Guideforafrica.com gives as much possible information on Public, gazetted and national holidays in Burkina Faso for the Calendar year 2012. All the public holidays as declared by the government are also applicable to all its employees and they need not work on those days. Some extra optional holidays are also given.
So during these days / periods, you will not be able to access any government services. The Central Bank of the country and other major banking institutions also remain closed, although ATMs stay operational (24 hours service). Some foreign exchange points stay open for just a few hours of the public holiday. However, remember if planning for a visa application or extension, or send something from a post office, or use the main branch of a bank, travelers should endeavor to avoid these days. However, most of the happening hotspots such as resort beaches, night clubs, recreation grounds and small shopping centres generally remain open to their clients.

Below are the Public and National Holidays in Burkina Faso for the January 2012-December 2012 period.
01 January: New Year’s Day
03 January: Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d’État
04 February: Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) (Islamic Day)
08 March: Women’s Day (International Day)
09 April: Easter Monday (Christian Day)
01 May: Workers Day (International Day) – Government offices, and most banking institutions and businesses remain closed.
17 May: Ascension (Christian Day)
04 August: Revolution Day
05 August: Independence Day
15 August: Assumption (Christian Day)
19 August: Aid El Segheir (End of Ramadan)
15 October: Anniversary of the 1987 Coup d’État
26 October: Aid El Kébir (Feast of the Sacrifice)
01 November: All Saints’ Day (Christian Day)
15 November: El am Hejir (New Year) (Islamic Day)
11 December: Proclamation of the Republic
25 December: Christmas Day (Christian Day)
26 December: Boxing Day (Christian Day)
Note:
- Some public holidays are celebrated on the same date every year. This is particularly applicable to the internationally recognized dates.
- The main impact for the tourist during Public Holidays in Burkina Faso is the increased competition for travel and accommodation especially to those who use long weekends to get away from the busy centres. It is therefore plausible to make your hotel as well flight bookings well in advance especially for the foreign visitors.

The secret to a worth budget travel in Burkina Faso is to plan ahead. Budget tour to this West African country is extremely flexible and can be amended as per your requirements to make your trip successful.
When it comes to budget Burkina Faso safaris, well-deserved holidays or adventures to destinations we have never been before, the reality of travel expenses and tour budgeting should be at the back of our minds always.
Reducing spending while still enjoying your Burkina Faso holidays to its fullest is the key to guaranteed success. The reason behind saving cash while traveling is simple; there are numerous places of tourists’ interest in the country, catering to all types of budgets such as Moro-Naba Palace, Manega Museum, Musée Provincial du, Snake Museum, National Museum, Kabore Tembi, Karfiguéla Waterfalls, the Grande Mosquée, Nazinga Game Reserve, Karfiguela Waterfalls La Mare aux Poissons Sacrés de Dafra, Gorom Gorom Market, Sabou, Ranch de Nazinga, La Guinguette and Sindou Rock Formations.
Money and Valuables
Before you set off to Burkina Faso, organize a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travelers’ cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Consult with your bank to find out which the most appropriate currency to carry is and whether you can access the ATM easily.
Getting Around
Modes of transportation for getting around Burkina include cars, buses, and mini vans. Cheap regular bus services are operated in the dry season to all major towns and it is necessary to book at least 48 hours in advance. These buses are absolutely cheap and plentiful. It is inadvisable to drive at night, as there are few street lights and some vehicles do not have headlights. There is train service servicing Abidjan-Bobo-Ouaga-Kaya.
Budget Accommodation
Decide on the type of hotel accommodations you’d like to experience on your safari in Burkina Faso. From luxury tented camps, lodge safaris, mobile camps to classy hotels. There is a lot to choose from. Perfect for the budget tourists and travelers, most Burkina Faso hotels come with comfortable accommodations. They ensure each and every penny from the travelers pocket yields optimum result and are found in most Burkina Faso towns. Avoid middlemen and approach the Hotels in Burkina Faso directly. You can do this by searching the term Burkina Faso Budget Hotels on Google. Check out the various websites of Burkina Faso Hotels and choose the hotel whose photographs appeal to you. Then check their pricing and contact hotels within your price range.
Travel Agents
A number of packages offered by various travel agencies provide a great opportunity to explore this less-traveled African country. There are many travel agents and Burkina Faso tour operators competing for your business, which translates to incredible travel deals. Be aware of the political climate in any destination country in before booking your tour. A good number of travel agents in Burkina Faso will provide you with a broader and more complete range of services than can be found online. They get you a clear picture of the type of Burkina Faso safari you’d like to experience, from lodge safari, honeymoon holiday to Nazinga Game Reserve flying safaris.
By booking budget tours to Burkina Faso in advance will get you the advantage of accessing hospitality as well as transport agencies across the country with ease. It entitles visitors to cut costs which will make a major difference in the money you will have to shell out for the tour packages all over the country.
Best Travel Time
Off season is the best time for Burkina Faso travel particluarly when you are on a tight budget. The off season is a time when a lesser number of tourists visit the country and it is usually due to factors like festivals and weather. It is advised to check the climatic conditions before finalizing your visit. But generally, Burkina Faso is best to visit from November to February.

