sunsets also brings respiratory irritation, reduced flight visibility occasionally delaying Ouagadougou airport operations, and a fine layer of dust coating everything within hours
- Extreme temperature swings between day and night - you'll wake up to 16-20°C (61-68°F) mornings requiring a jacket, then face 37°C (99°F) afternoons, which makes packing tricky and can catch travelers off-guard
- Security situation requires careful planning - certain northern and eastern regions near Mali and Niger borders remain off-limits, which unfortunately rules out some historic sites like parts of the Sahel region, and you'll need to check current advisories weekly as situations change
Best Activities in December
Banfora Waterfalls and Karfiguéla Cascades Exploration
December is actually the sweet spot for visiting these formations - the waterfalls still have decent flow from rainy season runoff but paths are dry and accessible. The Karfiguéla Falls drop about 20 m (66 ft) and you can swim in pools at the base without worrying about flash floods. Morning visits between 7-10am give you the best light and coolest temps around 25°C (77°F). The surrounding Comoé Léraba Forest is lush right now, and you'll spot colobus monkeys more easily when they come down for water.
Ouagadougou Grand Market and Artisan Quarter Visits
The capital's markets are most comfortable to explore in December's dry heat - the covered sections of Grand Marché stay relatively cool, and you can actually spend hours browsing bronze castings, bogolan cloth, and Tuareg silver without melting. Thursday and Friday mornings see the biggest selection as vendors restock for weekend shoppers. The nearby artisan cooperative in Gounghin district lets you watch bronze casting using traditional lost-wax methods, and December's lower humidity means the furnaces run more efficiently.
Sindou Peaks Rock Formation Hiking
These dramatic sandstone pinnacles rising 30-40 m (98-131 ft) are finally accessible after rainy season mud dries out. December mornings offer perfect hiking conditions around 22-28°C (72-82°F), and the rock faces are dry enough for scrambling the easier routes. The formations stretch across 10 km (6.2 miles) but most visitors cover 3-5 km (1.9-3.1 miles) in a half-day trek. You'll pass through Senoufo villages where locals still use traditional granaries built into cliff faces, and guides share actual knowledge about medicinal plants growing between the rocks.
Bobo-Dioulasso Old Quarter and Grande Mosquée Tours
Burkina's second city feels most alive in December when cultural events pick up and the weather makes walking the Kibidwe old quarter actually pleasant. The Grande Mosquée, a stunning Sudano-Sahelian mud structure from 1880, opens for guided visits outside prayer times. The nearby pottery quarter shows traditional Bobo ceramic techniques unchanged for generations, and December's dry air is when potters produce their finest work since clay dries evenly. The Guimbi music scene heats up with live balafon and djembe performances most evenings.
Nazinga Game Reserve Wildlife Viewing
December hits the peak viewing season when animals concentrate around remaining water sources and vegetation thins out for better sightings. This 94,000-hectare reserve about 150 km (93 miles) south of Ouagadougou has the country's largest elephant population - around 800 individuals - plus buffalo, antelope, warthogs, and occasionally lions. Early morning drives between 6-9am offer the best activity when temps are still 20-25°C (68-77°F). The baobab forests are spectacular right now with clear skies for photography.
Traditional Village Homestays and Pottery Workshops
December's comfortable weather and post-harvest period means villages around Tiébélé and Tangassogo welcome visitors for cultural immersion experiences. The famous painted Kassena houses with their geometric patterns are maintained annually before December, so you'll see them at their finest. Participate in pottery making with local women, learn traditional millet beer brewing, or join evening storytelling sessions. The cooler nights around 18-20°C (64-68°F) make sleeping in traditional compounds actually comfortable.
December Events & Festivals
FESTAC Arts and Culture Celebrations
Various cultural festivals and mask ceremonies happen across Burkina in December, particularly in Bobo-Dioulasso and surrounding villages. These aren't staged tourist shows but actual community celebrations marking the harvest season and dry season arrival. You'll see traditional Bobo and Senoufo masks, hear balafon orchestras, and witness ceremonies that have continued for centuries. Timing varies by village and lunar calendar, so ask locally when you arrive.
Harvest Season Markets
December marks peak harvest market season when farmers bring millet, sorghum, and groundnuts to weekly markets across the country. The markets in Gorom-Gorom (Saturday), Djibo (Thursday), and Dori (Monday) are particularly significant, drawing Fulani herders, Tuareg traders, and Mossi farmers. These aren't tourist attractions but functioning economic centers where you'll see authentic West African commerce and can photograph incredible scenes with permission.