Country Nr 19 – Côte d’Ivoire – experiencing 21st century Africa

Country 19/196: Côte d’Ivoire
Destination: Abidjan

Abidjan is big city life. It’s the perfect combination of modern and traditional, the perfect place to experience 21st century Africa. We were staying in the city center and we were very surprised to see how empty the city is on a Sunday. There were almost literally 10 people walking around the city center, whereas on the next day the city was full. Obviously, the people of Abidjan still know how to take time for themselves and their loved ones.
We had a great time in “Drogba’s country” as they call it.

Yamoussoukro, Grand-Bassam, Taï National Park, Man, San-Pédro, and of course the vibrant Abidjan are some of the most popular travel destinations in Côte d’Ivoire. Abidjan’s most notable sights include:

Where to stay

Abidjan is a big modern city and it offers lots of luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation options. We were staying at the wonderful Seen hotel in the Plateau neighborhood. The food was great, the room was small yet amazing, and the view was spectacular.

Are you planning a trip to Abidjan? Here you can get a room with a 10% discount!

Budget

Abidjan is a relatively expensive travel destination, however, sleeping, eating, and traveling like locals will save you lots of money. Accommodation prices range from 35 to 350 USD (30 to 300 EUR) a night. Food prices are considerably high in tourist restaurants and rather low in roadside stands and other local places.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Côte d’Ivoire is from November to May when the weather is dry and roadblocks don’t obstruct your travels. This time of year there are also fewer malaria-carrying mosquitoes and the temperatures tend to be a tiny bit cooler.

Environmental issues

Côte d’Ivoire is currently battling severe deforestation caused by the timber industry, which has destroyed most of what used to be the largest forests in West Africa. Another pressing issue is significant water pollution from sewage and industrial/agricultural wastewater. The country’s lack of sanitation facilities also contributes to the pollution problem. The land is also battling savanization and the effects of climate changes, including decreased precipitation and droughts.

Romance and adventure

There are lots of romantic and adventurous things to do in Côte d’Ivoire. For example, you can admire the architecture, enjoy the food and nightlife, or simply soak up the lively vibe of Abidjan. You can go hiking or explore one of the country’s best national parks. Or perhaps, you would fare better taking a few days off in one of the country’s scenic beach towns.

196xLOVE

Found lots of LOVE in Côte d’Ivoire. 😉 ♥

Honeymoon rating of the visited destinations: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡

A honeymoon in Côte d’Ivoire? Why not! 😉

* Note: This is NOT a general rating of the country, it is merely our personal opinion of the mentioned site(s) as honeymoon destinations, based on the level of tourism development, the number and quality of romantic and adventurous activities and sites it offers, and safety. We strongly believe that every country is beautiful in its own way, they may simply be more or less honeymoon oriented/friendly.

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