Ouagadougou to Gao
 

I will be arriving in Ouagadougou on a late night flight from Paris on 25 December, needing to be in Gao (Mali) by the evening of 28 December. The guidebooks suggest there are buses (via Mopti) but (a) does anyone know what time and where from in Ouaga (b) do I need to book in advance and if so any suggestions as to how I might do so (c) any other thoughts? (in theory the journey should involve two one-day bus trips, therefore allowing me a day to see somewhere - preferably in Burkina Faso but any suggestions welcome!)

There are no real timetables for African buses which is just as well because they would never be on time anyway.

There is plenty of transport in both directions try getting to the bus station early in the morning (6.00) to be sure of getting away. You could spend a day being hassled to death in Mopti or chance getting off at Hombori for a few hours (nice area).

hey louise
you'll get all the info in ouaga or lp guide i suppose. Indeed mopti (and hombori) are worth a stopover. try to avoid nightbusses; the drivers tend to fall asleep in their overloaded and overspeeding roadtrains....

LOL! That was a good joke! =)
No, there are no timetables in Ouaga, but in general long range buses and minibuses depart very eraly in the morning, to accomplish as much as possible in one day.

Off course, best way to find out is when you arrive in the evening, from the taxi drivers and your hotel receptionist. They will know for sure, don't worry!
But if the bus departs at 6 am, you should be there at 5 am, to get a decent seat, I'm not exaggerating. Otherwise, you might be placed on a wooden stool in the trunk of a Hiace. Seriously.
You might have a spare day, but when it comes to local transport nothing is sure, it might vanish due to vehicule failure on the way, customs trouble etc. When I took the bus to Togo, one passenger tried to smuggle a gun - result: the whole Hiace got 5 hours delay, and twice the trouble at each checkpoint!

So better travel all the distance, and take the day off once you arrive. You'll need it to rest your shaken bones.

Jan