COTE D'IVOIRE
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), officially the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, is a country located on the south coast of West Africa. It is surrounded by Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Gulf of Guinea. The capital and largest city of the country is Abidjan. Cote d’Ivoire is one of the major producer of coffee and cocoa in the world.
MAIN CITIES
Abidjan
Abobo
Bouake
RELIGIONS
Islam 43%
Christianity 34%
Animism 19%
Others 4%
POPULATION
26,380,000
LANGUAGES
French (official)
Dioula
Bete
Others
ETHNIC GROUPS
Akan 29%
European & Lebanese 24%
Guro 16%
Others 31%
CURRENCY
West African CFA franc
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN COTE D'IVOIRE
GRAND BASSAM
Grand-Bassam is a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast, east of Abidjan. It was the French colonial capital city from 1893 to 1896. The town is divided by the Ebrie Lagoon into two parts: Ancien Bassam is the former French settlement, facing the Gulf of Guinea. It hosts several colonial buildings, some of which have been restored. Nouveau Bassam, linked to Ancien Bassam by a bridge, lies on the inland, northern side of the lagoon.
TAI NATIONAL PARK
Taï National Park (Parc National de Taï) is a national park in Cote d’Ivoire that contains one of the last areas of primary rainforest in West Africa. It was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1982 due to the breadth of its flora and fauna. Taï National Park is approximately 100 km from the Ivoirian coast on the border with Liberia.
SAN-PEDRO
San-Pédro is a city in southwestern Ivory Coast. It is the nation’s second largest port and the seat of Bas-Sassandra District and San-pedro region. The Tai National Park, which is one of the last sanctuaries of the pygmy hippopotamus can be found northwest of the city. The town economy is based on fishing.
COMOE NATIONAL PARK
The Comoe National Park is a Biosphere Reserve in north-eastern Ivory Coast. It is the largest protected area in West Africa. Comoe National Park has the most biodiverse savannah in the world and forms the northern limit for many animal species, like the yellow-backed duiker and bongo. A total of 500 species of birds and 135 mammal species were recorded in the park, including 11 species of primates.
MARAHOUE NATIONAL PARK
Marahoue National Park is located in Sassandra-Marahoue District, central Ivory Coast. It was established in 1968. It is essentially constituted of dense forest and savannas with hills and valleys. Mammals living in the park are red colobus, bush elephants, African Buffalo, bongo, maxwell’s duikers etc… Around 287 species of birds were recorded in the park.
MAN WATERFALL
Man waterfall also known as la cascade de man is a spectacular waterfall in western Ivory Coast. It consists of granite rocks, flourishing vegetation with clear water falling down. It is possible to swim or climb up the rocks. It is a beatiful place that attracts many visitors.
JACQUEVILLE
Jacqueville is a coastal town in southern Ivory Coast located at 40 km (24 mi) west of Abidjan. It was formerly a slave port but now it serves as a fishing port and a seaside resort. It is an island separated from the mainland by the Ebrie Lagoon. A bridge has been built in 2015 linking the island to the mainland.
BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF PEACE
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix) is a Catholic basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussokro, Ivory Coast. The basilica was built between 1985 and 1989. The designs of the dome and the plaza are obviousely inspired by the Basilica of Saint Peter of Vatican. It is the largest church in the world according to the guinness world record.
MOUNT NIMBA STRICT NATURE RESERVE
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve is a protected area and a UNESCO world heritage site located in both Guinea and Ivory Coast. It is 17,540 hectares wide. The reserve covers significant portions of the Nimba Range, a geographically unique area with unusual rich flora and fauna. Its highest peak is Mount Richard-Molard at 1,752 m (5,750 ft).
ASSINI BEACH
Assini beach is located about 80 km east of Abidjan along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It is one of the best beaches in Ivory Coast and a favorite weekend spot. The beach offers restaurants, cafeterias, beach embrellas and more. A must go if you are visiting Ivory Coast.