Côte d'Ivoire Experience

Cote d'Ivoire, country in decline

Advantages: the real africa, hardly a tourist destination
Disadvantages: political and ethnical instability, rough travelling

This is a country that had it all, a nice export of cocoa beans, some gold, plenty of timber, enough space, stability, you name it! And then it happened, de world market for cocoa-beans collapsed and Cote d'Ivoire, the example for the west-African country, began to fade, then there were elections, and then a coup, and then an uprising, another uprising and now it's on the brink of civil war. Still, if you speak French, it's a great country to live ...
...beautifull markets, miles and miles of deserted beaches, hillcountry, savanna's, desert, and maybe the nicest, most hospitable people of Africa. If you respect the local habits, women wearing skirts and man wearing trousers, asking if permitted before grabbing your digicam etc, there is not a lot you can do wrong here! Only in Abidjan, the capital, you need to be extremely carefull, this is one of the most dangerous cities in Africa. Don't wear ...

djodjo 05.05.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Cote d´Ivoire

A tale of two cities

Advantages: see below
Disadvantages: see below

Although Yamoussoukro is not very high up on most peoples' list of places to visit in their lifetime, it is a truly unique city with two faces and a huge amount to be enjoyed by the tourist. The reason that it is so unique is because Felix Houphouet Boignee, the first president of Ivory Coast after it gained its independence from France in 1960, was born and bred there. It is only the third largest city in the country, but president Houphouet ensured ...
...architectural genius, and by making Yamoussoukro the official capital city of Ivory Coast. As a result, Ivory Coast is both a model of typical rural African life and a city that contains buildings that rival anything found in the largest cities in Europe. I grew up in Ivory Coast, and spent most of my time there at school in Yamoussoukro. When I left in 1998, the town, along with the country as a whole, was the same as it had always been- a peaceful, ...

iatethewholebag 23.05.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Yamoussoukro (Cote d´lvoire)

Sassandra, pearl of Ivory Coast

Advantages: one of the most beautifull spots i've been to
Disadvantages: politically unstable

Been to Sassandra myself for many times, ik can tell you from experience that this is the whole of Ivory coast in one village.Sassandra is situated in a large bay, on de west side of the Sassandra river estuaries. On its right is a big hill with on top of it hotel La Terasse, the top notch of the village! From here you will find a beautifull horizon, overlooking the ocean, the beach, the fishing harbour and of course the lush mangrove fields and ...
...it's as colourfull as canival! Sassandra has quite a couple of nice restaurants, from which I especially want to name Tanti Yuyu's It's an open air restaurant overlooking the lagoon, and situated in the east side of the village. We ourselves didn't mind driving 300 miles for Tanti's faboulus poulet braisee, (braised chicken) One hint, order in the afternoon, or spend two and a half hours chatting while waiting for your food. For a quick snack ...

djodjo 03.05.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Sassandra (Cote d´lvoire)

Yamoussoukro, a contradiction in termino

Advantages: good facilities, lively city
Disadvantages: political instability

...road in and out of Yamoussoukro are both single lane tarmac roads in a terrible state,and since Abidjan, the lively harbour city, lies 300 km away and the further you drive in to the interior, the quieter it becomes. Yamou has plenty decent hotels, a lagoon full of lotusflowers, hotles in all sizes and qualities, from Hotel "President" (what else...)beeing 5*+, to hotels shell, next to the Shell station whit in it's garden several animals from tame ...

djodjo 05.05.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Yamoussoukro (Cote d´lvoire)