Directory of Burkina Faso Tour Operators and Safari Agencies; Comprehensive list for all tour operators and travel agents in Burkina Faso for your holiday
Burkina Faso tour operators prepare you physically and financially and cater for all the Burkina Faso travel arrangements starting from planning a perfect tour itinerary right from welcoming you at the airport to hotel transfer, accompanying you to the sightseeing safari destinations, hotel bookings as well as flights reservations.

TOURS AND SAFARIS AGENTS IN BURKINA FASO

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LOCATION: Burkina Faso is a landlocked country covering 274,200 sq km.
NEIGHBOURS: Burkina Faso is situated in West Africa and bordered to the north and west by Mali, to the east by Niger, to the southeast by Benin and to the south by Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
CAPITAL: Ouagadougou is the capital city and lies almost in a geographical area known as the Mossi Plateau (formerly capital of powerful Mossi kingdom and seat of French colonial administration in 1919).
GEOGRAPHY: It is a landlocked flat country with an average altitude between 200 and 400m above sea level. The southern part of the country, less arid than the north, is wooded savannah, gradually drying out into sand and desert in the north. The Sahara desert is relentlessly moving south, however, stripping the savannah lands of trees and slowly turning the thin layer of cultivatable soil into sun-blackened rock-hard lakenite. Three great rivers, the Mouhoun, Nazinon and Nakambé (Black, Red and White Volta), water the Great Plains.
GETTING THERE

• By Air: Ouagadougou International Airport (OUA) located 8km (5 miles) from the city is the main airport that handles all international flights to Burkina Faso. Borgo airport located16km (10 miles) from Bobo Dioulasso handles mainly domestic flights. The national airline is Air Burkina (2J). There are several other major airlines flying into Burkina Faso from many cities around the world.
• By Road: Routes are from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo, although these are often barely adequate. Regular bus services run during the dry season, from Bobo to Bamako in Mali, and from Ouagadougou to Niamey in Niger and to Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. Bush taxis operate some routes.
• By Rail: There is a train running 517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d’Ivoire border. There is also train service servicing Abidjan-Bobo-Ouaga-Kaya.

GETTING AROUND
Modes of transportation for getting around the country are by air, rail, cars, buses, and car hire.

• By Road: This is the most popular way traveling within the country. However, most roads tend impassable during the July to October wet season. You should avoid driving at night as some streets are not well lit and poor headlights of some road users. Buses are available and absolutely economical and plentiful. Available are also car hire services from most hotels in the city. Shared taxis are available in major centers at negotiable fares.
• By Air: Borgo airport 16km (10 miles) from Bobo Dioulasso is the main domestic airport and handles local flights between Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou with Air Burkina. But be aware that when you fly, you miss out on many interesting attractions.

MAIN CITIES: Ouagadougou (the capital city), Banfora, Bobo-Dioulasso- (the second largest city in the south-west), Bokin, Dedougou, Djibo, Dori, Fada N’goruma, Gaoua, Gorom-Gorom, Kaya, Koudougou, Leo, Oradara, Ouahigouya, Zorgo.
MONEY / CURRENCY: Burkina Faso currency is the Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFA). Credit cards are not extensively used. Mastercard is unacceptable at ATMs. Banks are wide spread in Ouaga and Bobo.
ENTRY POLICY: Passport and a visa are required to enter the country. Travelers need to obtain a visa well in advance. Travelers from the EU countries can obtain visas upon arrival at Ouagadougou International Airport. Temporary driving licenses are available from the local authorities on presentation of a valid national driving license.