Africa > Ivory Coast

The climate is equatorial in the south, with a rainy season from May to November, and during the rest of the year there is occasional rain and temperatures of around 30°C with a high humidity.

In the north, a less pronounced rainy season finishes in September, followed by a drier season with clear skies and cool nights from November to March.

This season is the best time to discover the country but it is advisable to avoid the period of late January and early February when the harmattan, sand-laden wind from the Sahara, blows and covers everything with a yellow dust which seeps into everything.

The places of natural beauty and the richness of the primary arts such as music and culture are great reasons to explore Ivory Coast.

The capital, Abidjan, built around the lagoon, is a cosmopolitan city composed of various neighborhoods: The skyscrapers of Plateau, the Treichville market, the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Park of Banco are some places to see, keep in mind that it's not advisable to travel alone at night in this city that has an unfortunately violent reputation.

The Comoé National Park is the largest reserve in this part of Africa: Open between December and March, it is home to numerous lions, around a hundred elephants, baboons, leopards and green monkeys among other animals. Sassandra, to the west of Abidjan, will inevitably seduce you with its fishing village and its wonderful beaches of magical colours.
The town of Man, surrounded by green hills, has a very attractive market and a bamboo grove where there is a famous waterfall that is worth a visit.

Yamoussoukro, the country's political capital, is a worthy place to visit for its huge basilica, arguably the most important place of Christian worship in the world, there is also the lake of crocodiles surrounding the presidential palace, the latter being fed with chicken every day by the guards at 5 p.m....

Many European cities are connected by air to Abidjan.
The citizens of the European Union require a visa which lasts three months maximum.

The currency in circulation is the CFA franc, but the Euro is accepted in main cities.
The budget required for your daily life is very moderate, the average meal will cost about €10 with cooking that is often delicious but spicy, and a double room in a decent hotel will cost around €20.

Concerning health, it is strongly advisable to keep your normal vaccines up to date, also add those against yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis B and possibly rabies. Take also a basic first aid kit, protect yourself against mosquitoes and only drink bottled water, avoid raw vegetables.

To travel within the country, buses are very comfortable and cheap.
Whatever you want to give as souvenirs to your loved ones, remember that bargaining is an inviolable tradition here!