Niansogoni Cliff Dwellings

Above the modern village of Niansogoni, near the Malian border, an older settlement is built into a cliff face: houses and granaries of earth and stone fitted into the rock under an overhang, reached by a steep climb. They were built by the Wara, who occupied the cliff for defence and abandoned it in the twentieth century. The structures survive because the overhang keeps the rain off them.

What you actually see

• The cliff houses - earth and stone buildings fitted under the rock overhang.
• The granaries - the storage structures among the dwellings.
• The defensive position - a village placed on a cliff face for safety.
• The Wara history - the people who built and later left the settlement.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. March to May is extremely hot on the exposed climb. The rains from June make the ascent dangerous.

Honest expectations

The climb is steep and exposed with some scrambling. A guide from the village is required and fees are collected. The structures are fragile and entering them is restricted.

Nearby

Banfora is east, and the Malian border is west.