 LOCATION / GEOGRAPHY |
Côte d'Ivoire lies in West Africa ; it shares borders with Mali and Burkina Faso to the North, Guinea and Liberia to the West, Ghana to the East, the Atlantic ocean to the South, with an area of 322,462 sq. km. It is a flat country except in the regions of Odienné and Man (Nimba Mth: 5 000ft).
| CLIMATE / VEGETATION |
The whole year it is sunny.
Equatorial climate in the South and in West-forest region.
Tropical climate in the East - arborous savana region.
Dry tropical climate in the North - herberresent savana region.
| POPULATION |
13 000 000 inhabitants divided into 60 ethnic groups which are organised in four main cultural groups, ie:
the Mandés in North West (Malinké, Dan, Gouro)
the Akan in the South East (Baoulé, Agni, Abron)
The Krou in South West (Bété, Guéré, Dida)
The Voltaïques in the North East (Sénoufo, Lobi, Koulango)
| OFFICIAL LANGUAGE |
French. There are about 60 national languages. Dioula is used by business men, it is the most spoken language.
| RELIGIONS |
Animists form the majority. Catholics and muslims.
| CURRENCY / EXCHANGE |
Franc CFA, 1 FF = 100 FCFA.
| MAIN CULTURAL CROPS |
Cocoa (number 1 world producer), coffee (number 3 world producer) pineapple, sugar, palm oil, rubber and wood.
| LOCAL HOUR |
Paris + hour in Winter, 2 hours in Summer.
| BANKS /TIMETABLE |
Monday through Friday, between 8.00 AM and 11.30 AM, 2.00 and PM and 4.30PM.
| ECONOMIC CAPITAL |
Abidjan
| ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL |
Yamoussoukro
| MAIN CITIES |
Abidjan: 2 700 000 inhabitants
Bouaké: 500 000 inhabitants
Daloa, Gagnoa, Man, San Pedro, Yamoussoukro, each has more than 100 000 inhabitants.
| MAIN RIVERS |
Côte d'Ivoire has many big rivers with long extentions but not all are completely navigable, however, they are a great tourist attraction. The most important rivers are the Sassandra, the Bandama, the Cavaly and the Comoé.
| MAIN BEACHES |
Assinie, Grand-Bassam, San Pedro, " Baie des Sirènes at Grand Béréby ", Monogaga and Grand Lahou. Côte d'Ivoire has a coast line of about 550 km along the Guinea Gulf.
| HOTELS |
ABIDJAN (Hotel Ivoire, Golf Hotel, Sofitel, Novotel, Tiama, Ibis.)
YAMOUSSOUKRO (Hotel Président, Hotel Le Bonheur, Akraya.) the Baie des sirènes in Grand Béréby (SAN PEDRO). There is also an excellent range of comfortable hotels in the main cities (ex: Sietho).
| CONGRESS FACILITIES |
There are more than 3 000 seats in Abidjan-Palais de Congrès of Hotel Ivoire. InYamoussoukro there are also more than 5 000 seats- " La Fondation de la Paix ", " Les Grandes Ecoles ", " le Centre des Congrès of the President ".
| INDEPENDANCE |
The 7th August 1960.
| POLITICAL SYSTEM |
Presidential - pluralism since 1990.
Presidential period: 5 years.
| HOLIDAYS |
The 1st January, on the Easter Monday ; the 1st May, Ascension day, Pentecost Monday ; the 7th August (National Holiday) ; the 25th December, Ramadan and Tabasky following the Islamic Calendar.
| FOREIGN AGENCIES |
- France tourism Delegation:
24, Bd Suchet - PARIS 16°, Tel (331) 44149393 PARIS, Fax: (331) 45202160
Tourism Delegation for USA and Canada: 2424 Massachussets, Av NY - Washington DC 20008, Tel: (202) 797 03 62
Spanish Tourism delegation: MADRID 154C / SERRANO 2008 MadridTel: (3491) 5624727 - 3491 5620106 - Fax: (3491) 5644533
Italian Tourism Delegation: 4-6 via Lazzaro SpallanzaniTel: (39) 644 02 67 31 / Fax: (39) 44 23 11 29
German Tourism delegation: Konigstrasse 90-53115, BonnTel: (49-228) 21 20 90 / (49-228) 21 20 99
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| TOURISM |
275 000 visitors/year. Lodging available 11 000 rooms. Business tourism in Abidjan and Yamoussoukro as well as leisure tourism throughout the country.
