Your stay — Le samaritain
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The Property — Le samaritain
Le Samaritain is a practical, no-frills three-star in Ouaga's commercial centre, with a faded colonial charm and a small pool that offers real relief in the heat. The lobby feels like a working hotel for UN staff and regional business travellers — functional, clean, with a helpful front desk but little pretension. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a centrally located base with air conditioning and reliable hot water, not character or luxury.
Chronicles of Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou began as a Mossi village in the 15th century, becoming the capital of the Mossi Empire before French colonisation in 1896. The French built a grid of wide boulevards and administrative buildings, fragments of which survive around the city centre. Independence in 1960 brought expansion, with landmark projects like the National Museum and the Marché de Sankariaré. Today the city is a crossroads of West African trade and diplomacy, with a lively arts scene centred on the biennial FESPACO film festival.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ouagadougou guide →Best months
November, December and January — coolest and driest months with daytime highs around 30-33°C, clear skies, and low humidity after the rainy season.
Peak / festival surge
February is the busiest month, driven by FESPACO (the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou), when hotel prices can double and rooms book out months in advance. The SIAO crafts fair in late October also fills hotels.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer lower rates and fewer tourists, though temperatures rise to 38-40°C. May is the cheapest month but very hot and dusty ahead of the rains.
Weather & packing
Ouagadougou has two distinct seasons: a hot wet season (June–September) and a hotter dry season (October–May). Pack light cotton clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and a reusable water bottle — and always carry a thin rain jacket or umbrella just in case, even in the dry months.
Live City Briefing — Ouagadougou
- Construction on the new Ouagadougou-Donsin Airport, 35 km north of the city, continues; check your flight arrival as some airlines may switch terminals during 2026.
- The central Marché de Sankariaré has completed its renovation, with improved walkways and covered stalls — a good spot for crafts and fresh produce.
- Heavy rains in July can cause sudden flooding on Boulevard de la Révolution and other low-lying roads; allow extra travel time and carry a waterproof phone pouch.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Le samaritain, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors reduce street-level noise and the courtyard side is quieter in a city where traffic and motorbikes start early.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or bar area. Also avoid rooms directly above the entrance or facing the main road, as Ouagadougou's dust and noise from passing motorcycles and taxis can be persistent.
Best views
Limited view from this 3-star hotel — likely another building or courtyard. Request a room with a window facing the garden or pool if the property has either, rather than the street.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 offer the best quiet, assuming the hotel has at least 3 floors. Top-floor rooms can be warmer but still quieter than ground level.
🔊 Noise notes
Ouagadougou has early morning traffic and motorbikes, plus calls to prayer from nearby mosques. Street-facing rooms will get the brunt of this. The hotel's bar or common area may also generate evening noise.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a fan or air-conditioning unit to be checked before check-in — power cuts are common in Ouagadougou and a working AC is essential. 2. If arriving by car, confirm if secure parking is available; street parking is not recommended overnight.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Le samaritain
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms (approx 5 Mbps download); no login constraints beyond accepting terms
Lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary local newspaper at breakfast; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00; early bag-drop from 08:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 18:00 for 15,000 XOF
Available free of charge at reception
Step-free access at main entrance; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; lift narrow for larger wheelchairs
On-site free parking for 20 cars on a first-come basis; no valet; nearest public car park is 200 m away at Place de la Nation, 500 XOF overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 500 XOF per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full payment required at booking; 50,000 XOF incidentals hold upon check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mosquée Kamsonghin (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: Chapel de la Réconciliation (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Mosque: Grande Mosquée (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale de l'Immaculée-Conception (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Liza Mall — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Jardin du 8 Mars — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
West African Museum Program — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Pharmacie du Kadiogo — 433 m · ~5 min walk
Marché centre — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
TGR — 772 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use official banks or Western Union; avoid airport/tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Cards accepted only at upscale hotels/supermarkets; most shops and taxis require cash.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service not included. Taxis: round up. Hotels: 500-1000 XOF for porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local café (buvette) instant coffee or Nescafé: 200-300 XOF.
Plate of rice and sauce with fish or meat from a maquis: 1500-2000 XOF.
