Dafra Sacred Fish Pool

Dafra is a pool at the foot of a rock cleft outside Bobo-Dioulasso, fed by a spring and holding large catfish that are treated as sacred and never eaten, and it is an active place of sacrifice where chickens and other offerings are brought by people asking for children, health or success. The walk in crosses rough ground and drops into the gorge. It is a working shrine rather than a sight, and behaviour matters.

What you actually see

• The catfish - the large fish in the pool, never eaten and fed by petitioners.
• The rock cleft - the gorge the spring rises in.
• The offerings - the sacrifices brought by people making requests.
• The walk in - the rough descent from the track above.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. March to May is extremely hot on the exposed walk. The rains from June make the descent difficult.

Honest expectations

This is an active sacrificial shrine and the sight of offerings disturbs some visitors; the smell in the dry season is strong. A local guide is required and behaviour rules are enforced. The walk down is rough with no shade.

Nearby

Bobo-Dioulasso is northeast, and La Guinguette is southwest.