The most powerful attraction of the Côte d'Ivoire is its people, so if you're interested in African history, art or music, this is the place to be. There's also a whole lot of physical beauty, from towering mountains to fishing villages, easily reached on some of the best roads in Africa.
Don't be fooled by Cote d'Ivoire's size, one of the smallest countries in Africa, the country is an amazing cultural experience. While the southern coastal area has for the last several decades served as an archetype of prosperity and modernisation, the northern and western regions of the Côte d'Ivoire are home to two fascinating and vital traditional cultures-the Senufo and the Dan.This is the place to be if your main interest is African history, art and music. The beauty and diversity of the land makes this a very interesting destination.
Cote d'Ivoire Travel Guide
Full Name
Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
Former Name
Ivory Coast
Capital City
Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
Government Type
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Area Size
322,460 sq km
Time Zone
No UTC/GMT offset
Climate
Tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October). The coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible.
Geography
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated. Cote d'Ivoire is a country of western sub-Saharan Africa. It borders Liberia and Guinea in the west, Mali and Burkina Faso in the north, Ghana in the east, and the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) in the south.
Languages
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Culture
The diverse culture of the Côte d’Ivoire is exemplified by a multitude of ethnic groups, events and festivals, music, and art. One of Côte d'Ivoire's most famous festivals is the Fêtes des Masques (Festival of Masks), which takes place in the region of Man occurs in November. Numerous small villages in the region hold contests to determine the best dancers and to pay homage to forest spirits who are embodied in the elaborate masks.No one produces a wider variety of masks than the people of the Ivory Coast. Masks are used to represent the souls of deceased people, lesser dieties, or even caricatures of animals. The ownership of masks is restricted to certain powerful individuals or to families. Only specifically designated, specially trained individuals are permitted to wear the masks. The country's traditional music style is characterised by a series of melodies and rhythms occurring simultaneously, without one dominating the others. The Dan are an extremely musical people. They don't do anything without music. Rice, Death, Marriage, Birth, Weather are all celebrated with music. Historically, this music has been the prerogative of just one social group, the griot (village entertainers), who use only instruments they can make with local materials, such as gourds, animal skins and horns. instruments used include Talking drum, djembe, Kpalogo, Shekere (Youroo), Akombe, Cleavers
History
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for nationality remain unresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and opposition leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process.
Travel Information
he Felix-Houphouet Boigny International Airport has daily scheduled flights to and from Paris (Air France) and Amsterdam (KLM). There are also regular flights to other West-African capitals. The airport is a modern facility and increased security has shaken its old reputation as a place for travellers to be ripped off. It is illadvised to try to enter Cote d'Ivoire from Guinea, Liberia, Mali or Burkina Faso. The Ghanaian border is fairly secure. If you enter at Elubo, you can easily catch a shared taxi to Aboisso and then a bus to Abidjan. There are about ten military check-points between the border and Abidjan so have your documents ready. If you do not have proper documentation of your inoculations at the border you will be forced to pay a small fine and they will give you an injection at an on-site clinic. Busses run daily between Abidjan and Accra. The service is offered alternatingly by the STC (Ghana) and its Ivoirian equivalent.
Accommodation
Hotels and restaurants are expensive in the larger towns. Several hotels of international standard in Abidjan. In general, there is a choice between luxury, medium-range and cheaper accommodation in the larger towns. In all cases it is advisable to book in advance.
Visa Requirements
Visa is required for citizens of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA.Passports valid for three months after intended length of stay required by all nationals of countries referred to above.Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Visa is not required for transit passengers leaving on the same or first connecting flight within 12 hours, provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers over one year of age. Visas are valid for three months. Apply at the consulate.
Getting Around
Abidjan has a beautiful evening ride on the lagoon in the city for tourists. It might not be breath taking, but is a very good pleasure trip. Daily, hundreds of Ivorians take the lagoon route to reach offices on the port side. Inter-city travel in Cote d'Ivoire is usually more comfortable than travel in neighbouring African countries. The roads are generally in good condition and the bus service is relatively modern. The down side is the very frequent millitary check-points which add hours to a trip. Though the stops are a hassle, Ivoirian soldiers tend to be pretty professional and don't hassle non-French western travellers.Most western governments recommend that their citizens steer clear of Cote d'Ivoire. This should be taken particularly seriously by people travelling on French passports. An Ivoirian soldier's attitude towards you will change very quickly when you explain that you are not French. Travel in Abidjan is the best when you have your own vehicle to travel around. The roads are very good and the traffic rules are obeyed to the T, excepting some taxi drivers who steer everywhere on the road. Lane discipline and traffic lights are followed with rigor.
Health & Safety
There are a variety of health risks prevalent in Cote d'Ivoire, and a yellow fever vaccination is required for entry. Immigration officials will check this at the airport. Cholera is present in rural areas, malaria is widespread even in urban areas and there have been cases of Ebola in the far west. Typhoid, hepatitis A, B and C, and tuberculosis vaccinations are also recommended. HIV/AIDS is widespread and dengue fever can occur. All water should be sterilized before use, and milk, which is unpasteurized, should be boiled. Avoid dairy products and ensure meat is well cooked and eaten hot. Fruit and vegetables should be cooked and/or peeled before consumption. Toxic waste dumped in Abidjan between 31 August and 4 September 2006 affected numerous neighborhoods, as high exposure to the fumes is extremely dangerous; there were about 10 deaths and thousands of hospitalizations. Although the situation has since calmed, visitors are advised to seek medical attention in case of breathing difficulties or eye/nose irritations. Medical facilities in Abidjan are of reasonable standard, but private care is expensive. Medical insurance with provision for repatriation is essential. During the week of 16 January 2006 there were violent demonstrations throughout Abidjan and the rest of the country and the situation remains unpredictable and unstable. At present all travel to the Cote d'Ivoire is ill-advised. If, despite this advice visitors decide to travel to Ivory Coast, careful personal security arrangements should be made due to high levels of anti-Western sentiment. Violent crime is on the increase, including armed break-ins, car jackings, muggings and hold-ups in restaurants. Take care in public places and avoid crowds. Further violence in Abidjan is likely, and foreigners could be potential targets. Taxis, except for metered orange taxis in Abidjan, are risky and often unroadworthy. Buses are overcrowded and best avoided. Sea bathing is dangerous as strong sea currents are present, and drownings are common.
National Holidays
1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 31 Mar - Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 1 May - Labour Day. 17 May - Ascension. 28 May - Whit Monday. 7 Aug - Independence Day. 11 Aug - Lailat al-Miraj (Ascent of the Prophet). 15 Aug - Assumption. 13 Oct - Korité (End of Ramadan). 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 15 Nov - Peace Day. 20 Dec - Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Dec 25 - Christmas.
Currency
CFA Franc (BCEAO) (XOF)
Electricity
220V AC
Working Hours
Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1430-1830, Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900.