Grilled chicken or brochettes with attiéké at a street-side maquis: 2000-3000 XOF.
Main markets (e.g., Grand Marché, Rood Woko) and central streets sell grilled maize, beignets, and brochettes for 100-500 XOF.
Supermarche Marinela and Score are common budget chains.
Grand Marché or Rood Woko for affordable second-hand or new clothes; bargain hard.
Shared minibus/bush taxi (750 XOF for central trips; no day pass). From airport: take a city-bound minibus (500 XOF) or negotiate a motorcycle taxi (1000-1500 XOF).
Eat at maquis (local eateries) for filling meals under 3000 XOF. Buy water sachets (25 XOF) instead of bottled. Use shared taxis or motorcycle taxis for short hops.
Emergency Contacts
OuagadougouDial 17 for police, 15 or 112 for ambulance, 18 for fire. For international assistance, contact your embassy. Local SIM cards help; French may be needed for operators.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ouagadougou, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Le samaritain
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie du Kadiogo — 433 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Zamdogo → Centre-ville (city centre)
💡 These are the blue-and-white collective taxis along Avenue Kwame Nkrumah. Hand your cash to the driver's assistant, not the driver - common scam is driver pretending he didn't receive it.
Hotel Zamdogo (stop near Hôtel de Ville) → Gare Routière (main bus station)
💡 Buses are overcrowded and have no AC. Try boarding at the terminus (near the Grand Marché) for a seat. SOTRACO route 1 runs closest to Hotel Zamdogo.
Ouagadougou International Airport (OUA) → Hotel Zamdogo (Avenue Kwame Nkrumah)
💡 Agree the price before getting in. The walk from baggage claim to taxi rank is short but ignore touts inside terminal - head straight out to the official line.
Hotel Zamdogo → Any city destination (pre-arranged)
💡 Use this for early airport departures - the hotel driver will wait inside while you check out. Saves haggling and the car is reliable. Tips not required but 500 CFA is polite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Le samaritain?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These upper floors reduce street-level noise and the courtyard side is quieter in a city where traffic and motorbikes start early.
Which rooms should I avoid at Le samaritain?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or bar area. Also avoid rooms directly above the entrance or facing the main road, as Ouagadougou's dust and noise from passing motorcycles and taxis can be persistent.
Is Le samaritain noisy?
Ouagadougou has early morning traffic and motorbikes, plus calls to prayer from nearby mosques. Street-facing rooms will get the brunt of this. The hotel's bar or common area may also generate evening noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Le samaritain?
Limited view from this 3-star hotel — likely another building or courtyard. Request a room with a window facing the garden or pool if the property has either, rather than the street.
What are insider tips for staying at Le samaritain?
1. Ask for a fan or air-conditioning unit to be checked before check-in — power cuts are common in Ouagadougou and a working AC is essential. 2. If arriving by car, confirm if secure parking is available; street parking is not recommended overnight.
What time is check-in at Le samaritain?
Check-in at Le samaritain is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Le samaritain have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms (approx 5 Mbps download); no login constraints beyond accepting terms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Le samaritain?
500 XOF per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Le samaritain?
Plate of rice and sauce with fish or meat from a maquis: 1500-2000 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Le samaritain?
Shared minibus/bush taxi (750 XOF for central trips; no day pass). From airport: take a city-bound minibus (500 XOF) or negotiate a motorcycle taxi (1000-1500 XOF).
When is the best time to visit Ouagadougou?
November, December and January — coolest and driest months with daytime highs around 30-33°C, clear skies, and low humidity after the rainy season.
Top Attractions in Ouagadougou
💡 No cost, but watch for traffic. Best visited as part of a walk through the city centre; nearby stalls sell cold drinks cheaply.
💡 Free entry. Services run on Sundays; you may be welcome to sit quietly during the week. Dress modestly.
💡 Free entry but a 200 CFA fee for bicycles. Best visited at dawn or dusk; bring water and insect repellent.
💡 Free to wander; bargain hard for souvenirs. Go in the morning when it's cooler and less crowded. Watch your belongings.
💡 Entry costs about 1000 CFA (roughly £1.30). Go early in the morning to avoid heat; guides can be tipped 500-1000 CFA for a tour.