Burkina - Tgon's Travels

Week 32: Benin

Posted on 21/02/2012

It has been an action packed week, we set off from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, travelled the full length of Benin and the width of Togo. We left Ouagadougou after collecting our Visa Entente, driving towards the border with Benin. It was getting late so we stopped just before the border in an expensive hotel overlooking a lake, we managed to negotiate camping and a meal for 7 euro each and were surprised by the wonderful three course meal we were then served. A great night.

The next day was quite short as far as travel, we headed over the border to camp at a waterfall. The border crossing was really easy with no bribes, only 9 euro for the laissez-passer and then we were free to continue. We noticed a crowd of people under a tree and went to investigate, it turned out that a doctor was giving out Meningitis immunisations so Charlie decided it was an excellent opportunity to get a cheap injection, I donated a large handful of sweets for the kids after they had their injections. From the border we headed into the first town and turned onto the piste to the safari park, but instead of entering we just went to the waterfall to swim and camp.

The next day was quite hard, we rode around 500Km south through Benin to a city called Abomey. We spent the night and some of the next day there, the guide book had said that it was a ‘must see’, but we disagree. It was here that my stomach started to feel a little strange. After a fruitless wander around Abomey we headed south to the beach and stopped in a town called Grand Popo. I stopped on the way there because I was feeling faint, so I bought a cold Fanta and some water before I set off again. By the time we arrived I was feeling really rough so I decided to take a room rather than camping.

The next few days were great, we chilled out at the beach, swam in the ocean, sat by the pool and befriended a couple of local guys. It turned out that they were looking after a hotel which was still under construction, we joined them for our meals and spent our evenings drinking and chilling out with them. Our last night in Benin we actually stayed in their hotel.

Yesterday we left Benin and headed over the border into Togo, we are now staying in the capital, Lome, for a couple of days before we head north into the mountains and then west into Ghana.

Week 31: Ouagadougou

Posted on 13/02/2012

We haven’t done too much this week, we spent a couple of days in Bobo before we headed to the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. We checked into a hotel while we applied for the visa Entente, this visa covers five different countries, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Niger and Ivory Coast, all for 25,000 CFA (37.50 Euro).

We had tried to get same day service on Friday by paying an extra 5,000 CFA, but when we arrived to collect them we found that they were not ready, so I asked for our bribe money back. There was a street art festival going on in Ouagadougou so we had something to distract us in the evening.

Over the few days we have stayed here some of our friends we have met earlier in the trip also arrived. It is really nice to meet the same people from time to time. We get to share our stories since we last met and get advice about things we haven’t done yet. This morning we collected our visas this morning and we are now heading into Benin for some off-road riding in the mountains and forests.

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Week 30: Bamako to Burkina

Posted on 08/02/2012

This week has been truly awesome, after spending some time at a waterfall last week, a group of us decided to visit another waterfall for a few days, down by the border with Burkina Faso. We stopped in the nearby town of Sikasso to collect some supplies and headed to a village called Woroni. Woroni waterfall is the best waterfall I have ever visited, we camped next to the water and spent four days swimming, sunbathing and having an awesome time.

Most of the group headed back to Bamako, Tom was soon to be heading back to Belgium by aeroplane, so we said goodbye and split up. Me, Lucy and Charlie headed into Burkina Faso. I was surprised at how easily the border crossing went, no bribes, a minimum of paperwork and only 7 euro for a laissez-passer. From the border we headed to Bobo and stayed for a night in a hotel, the next day we bumped into a friend who had been in Bamako with us, we all headed south together for a few days.

Firstly we stayed a night next to a lake before taking an early boat ride to see the hippos, in the afternoon we headed to another village called Sindou which is home to some strange rock formations. We took a hike through the area before heading into the village for beer and food. Lastnight we camped next to another waterfall, not quite as nice as Woroni falls but has a great camping area beneath a group of Mango trees. Tomorrow we are heading north to Ouagadougou to check out a festival before heading into Benin.