Overview
Gaoua is a market town in the Black Volta Region of Burkina Faso, known as the home of the Lobi people. It is a hilly city in the southwest of the country, approximately 60 km from Côte D'Ivoire and 50 km from Ghana through the bush.
Architecture · Budget Travel · Culture · Day Trips · Festivals
Before you go
Accommodation
Hotel Hala is the only real accommodation option, offering both fan and A/C rooms at higher-than-expected prices.
Connectivity
Internet cafes charge 1400-1500 CFA/hour. CyberSpace has newer computers with USB; cinema location is air-conditioned.
Culture
Gaoua is the home of the Lobi people, also inhabited by Dagara, Birifor, Jula, Dogose, Gan, and Gwan ethnic groups. Lobi villages are mini-fortresses in the surrounding countryside.
Food
Street food includes fried yams, bean cakes, and millet cakes. Restaurant options include Chez Francois (breakfast), Souvenir and campement militaire (lunch with porc au four), PP, Flamboyant, and Le Piedmont (dinner chicken).
Transport
Taxis within Gaoua cost 300-500 CFA depending on destination. The gare is the main transport hub.