Things to Do in Ouagadougou in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Ouagadougou
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
93°F (34°C)
High Temp
63°F (17°C)
Low Temp
0.0 inches (0 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + During Harmattan season, the late-afternoon sky turns copper, good for film-noir shots. The sweet spot runs 4:30pm, 5:30pm when dust bends the sun into golden shafts.
- + December kicks off FESPACO prep. Film crews comb Place de la Nation and you'll spot camera rigs wedged between mopeds on Rue Kwamé-Nkrumah.
- + Night markets push past 11pm once the rains stop, chefs wheel extra grills onto Avenue de la Liberté so the air carries shea-butter lamb and wood smoke.
- + Rooms still open, those same hotels that sell out during February's FESPACO can be booked three weeks ahead in December.
Considerations
- − Sahel dust rolls in for 1, 2 days each week. Sidewalks blush ochre and sunglasses turn essential by 9am.
- − Lips crack fast, humidity dives below 30% most afternoons, so lip balm rides next to your passport.
- − Tap water sputters without warning when Harmattan winds topple the grid for 3, 4 hours at a time.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Sahel Market Cycling Routes
Pedal out of central Ouagadougou at dawn for Rood-Woko and Koulouba markets, beating both dust and heat. December's dry roads harden the packed earth so standard bikes glide past baobabs etched against copper skies. Expect goat jams and roadside stands roasting coffee.
Booking Tip: Use downtown bike shops that hand over helmets and spare tubes. Lock in pick-up before 7am so you're done before noon scorches the streets.
Village Pottery Day Trips
December's dry air fires clay fast. Day tours to Manega or Laongo depart 8am, back by 4pm, sit under neem trees while potters hand-coil water jars, then take the wheel yourself. Wet clay and wood-fire kilns scent the breeze.
Booking Tip: Reserve 5, 7 days early. Choose tours that cover transport and kiln time, not just a quick demo.
Open-Air Cinema Nights
Pop-up screens pop up in December while crews test gear for FESPACO. Projectionists sling white sheets between mango trees in Parc Urbain Bangr-Wéogo. Bring a blanket. Nights drop to 22°C (72°F) and popcorn pops in shea oil.
Booking Tip: No tickets required, entry is free or donation only. Show up at 7:30pm to claim a woven-mat seat.
Sahel Sunset Photography Walks
December dust stacks pastel sunsets around 5:45pm. Walks leave the Grand Mosque at 4:30pm, cross the tracks to open fields where lone baobabs face the sky. Guides know which termite mounds glow last.
Booking Tip: Book the afternoon walk, morning light skips the color burst. Carry a microfiber cloth. Dust on lenses is guaranteed.
Where to Stay in Ouagadougou in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Every Friday in December
Semaine Nationale de la Culture
Local troupes drill dance and drum routines in public squares before February's FESPACO. Free outdoor sets run every Friday evening in December at Place des Cineastes, catch 20-minute Mossi war dances with ankle bells and djembe rolls bouncing off concrete.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Ouagadougou Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Ask for bissap at Patisserie Le Bon-Endroit on Avenue de la Révolution. They chill the hibiscus drink in clay jars so it stays cold without ice.
Top brochettes (skewered goat) emerge after 9pm beside Cinema Canal Olympia at the stall with no name. Spot the woman fanning coals with a flattened Fanta crate.
Download Google Maps offline. Street names flip whenever a new mayor arrives and the paper map sold at the airport is four years out of date.
Friday nights at Parc Urbain Bangr-Wéogo turn into dance battles between university students, free, loud, and the quickest lesson in local pop moves.
Avoid These Mistakes
Scheduling outdoor museums for midday, temperatures hit 34°C (93°F) and shade is thin at Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou.
Forgetting dust-proof phone case, Harmattan grit scratches screens within days
Waiting for nightlife before 10pm, clubs and music bars open late because locals nap through the 2pm heat.
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