ABIDJAN (South): Lacustine village, seaside areas, Azagny wildlife park.
YAMOUSSOUKRO: The Basilica, "La FONDATION POUR LA PAIX Houphouet Boigny ", " LES GRANDES ECOLES ", " Le lac aux Crocodiles sacrés ", The President Golf Club, etc.
SAN PEDRO (South West): seaside resorts, big game fishing, forest of Taï.
MAN (West): Yacouba villages, wadingbirds, jugglers ; waterfalls, mountains, rope bridges.
BOUAKE (centre): Baoulé terrritory, Basilica of Yamoussoukro, Goly dances, Zahouli, diamond mines.
BONDOUKOU (North East): Lobis villages, Soukalas, Comoé National Park, photo safaris.
KORHOGO (North): Sénoufos villages, " pantther-men " dance, specialised handicraft villages.
ODIENNE (North West): mosques, iron-smiths, pottery workers, typical villages, Kourouba and Kouroubi danses.
| NATIONAL PARKS |
National Park of Comoé, Park of Peko Mountain, National Park of Banco, National Park of Sangbe Mountain, National Park of Marahoué, National Park of Taï, Park of Abokouamékro.
| AIRLINES |
AIR AFRIQUE, AIR GABON, AIR GUINEE, AIR FRANCE, CAMEROUN AIRLINES, EGYPTAIR, ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES, GHANA AIRWAYS, MEA, NIGERIA AIRLINES, SABENA, SWISSAIR, AIR BURKINA, AIR ZAIRE, AIR IVOIRE, TAP AIR PORTUGAL, ROYAL AIR MAROC, BRITISH AIRWAYS , KLM, SOUTH AFRICA AIRWAYS, AIR CONTINENTAL.
| DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION |
The SICF (Société Ivoirienne de Chemins de Fer) crosses the country from South to North. There is an excellent road system of 6 000 km of asphalted roads and 63 000 of non asphalted roads allowing to cross the country and to reach the main tourist areas easily.
| DOCUMENTS |
Passport and visa (information available in the embassies).
| SPORTS |
The main sports are big game fishing and golf. There are two magnificent greens with 18 holes which are considered to be two of the most beautiful in the world (Ivoire Golf Club in Abidjan and President Golf Club in Yamoussoukro). There is still one more green in Bouaké (Hôtel du Lac), and San Pedro Car-Race, "Rally du Bandama", horse riding, tennis and water skiing.
| CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SHOPPING |
 ABIDJAN |
The CAVA (Abidjan City Handicraft centre) is a real commercial touristic and cultural centre which contains 63 shops and exhibition halls for art.
Villa Kiyi the cultural centre, Bingerville road
The National Museum of Abidjan.
| KORHOGO |
The Museum Gon Coulibaly.
| BASSAM |
Traditional wearing National Museum
The house of handicraft
The Centre of the ceramists.
| ABENGOUROU |
-The Museum and Painting centre Charles Bieth.
| KATIOLA |
The GVC of pottery hand workers
| DALOA |
Handicraft Producing Centre.
| FESTIVALS |
Appering of Poro among Sénoufos (August), Generatio's festival in the villages of the Ebrié, Attié and Adioukrou, yam festival among the Agni, Abron, Koulango (october-january).
Dippri festival or happy new year celebration among the Abidji (Easter, weekend).
Mask festival among the Dan and Wê in the west (January to April).
Other Festivals: carnaval of Bouaké, Popo carnaval of Bonoua.
| GOOD MANNERS |
It's advisable to ask for permission to take photographs.
BARGAINING ("LE MARCHANDAGE"): The diplomatic way of discussing prices is very popular. In Côte d'Ivoire almost every thing you want to buy can be bargained.
| "MAQUIS" |
It is a kind of popular restaurants with typical food and "ambiance" of the country.
| SECURITY |
There is full security in the country. In Abidjan, a cosmopolitan big city it is recommended that people take the same care as in Paris or in New York. |
