The hook
A wind-carved ridge of narrow stone spires and blades rising from the savanna, near a green corner of Burkina Faso with waterfalls and a lake where hippos wallow among the reeds.
01Why it's worth it
The southwest around Banfora is the most scenic and lushest part of Burkina Faso, a welcome contrast to the flat Sahel. Its signature sight is the Sindou Peaks (the Chaîne de Sindou), a long crest of soft sandstone that erosion has sculpted into a jagged fairy-tale skyline of narrow towers, fins, and cones, glowing warm in low light and threaded with paths that wind among the formations, a striking and photogenic landscape sacred to local communities. Nearby, the region offers more gentle wonders: the Karfiguéla waterfalls tumbling over rock terraces (fullest in and after the rains), the strange geological domes near the falls, and the Tengrela lake, where boat trips glide out to see resident hippos among the water plants. It is a rewarding cluster of natural sights in a country not known for tourism. As with all of Burkina Faso, the serious security situation must be checked, and much of the country is currently unsafe, so this comes with a clear caveat.
02How to experience it
Note the security situation first: much of Burkina Faso is currently unsafe and travel is strongly advised against; check current advice. When conditions allow, this southwest corner around Banfora offers the Sindou Peaks, the Karfiguéla falls, and a hippo boat trip on Lake Tengrela, best explored with a local guide.