Flights to Ouagadougou Airport (OUA)

Discover Ouagadougou

Most airlines at Burkina Faso's Ouagadougou Airport fly to other destinations in Africa and in the Middle East, but there is some international service to and from other destinations. Air France has service to Paris from here, and Brussels Airlines offers service to Brussels with connections from there to the United States.

When Are Fares to Ouagadougou Airport Lowest?

Burkina Faso in general is not a tourist destination, and so you won't really see significant changes in price throughout the year. Prices from the United States will likely be influenced more by American government workers and military personnel heading to the area than anything else, as one of the most important air bases in Africa is on the airport grounds.

The weather remains hot all year long, but is particularly bad from March to May, with temperatures that can go over 100 and high humidity. June to September is the relatively cool and pleasant season.

If departing from the U.S., you can catch Brussels Airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C. or New York City.

Arriving at Ouagadougou Airport

United States citizens do need both a passport and visa to enter Burkina Faso. The visa is simply a matter of paying a fee, which will likely be less expensive in the United States than it will in the country. Initial visas are usually for 90 or 180 days, but it is possible to convert them to a five-year multi-entry visa once in the country with little trouble.

It's always wise to have your vaccinations up to date when traveling anywhere, but one you'll definitely want to have documented in this region is a recent Yellow Fever vaccine. The airport may provide it if you do not have it on arrival (for a fee), but it is possible for the country to deny you entry for this reason.

Outside of the airport customs area, you'll find English speakers are rare. French is predominately spoken in this region instead, so you may want to bring a translation app or book of some sort if you don't have a local guide.

Transportation from Ouagadougou Airport

Your two main options for transportation out of the airport are the local taxis and renting a car. Both private taxis and share-a-ride vans are abundant at the airport when flights come in. Car rental agencies at the airport include National, Europcar and Avis.

Things to Do in Ouagadougou

Though stricken with poverty, Ouagadougou has historically been one of the safest and nicest cities in Africa. Recent unrest has allowed terror groups to gain a foothold in Burkina Faso, however. Most of the trouble is located far to the north of Ouagadougou, but attacks have happened in the city as recently as 2016 despite a strong presence of the US military. Check current State Department travel warnings before making plans, and exercise more caution than usual while in the city. Most people in Ouagadougou are friendly and very happy to see tourists, but danger does exist.

Ouagadougou is somewhat underrated as a tourism destination. It's a magnet for musicians all throughout Africa, and there are major festivals throughout the year. Hiking in the desert and in the mountains is also possible. The cuisine is also interesting, a mix of native traditions with a strong influence from French cooking.