Top 5 best scooter rentals in Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou rewards anyone willing to explore beyond a taxi window, and a scooter is how you actually do it. Ride out on a Friday morning and you can catch the Naaba ceremony at the Palais de Moro-Naba, then loop past the lakeside road at Barrage No. 3, where food stalls light up as the evening cools off. Neither stop feels far when you set the pace yourself instead of waiting on a shared taxi.

Flat terrain and wide avenues make this an easy city to ride. Locals get around on small motos, not cars, so the traffic itself is built for two wheels — and in newer districts like Ouaga 2000, the boulevards are broad and nearly empty, leaving plenty of room to open the throttle. If you plan to rent a scooter in Ouagadougou, you'll be moving the way the city actually moves.

Top 10 things to see in Ouagadougou by scooter

1. Palais de Moro-Naba — seat of the Mossi emperor, and a short ride from the center for the Friday-morning Naaba ceremony, a genuine local tradition.
2. Musée National du Burkina Faso — a compact open-air museum of Burkinabé masks, instruments and traditional houses, easy to fit into an hour.
3. Parc Urbain Bangr-Weoogo — a large forested park with walking trails and a small zoo area, a shaded break from city traffic.
4. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption — the landmark colonial-era cathedral downtown, a good photo stop on a loop through the center.
5. Grande Mosquée de Ouagadougou — the city's main mosque, built with distinctive Sudano-Sahelian-influenced architecture.
6. Monument des Martyrs — a modern national monument and museum on a wide boulevard, easy to reach by scooter.
7. Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou — a craft cooperative where you can watch bronze-casting, weaving and leatherwork, and buy straight from the makers.
8. Barrage No. 3 — one of the city's man-made lakes; the lakeside road is a favourite early-evening ride, with food stalls nearby.
9. Ouaga 2000 — a newer district south of downtown with wide, near-empty boulevards and modern architecture, ideal for open-throttle riding.
10. Marché de Sankaryaré — the rebuilt Rood Woko market, sprawling with fabrics, spices and everyday Ouagalais street life, best explored slowly on two wheels.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Ouagadougou?

Rental shops typically ask for your passport and a driving licence covering two-wheelers, along with an International Driving Permit. Whether the smallest engines are legally exempt from a licence isn't fully settled, so carry a valid licence regardless. Most agencies set their own minimum age, usually 18, and will hold a cash deposit in XOF or ask to keep your passport or ID as security — card payment is rarely available outside the big hotels, so plan to have cash on hand.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Ouagadougou?

Average rental price runs around 3,000–3,500 XOF per day in low season, rising to roughly 5,500–8,000 XOF per day in high season, with larger or newer models reaching 8,000–12,000 XOF per day.

• Prices climb from December through February, the cool dry season and the busiest travel period.
• Prices drop from June to September, during the rainy season when visitor numbers are lowest.

When to book a rental scooter in Ouagadougou?

High season runs November to February, the cool dry stretch that draws the most visitors and, in odd-numbered years, coincides with the FESPACO film festival in late February — book ahead if you're arriving then. Low season falls June to September, when rains can turn unpaved roads to mud, and again through the fierce heat of March to May. If you want the best mix of dry roads and manageable temperatures, aim for November through February and reserve your scooter rental in Ouagadougou early.

Local traffic rules in Ouagadougou

Traffic keeps to the right, overtaking on the left, and roundabouts are common with priority often applied loosely. Helmets are legally required for riders, though street compliance is low — wear one anyway and confirm your rental includes one, since it isn't always automatic. Built-up areas are generally posted at 50 km/h, with checkpoints frequent and police strict on drink-driving, so avoid alcohol entirely before riding. After dark, stick to town: many local motos ride unlit, and unmarked road edges make evening rides outside the city riskier.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!