Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Airlines serving Côte d’Ivoire include Air Burkina, Air France, British Airways, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, SN Brussels, South African Airways, Trans African Airlines and VLM. Côte d’Ivoire has a shareholding in Air Afrique, although the future of this airline, due to financial difficulties, is still under negotiation. It is recommended that visitors re-confirm returns flights 72 hours in advance.

International Airports

Abidjan (ABJ) (Félix Houphouët-Boigny) is 16km (10 miles) (website: www.aeria.ci) southeast of Abidjan (travel time – 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city (travel time - 25 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shop, restaurant, shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, pharmacy and car hire (Avis).

Yamoussoukro (ASK) (San Pedro) has been upgraded to international standard.

SEA

The Main ports: Abidjan is the main port in Cote d'Ivoire; however, there are no regular passenger sailings. Cargo liners provide limited accommodation for passengers travelling from Europe.

RAIL

The Abidjan-Niger Railway extends to Burkino Faso. There are two through-trains with sleeping and restaurant cars from Abidjan to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) daily (travel time – 25 to 27 hours). Those intending to travel should be aware that the Burkina Faso rail network is under constant threat of closure because of financial difficulties: check with the appropriate authorities before finalising arrangements.

ROAD

There are road links of varying quality from Kumasi (Ghana) and from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Liberia and Mali. Borders close at night. Bus: Frequent services operate to Accra (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). There is a service approximately once a week to Bamako (Mali); the journey can be very long (36 to 96 hours). Bush taxis also operate on these routes.

Travel - Internal

AIR

Air Ivoire (VU) (website: www.airivoire.com) no longer runs domestic flights. Check with travel agent for new options.

RAIL

The Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway is one of the most efficient in Africa and runs trains daily from Abidjan to Bouaké and Ferkessédougou. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged between four and 9 pay half fare.

ROAD Cote d’Ivoire has a good road system by West African standards, with 68,000km (42,250 miles) of roads, 5600km (3480 miles) of which are surfaced. However, drivers should be extra aware of potholes and poorly lit vehicles. Petrol stations are frequent except in the north. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Small private buses and bush taxis operate throughout the country; they are comfortable and efficient, although often extremely overcrowded. There are also larger coaches for the longer journeys. Taxi: These are available in main cities, although often of unsound mechanical condition. Car hire: Cars may be hired in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport. Documentation: Insurance is compulsory for the driver. The driver requires a UK or most other (applicable) national driving licences, accompanied by attestation from the Embassy of the issuing country that it is genuine.

URBAN

Extensive bus and boat services are operated in Abidjan by SOTRA on a two-tiered fare structure. Taxis are usually red and metered; rates are doubled from 0000-0600.

Resorts & Excursions

YAMOUSSOUKRO

The new administrative and political capital is Yamoussoukro, about 230km (143 miles) north of Abidjan. The town has a lively market, an international-standard golf course and several buildings of architectural interest, including the Palace and Plantations of the President and the Mosque. Also of architectural interest but, above all, of statistical interest, is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix. Fractionally smaller than St Peter's in Rome, it incorporates a greater area of stained glass than the total area of stained glass in France. Roman Catholicism is a minority religion in Côte d'Ivoire (some say that the Cathedral could accommodate every Roman Catholic in the country several times over). Yamoussoukro was the birthplace of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was Côte d'Ivoire's President for 33 years. The cathedral was paid for almost entirely out of his own pocket

ELSEWHERE

The former capital and largest city, Abidjan is dominated by the Plâteau, the central commercial district. The older, more traditional heart of the city is Treichville, home of many bars, restaurants and nightclubs as well as the colourful central market. There is a very good museum, the Ifon Museum. Suburbs have grown up along the banks of the lagoon; these include Cocody, Marcory and Adjamé. About 100km (60 miles) east of the former capital is the beach resort of Assouinde; other places being developed as tourist attractions include Tiagba, a stilt-town; Grand Bassam, whose sandy beaches make the place a favourite weekend retreat for the inhabitants of Abidjan; and Bondoukou, one of the oldest settlements in the country.

In the west of the country is the attractive town of Man, situated in a region of thickly forested mountains and plateaux. The nearby waterfalls are a popular attraction, as are climbs to the peak of Mount Tonkoui and visits to the villages of Biankouma and Gouessesso, 55km (34 miles) away.

Other towns of interest include Korhogo, the main city of the north and centre of a good fishing and hunting district; the former capital of Bingerville; and the town of Bouaké in the centre of the country.

Locally organised package tours include visits to one of the country's national parks, including the Comoé in the northeast and the Banco National Park, 3000 hectares of equatorial forest.