General: Cote d´Ivoire

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 in, it's got some nice dense primary forest, lively cities, 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 jewellerie or camera's, don't go strolling after dark and stay away from Treichville and the harbours, if the dog don't bite, the cat will, police is completely corrupt in this city. beautifull places to visit are Grand Bassam (large tourist market), Parc national de la Marahoue, T'ai national parc, the Basilique de notre dame de la paix in yamoussoukro
the beautifull traditional village Biankouma and the forests surrounding it. You could relax in hotel La Terasse, owned by german Marko, and overlooking the village Sassandra, the river, the ocean, the beach and the fishing pirogues. You can travel up a river by pirogue and see hippo's, monkeys, snakes, antelope, crocodiles, fish eagles, hornbills etc.
Try to eat out at a Maquis once, the local fastfood restaurant. Try poulet braisee, foutou banane,brochettes de boeuff and atjekee, it's the cheapest dinner you ever bought yourselves.
Hire a cab, and let it transport you to poly-plage, an adventerous journey by car to a deserted beach next to a fanti fishing village, you can rent a beachshack for around two pounds here, but don't forget to make an appointment with your cab-driver to come pick you up again ore you be stuck. Remember, this is a big country with about 60 ethnical groups, it takes years to see it all.