Understand

Fada N_fGourma is mainly inhabited by the Gulmance people, along with a smattering of Mossi and Peuhl. Although the Gulmance account for only 4.5% of the national population, they have a strong culture with much history surrounding it. The founder of Fada is said to have ridden a horse up a baobab tree and disappeared, but the horse_fs hoof prints remain in the tree.

Red is considered a problematic color for the Gulmance (they prefer black and white) and there is a sacred mountain in the area that a person cannot go up if he or she is wearing a red shirt. Also, the crocodiles in the barrage are considered sacred, and they may not be killed. In general, the Gulmance are thought of as a minority and looked down upon by other cultures. They are said to find their answers in the sand, because of the importance they place on traditional beliefs.

Get in

Fada n'Gourma is 220K from Fada-Oua 220K; Fada-Bilanga: 76K; Fada-Kompienga: 137K; Fada-Matiakoali: 94K; Fada-Kantchari: 150K; Fada-Niger: 172K; Fada-Benin: 150K

By bus

'''STMB''': 40.77.06.94 (Fada) 50.31.13.63 (Ouaga)
  • Fada to Ouaga: one-way 2000 CFA, round-trip 3000 CFA; 7:30, 12:00, 18:00, 6:00 (Fridays only), 10:00 (every day but Friday)
  • Ouaga to Fada: one-way 2500 CFA, round-trip 3000 CFA; 7:30, 10:00, 13:30, 14:00, 18:00 daily
  • Fada to Kantchari: one-way 2000 CFA; 14:00 daily

    '''ZST''': 50.34.41.69 (Ouaga) Fada to Ouaga: one-way 2000 CFA, round-trip 3000 CFA; 7:00, 9:30, 13:00, 18:00 daily Ouaga to Fada: one-way 2500 CFA, round-trip 3000 CFA; 7:00, 9:00, 13:00, 18:00 daily Ouaga to Kompienga: one-way 4000 CFA, round-trip 7000 CFA; 9:00 daily Kompienga to Ouaga: one-way 4000 CFA, round-trip 7000 CFA; 7:00 daily

    By taxi

    "Far away" gare; minimum twice per day:
  • Fada to Bilanga: one-way 1500 CFA
  • Fada to Gayeri: one-way 1500 CFA
  • Fada to Piela: one-way 1750 CFA
  • Central gare; minimum twice per day:

  • Fada to Pama: one-way 1500 CFA
  • Fada to Kompienga: one-way 2000 CFA
  • Places to stay

  • '''Drew_fs House''' (free): There is no electricity or running water, but there is a nice indoor shower space as well as a guest room complete with a bed, mattress, sheets, a pillow, and its own entrance. If you want to do something to pay his family back for their kindness, they really appreciate gifts of fish. Also, you can buy Miel du Gourma from his mom_fs stand.
  • '''Auberge Dieumoagu''' (2500-4000 CFA with fan and shared bathrooms): By far, Fada's nicest, well-managed, hostel. The traditionnal and artistic decorations made by a local artist make it the nicest small hostal I have seen in Burkina. It is composed of 4 big clean huts with fans and electricity, with a small restaurant and a nice paillotte. Local drummers perform there for a small fee (5000 CFA)and the owner, a gourmantche traditionnalist, organizes wild trips in villages near Fada (possibility to rent a motorcycle). It is located near the barrage, right beside the SIM protestant church, 50 metres from the paved road to Ouagadougou E-mail: linomd@gmail.com, Web: [http://dieumoagou.free.fr] Call MD to +226 70 70 99 92.
  • '''TP''' (4000 CFA with fan, 6000 CFA with A/C): This is your typical Burkinabe hotel space: it_fs not too dirty or too clean, and the toilet in your room might not always work, but hey, it_fs got a bathroom with a mirror and running water, and it_fs more or less conveniently located.
  • '''Auberge La Belle Etoile''' [http://www.burkinatours.com](c.5000 CFA a double): Located on the road to Ouaga, 5 rooms with a fan, a paillotte in the courtyard and common shower/toilet. Quite clean. If the owner, Alfred, aka l'ambassadeur du Gourma, a "young and dynamic Burkinabe" (ako Guide du Routard) is there, he can give you very good advice on what to do in Fada. Contact: by mail belleetoileinfo@yahoo.fr or phone 00226770809, website [http://belleetoile.atspace.com/fr/auberge.html]
  • '''Mariam Dwali Catholic Mission''' (not expensive): This place is relatively far from the more happening parts of town, but it is supposed to be nice. There are gardens there and in the case of the EAP, this is where we meet.
  • '''Hotel Panache''' (the most expensive we know of in Fada): Held by a Syrian family, it is certainly the best hotel in Fada, but totally overpriced due to lack of competition (count on 20-30.000 fcfa). It has a swimming pool though and it's possible to eat at night if you order by noon. www.panachehotel.com [http://www.panachehotel.com]
  • Contact

    Post Office

    Open M-F 7:30 ? 12 and 15:00 ? 17:00

    Internet

  • '''Le Cyber Jeunes'''. It_fs air-conditioned, the help is nice, and it_fs inside a buvette. Hours: 9:00-13:00, 16:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 10:00-20:00 Saturday. 500 CFA for 15 minutes, plus 250 CFA for each additional 15 minutes.
  • inside "La Poste"
  • "Le Cyber la poste" Post Office en face du marche

    Buy

    Marche

    Marche day is every Sunday, and the Fada marche seems to offer just about the same stuff as other marches in relatively big villes

    Boutiques

    There are a couple of pretty good alimentations where you can find things like tuna in water. In general, you can support the east by buying things like Miel du Gourma (not to be confused with imitation products like Miel Naturel du Gourma), Biala drinking water, and Lait du Gourma milk and yogurt (it_fs delicious).

    Eat

    Restaurants

  • '''Restaurant de L_fEst''' ? moderately expensive. Like most Burkinabe restaurants, they don_ft always have everything on their menu, but it_fs one of the classier, more overpriced restaurants in Fada, and they have a pretty chewy pepper steak.
  • '''Les Caraibes''' ? moderately priced. Although they_fve recently switched chefs, Les Caraibes continues to offer some of the best fries in Fada, as well as good grilled fish, but be prepared to wait a long time for your food.
  • '''Ben Nevis'''? moderately priced. This place stole the chef from Les Caraibes, so food is good, and there is dancing next door
  • Street food and snacks

  • Bissap stand right outside the STMB gare.
  • Curon is a frozen lemonade-type drink sold in sachets.
  • The meat guy outside the internet cafe is good
  • Lait du Gourma yogurt is always nice.
  • Drink

    There are plenty of buvettes, but one of the nicest would have to be '''La Plage''', not because their drinks are cold but because they_fre located at the beach.