Waterfalls, sandstone domes, and hippos in the lake — southwest Burkina's natural triad that travellers consistently say was their trip's best surprise
Banfora is a small city in the Cascades Region of southwest Burkina Faso, named for the waterfalls that make this one of the most naturally dramatic corners of a country not usually associated with landscapes. The Cascades de Karfiguéla, 10km from town, drop in tiers through a gallery forest of figs and palms with a swimming hole at the base. The Domes of Fabedougou (15km east) are ancient sandstone formations eroded into mushroom and hoodoo shapes over millions of years — one of West Africa's most unusual geological landscapes. Lac Tengrela, 5km from town, has a resident hippopotamus populat…
The Banfora area has been inhabited by the Tiéfo, Lobi, Gouin, and Toussian peoples for many centuries — the region was not part of any large centralised state and maintained its character as a mosaic of small-scale agricultural communities. The French established Banfora as a colonial administrative post in the early 20th century, primarily to facilitate the sugarcane cultivation that still drives the local economy (the Société Sucrière de la Comoé operates the largest sugar plantation in Burkina Faso near the town). The area's national park potential was recognised in the independence era b…