COTE D IVOIRE
Better known as the “Ivory Coast”, Cote D Ivoire is a holidaying paradise to all who want to enjoy scenic beauty and well as indulge in some adventure. Rich in culture and fascinating in wildlife, Ivory Coast has something in store for everyone.
ACCOMMODATION
The Cote D Ivoire accommodations are categorized into five star, four star, and the three star resorts, villas and hotels. Large number of hotel is available in Cote D Ivoire where the tourists can spend their vacations. The accommodation here consists of resorts and hotels which offers world class services and amenities to make your stay a wonderful experience. Most of hotels in Cote D Ivoire acquire of the world class hotel amenities like swimming pools with latest features, health clubs and centers that include health spas with and fully equipped gyms personal trainers, indoor and outdoor game facilities, special parking facilities and facilities for children. Some hotels also boast of fully equipped business centers with space for meetings and conferences. The room in these hotels features ultra modern amenities to make your stay in the hotel comfortable and luxurious. All rooms have features like warm and cozy interiors, extra large beds, fully furnished and equipped attached bathrooms, cable ready color television with remote, internet access facility upon request, personal safe. Few rooms also have large elaborate windows and grand balconies ensuring that you remain witness to the spectacular glimpses of the beaches. The hotels offer services like 24-hour room service, laundry and dry cleaning service, wake up services and in room dining services and a mass of other services to choose from. Hotels are available at various places like in Abidjan where hotels of all sorts of budget are available. Some of the hotels are Ibis Abidjan Marcory, Residence Hotel Georges Colette, and Hotel Tiama where you can enjoy various variety of good food, Residence Hoteliere Ivotel, Novotel Abidjan and many more. And another category of hotels are under Grand Bassam Hotels in which you can find different hotel with large facilities and services. Some of them are Etoile du Sud, Marvin Hotel etc. And another type of hotels are Sassandra Hotels under which large variety of hotels are available such as Hotel Le Pollet, Best of Africa etc. The villas and resorts have swimming pools and game rooms along with fantastic restaurant, which serve tasty foods and exotic drinks to the guest everyday. The staff in the resorts and hotels is particularly friendly and take all steps to make your stay a comfortable one
HISTORY
The early history of Cote d'Ivoire is almost unknown, even though it is thought that a Neolithic culture existed. France made its early contact with Cote d'Ivoire in 1637, when missionaries landed at Assinie near the Gold Coast (now Ghana) border. Early contacts were restricted to a few missionaries because of the inhospitable coastline and settlers' fear of the inhabitants. In the 18th century, the nation was invaded from present-day Ghana by two connected Akan groups--the Agni, who occupied the southeast, and the Baoule, who settled in the central section. In 1843-44, Admiral Bouet-Williaumez signed agreements with the kings of the Grand Bassam and Assinie regions, introducing their provinces under a French colony. French explorers, missionaries, trading companies, and soldiers steadily extended the area under French control inland from the lagoon region. Nevertheless, complete pacification was not accomplished until 1915.
The Côte d'Ivoire lies too far west to have been important in the 17th and 18th century development of the Guinea coast gold, and slave trade. Although a French colony was established over the coastal zone in 1842, the interior remained free from European control until the very end of the century. The essential political figure of the Côte d'Ivoire in modern times is Felix Houphouet-Boigny, an early leader of the post-WWII nationalist cause. Houphouet-Boigny became the region's president upon its independence from France in 1960 and remained in that position until his death in December of 1993. Along the way, the Côte d'Ivoire became a model of the riches that seemed available through the continuation of close cooperation with former colonial powers. In the 1980s the country's economy began to suffer, and today the Ivory Coast is harassed to maintain economic and political vitality.
GEOGRAPHY
There are three chief climatic regions, the coast, the forest and the savannah. The greatest rainfall and the small range of average temperature occur in the coastal region, which has a long dry season from December to April, followed by the great rains in mid May to mid July. The small dry season is from mid-July to October and the little rains in October and November. In the central forest region, rainfall is high, humidity continuous, and the season less clearly marked. The earlier, shorter dry season is followed by a short wet season a short dry season from mid May to mid July and the great rains for mid July to mid November. There is a long wet season from June to October, and the dry season expand six or seven months.
CULTURE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE
The Ivory Coast has more than 60 ethnic groups, usually classified into five principal allotments: Akan, Krou, Southern Mande, Northern Mande, Senoufo/Lobi. The Baoules, in the Akan division, most likely comprise the single largest subgroup with 15%-20% of the population. They are settled in the central region around Bouake and Yamoussoukro. The Betes in the Krou division, the Senoufos in the north, and the Malinkes in the northwest and the cities are the next major groups, with 10%-15% each of the national population. Most of the prime divisions have a significant presence in neighboring countries. Of more than 5 million non-Ivoirian Africans living in Cote d'Ivoire, one-third to one-half are from Burkina Faso; the rest are of Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, Liberia, and Mauritania. The non-African emigrant community includes roughly 10,000 French and possibly 60,000 Lebanese. As of mid-November 2004, thousands of emigrants, African and non-African, had fled from the violence in Cote d'Ivoire. However, many emigrants are slowly returning. Fifty-five percent of elementary school-aged kids attended classes in 2006.
PLACES TO VISIT
Some of the few facts that every visitor should know about this country is that photographing military or government installations is forbidden. Homosexuality continues to be illegal in the country. The dress is traditional for men and women. Shorts, tight clothing and strapless tops are scowled upon anywhere apart from on the beach.
Yamoussoukro is around 230km north of Abidjan. Discover the town's energetic market, the Palace and Plantations of the President and the Mosque. Also of architectural attention but, above all, of statistical interest, is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix. A bit 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 marginal religion in Côte d’Ivoire. Yamoussoukro is the birthplace of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was Côte d’Ivoire’s president for 33 years. The cathedral was compensated for almost entirely out of his own pocket.
The former capital and largest city, Abidjan, is subjugated by the Plateau, the central commercial district. The older, more customary heart of the city is Treichville, home of many bars, restaurants and nightclubs as well as the colorful central market. There is a very superior museum, the Ifon Museum, as well as the National Museum containing historic artifacts, statues and ivory.
Around 100km (60 miles) east of the former capital is the beach resort of Assouinde; other places being developed as tourist attractions contain Tiagba, a stilt town; Grand Bassam, whose sandy beaches make the place a much loved weekend retreat for the inhabitants of Abidjan; and Bondoukou, one of the oldest settlements in the country. Make a note of that in Abidjan and the surrounding coastal resorts, there is a dangerous deep current and swimmers should stay near the shore.
There is also fine coastal and river fishing. Red carp, barracuda, mullet and sole can all be caught from the coast of the lagoons. Sea trips can be prearranged through travel agencies to catch shark, swordfish, bonito and marlin. Boats and instructors are accessible in Abidjan, where waterskiing facilities are also available.
In the west of the nation, visit the attractive town of Man, located in a region of thickly forested mountains and plateau. The nearby waterfalls are a well-liked 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 significance 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.
WILDLIFE
Spot the wildlife of Ivory Coast. The national parks are largely unapproachable for visitors without their own vehicles. Local guides are essential and easily available. The biggest and oldest national park is Comoë National Park in the northeast, where lions, water bucks, hippos and other animals can be observed. The Abokouamekro Game Reserve is around an hour outside Yamoussoukro. Even though much of Côte d’Ivoire has been deforested, there is good hiking in the west near Man (nicknamed the ‘city of 18 mountains’). A guide is essential for longer walks.
CONCLUSION
Explore the country and be assured you will not be disappointed.
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