Cote d’Ivoire, or The Ivory Coast, is a land of tropical escapades amid a rising metropolis. This country is in West Africa. It shares a border with both Burkina Faso and Mali to the north. Ghana is east.
Both Guinea and Liberia are west. The country has three seasons: warm and dry from November to March, hot and dry from March to May, and also hot and humid from June to October.
Its terrain consists of predominantly flat areas to uneven plains and mountains in the northwest. The majority of Côte d’Ivoire’s population is in the coastal region. However, the interior forest also houses several inhabitants. Cote d’Ivoire is a multilingual country, with approximately 78 different languages popular here. However, only the French language has an official status. There are also two main religious groups in the country: Christians and Muslims, which both have around 40% of the population as followers.
The official currency is CFA Franc. The approximate exchange rate is XOF656 for US$1. The currency exchange is available at the airports, main banks, and hotels. MasterCard and American Express cards are widely acceptable.
Taxis are available in main cities. However, they are often in bad condition. You can also hire a car in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport. Cars drive on the right side of the road here. However, roads are in poor condition. You should be aware of potholes, vehicles with poor lights and bad driving habits.
In Ivory Coast, they use electric sockets of types C and F, as in Europe and most African countries. The standard voltage is 220V.
The culture of Cote d’Ivoire is diverse, due to its historical heritage and around sixty different ethnic groups presented in the population nowadays. The country has many traditional holidays and festivals, which attract tourists. The most widely-known is the Festival of Masks, held in December in the Man region. Another significant event is the week long carnival in Bouaké, which takes place in March. And in April you can visit the Fête du Dipri in Gomon.
The traditional cuisine of Ivory Coast is very similar to ones of the neighboring countries. It consists mainly of grains and tubers. The most popular Ivorian dish is attiéké, grated cassava. Also, if you are a street-food lover, in Cote d’Ivoire you should definitely try aloko, a ripe banana in palm oil, spiced with onions and chili. Don’t forget to try Bangui, a local palm wine.
Visit the country’s fabulous beaches. You’ll enjoy starfish-studded sands and rainforests with vivid orange forest roads. The country also boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Taï National Park, Comoe National Park, and Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve.
Keep in mind, that if you travel to Ivory Coast, you need a vaccination certificate for yellow fever.
July 30, 2016 12:00 am Leave your thoughts
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