Cote d'Ivoire

The most powerful attraction of the Côte d'Ivoire (the 'Ivory Coast') is its people, so if you're interested in African history, art or music, this is the place to be. There's also a whole lot of physical beauty, from towering mountains to fishing villages, easily reached on some of the best roads in Africa.

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Apart from a short period in and around August, conditions on the coast remain sultry throughout the year with plenty of very humid days that rarely stray from 30-33°C (86-91°F). December to March sees a lull in rainfall; otherwise the north has a single rainy season from May to October and overall hotter temperatures.

Transport

Getting there and away

Abidjan's international airport is 16km (10mi) southeast of the city centre and though traffic has decreased somewhat, many international and West African airlines still fly there. The optimistically named express train used to be a main way of getting from Abidjan to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, but it is only for cargo and cattle these days.

Getting around

The only internal flight is Sophia Airlines' Mon-Sat service between Abidjan and San Pédro. Buses run regularly throughout the country with fixed schedules and rates, even through the cease-fire border, though minibuses and bush taxis, which are the only way to reach small towns, are usually quicker than the buses because they clear the frequent military and rebel checkpoints more quickly.

Health & Legal Requirements

Visas overview

All visitors need a visa except for nationals of the US and nationals of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries.