C么te d'Ivoire
C么te d'Ivoire [1] (also referred to as "Ivory Coast") is a country in West Africa. It has a southerly facing North Atlantic Ocean coast, and is surrounded by Ghana to the east, Liberia to the west, Guinea to the northwest, Mali to the north, and Burkina Faso to the northeast.
Regions
- Lagunes - the coastal lagoons area around the de facto capital of Abidjan.
- Northern Savanna - the largely Muslim area held in recent years by rebel "New Forces".
- Southwestern Forests - the tropical moist forest area inhabited by the Kru people (also found in Liberia)
- Eastern Plantations - the partially cultivated area between Lac de Kossou and the border with Ghana
Cities
- Abidjan - Remains the administrative center and other countries maintain their embassies there.
- Korhogo - Rebel head quarters; otherwise idyllic, bursts with commerce during Feb - May because of flowing cotton and cashew trade.
- Aboisso - Important mile stone on the route connecting Abidjan and Ghana trade route
- Bouake - the second largest city
- Dabou
- San-Pedro - the second port city
- Yamoussoukro - Although it has been the official capital since 1983, it is not the administrative centre.
- Grand-Bassam - A coastal town full of colonial charm, often a retreat for local Ivorians seeking to escape the city life of Abidjan on the weekends.
Other destinations
Three National Parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Culture and History
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.
Terrain
Mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest. Most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region. Apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated. The highest point is Mont Nimba (1,752 meters).
History
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made C么te d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in C么te d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert Guei blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him 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 citizenship, 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 C么te d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process.
Travel to Cote d\'Ivoire, visa requirements
Flights to Cote d\'Ivoire, airtickets
The Felix-Houphouet Boigny International Airport has daily scheduled flights to and from Paris (Air France [2]) and Amsterdam (KLM [3]). 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.
By train
The train journey between Abidjan and Ougadougou cuts through rebel territory and should not be attempted by foreign travellers.
By car
It is illadvised to try to enter C么te 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.
Buses to Cote d\'Ivoire
Busses run daily between Abidjan and Accra. The service is offered alternatingly by the STC (Ghana) and its Ivoirian equivalent.
By boat
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.
Get around
Inter-city travel in C么te 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. Soldiers in Ghana for example are much more likely to demand a bribe than in C么te d'Ivoire. Most western governments recommend that their citizens steer clear of C么te 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.
Talk
The official language is French, but there are 60 native dialects as well. The most widely spoken is Dioula. Other native languages include Hamdunga, Loftus Africanus, Gigala, Oloofid, and Ulam. English is catching up on the upper echelons, but even your maid might be quite a bit fluent in English. But one cannot survive without French for longer time duration. And business travelers need French on their tongue to close any small deal.
Shopping, Cote d\'Ivoire souvenirs
Costliest place in and around West Africa
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Cote d\'Ivoire nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Learn
Work
Stay safe
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) advises against all travel to C么te d'Ivoire at this time.
Most of the crime committed in Abidjan is by unemployed youth. Should you ever feel in danger it would be wise to seek the help of a middle-aged man. This older generation is often very contemptuous of young criminals and will likely help you out if you are being hassled. Generally Ivoirians will recognize the dangers to foreigners in their country and will often be very protective of naive travellers. This is especially true in the Abidjan neighbourhoods of Treichville and Adjame.
Stay healthy
Respect
Although the country was previous referred to in English "Ivory Coast", the country has requested that it be called "C么te d'Ivoire" (the equivalent in French). Pronouncing it "Coat di-VWAR" is close enough for an English-speaking person.
Contact
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