Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast Revealed Tour

Arrive in Abidjan where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Hotel Onomo or similar. No guiding or meals are included today.

(Approximate driving time today: five hours)

Our journey begins after breakfast, departing towards Ghana, where we meet with the Anyi monarchy, from the Akan large ethnical lineage group and learn about the history of the region and the role of traditional Kings in a modern republic. If available, the king will receive us. Later, we meet with a community of Komians and will possibly attend the divinatory dance. Overnight at Hotel Royaume or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: five hours)

This morning we continue to Yamoussoukro. Visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Peace which is a copy of that of St Peter’s in Rome. The marble and the stained glass that are characteristic of this church make it an excellent monument to the history of the country. Overnight Hotel Royal or similar (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: five hours)

We enter today the territory of the Baulé people, known for their intricate handicrafts. In the Daloa region we attend the dancing masks of the Guro People, known as Zaouli. The Zaouli was created in the 1950s, reportedly inspired by a girl names ‘Djela Lou Zaouli’. Later, we continue with the dance of the Goli masks, where a round-shaped ‘lunar’ Goli mask is sub-mounted by two horns. Overnight at Hotel Mon Afrik or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: six hours)

After a short tour around the city and its colourful market, we drive north on a dirt track taking us to Korhogo. You will notice a change in the landscape as we enter sub-Saharan Sahel, a dry savannah with baobab trees. Khorogo dates back to the 13^th Century and is now the capital of the Senoufo people. On arrival in the late afternoon, we will visit the interesting craft market. Overnight at Hotel Olympe or similar – basic accommodation. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: two hours)

After breakfast, we drive to a remote village to witness the old technique of iron melting carried out by blacksmiths, a very rare example of traditional iron metallurgy in Africa. This ‘tribal technology’ will bring us back to the first iron age in Africa. The iron ore comes from local mines and is milled manually. The traditional ‘adobe bellows furnace’ is loaded with layers of charcoal and ore then the fire is set. Fusion takes place overnight so we leave the furnace and travel back to Korhogo. Later in the day we will and we attend a Boloy, or panther dance, performed by initiated young men. Overnight at Hotel Olympe or similar – basic accommodation. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time: five hours)

This morning we return to the remote village to see the result of the fusion. The sealed base of the clay furnace will be broken to extract the iron bloom and the blacksmith will pound part of it. Afterwards, with the help of a bellows, they will heat the metal powder obtained until it melts in a crucible and pour it into a mould. The metal is later heated once again and hammered on the forge to the required shape, and then finally polished from imperfections and bumps. We have now seen the whole process of this ‘tribal technology’, once believed that this technique had disappeared for more than 80 years, up until the discovery of this remote village. We then leave the main road to visit the villages of the Senoufo people that still maintain today the secrets of their own handicraft production. In these villages we will admire the large clay granaries and the sacred houses with decorated bas-reliefs. In the afternoon we attend the Ngoro dance, or the dance of the virgin girls, which is part of the Poro initiation performed by the Senoufo. Overnight at Hotel Le Paysan or similar – the most basic hotel of the tour, with no better alternatives available in the area. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time: five hours)

We start our day by exploring regions traversed constantly by herds of zebu guided by the unmistakable Fulani nomads searching for pastures. We will visit some local Fulani villages where we hope to be invited into some of the houses to experience their warm local hospitality. Later, we travel to meet the Malinké ethnic group, and more specifically the initiated hunters, Dozo. Dressed in their traditional costume and with their shotguns covered with amulets, the hunters will accompany us on an excursion on foot into the savannah to give us a brief introduction to the power of plants. They will also accompany us to visit a Malinké village where to the rhythm of the tam-tam they will dance and demonstrate resistance to fire and knives. Overnight at Hotel Les Frontieres or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time: five hours)

Today is devoted to meeting the Yacuba, the people better known as the Dan. We will spend time visiting some of their villages built on hillsides, characterised by big round huts with thatched roofs. Later we will experience a traditional masks dance of the Dan. We then continue south. As Mount Tonkpi comes into view we will approach Man. Overnight Hotel Les Cascades or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time: five hours)

This morning we journey out from Man to see the Liana Bridges. We then return to Man where you will have some leisure time where you can relax or explore some of the local craft shops. Later we will be able to enjoy dancing in a nearby village by the Guéré people. Overnight Hotel Les Cascades or similar. (BLD)

(Domestic Flight)

This morning we travel to discover a remote forest region where the arrival of foreigners is a rare event. We cross wooden bridges before reaching isolated settlements of the Guéré ethnic group, where we experience a Jongleurs performance, an ancient tradition that is now vanishing. Drumming will announce the start where initiated girls with their faces painted in white Kaolin perform a unique acrobatic dance. This afternoon we take a flight back to Abidjan. Overnight Hotel Onomo or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: one hour)

We take today a full city tour of Abidjan, the modern economic capital of Ivory Coast. We visit the Plateau district with its large modern buildings and skyscrapers and also cross the lagoon by boat for a view of the Plateau from a water’s perspective. We visit the lively market at Treichville as well as the residential area of Cocody containing interesting colonial architecture. We will also visit the national museum which contains a fine collection reflecting the rich heritage of 62 ethnic groups. We then drive south towards the Ebrié Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean to reach Grand Bassam. Overnight at Hotel Croix du Sud or similar. (BLD)

(Approximate driving time today: one hour)

We spend the morning exploring Grand Bassam with its crumbling colonial architecture. The old post office is a jewel of French colonial architecture and we visit the Costume Museum, in the former governor’s palace, with its large outer staircase is a true architectural gem and its unique collection of tribal costumes, masks, ornaments and ethnographic photographs gives an interesting perception of the country history and culture. There is some time at leisure to enjoy the nice beach and later in the afternoon we transfer back to Abidjan. A room will be available for you to freshen up before your transfer to the airport and your onward flight. Please do not book a flight departing before 18:00 today. Day use at Hotel Onomo or similar. (BL)