Ziniaré Wildlife Park

The park at Ziniaré holds animals in large fenced enclosures north of the capital: lions, hyena, crocodile, ostrich, antelope and monkeys, most of them rescued or bred rather than wild, and it functions as the place people from Ouagadougou take children to see animals without the long drive to the national parks. A sculpture park and a museum stand nearby in the same town. The town also holds a bronze sculpture park along the approach road, so the two are usually visited on the same trip out from the capital.

What you actually see

• The enclosures - lions, hyena and antelope in fenced ground.
• The proximity - the nearest wildlife viewing to the capital.
• The rescued animals - much of the collection taken in rather than wild-caught.
• The Ziniaré sites - the sculpture park and museum in the same town.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season and the animals are most active. Early morning and late afternoon are best. March to May is extremely hot.

Honest expectations

This is a fenced collection, not wild country, and enclosures are modest. Conditions for some animals draw criticism. Facilities are basic.

Nearby

Musée de Manéga is west, and Ouagadougou is south.