Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Burkina Faso or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
Solo traveling in West Africa taught me one rule: prepare your cash in daylight. Burkina Faso was no exception. ATMs in Ouaga work best during the day. At night, not only are machines risky, but even finding a functioning one is hard. I heard stories of night muggings near stand-alone ATMs, so I played it safe and stuck to banks in the morning.
I was based in Ouagadougou for remote NGO work. ATM access was spotty, and night safety isn’t great. I did one 10 PM withdrawal from a UBA ATM near a Total station and immediately regretted it - too quiet, no security, and poor lighting. I now only use daytime ATMs and keep extra cash hidden for emergencies.
Backpacking across West Africa, Burkina Faso felt safe enough, but I didn’t take chances. Most ATMs - like at Coris Bank - were offline after 8 PM anyway. Even locals try to avoid withdrawals at night. If you’re heading to Bobo-Dioulasso or smaller towns, get your cash in the capital and only during the day. Night usage is a no-go.
ATM safety at night in Burkina Faso is not ideal. I was staying in Ouagadougou and needed cash late - used an Ecobank ATM around 9 PM near Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. Machine worked, but I was pretty tense. Street lighting is poor and not many people are around. Locals told me to avoid carrying cash at night. Do your banking during daylight hours.