Ivory Coast Revealed

Day 1: Arrival in Abidjan

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

Day 2: Abidjan – Abenguru (260km; Driving time today is approx. 4 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. We also visit the Museum. Before dinner, experience the ancestral ‘Ghost Dance’. Overnight at Hotel Royaume or similar. (BLD) 

Akan people

The origin of the Anyi monarchy goes back to the tradition of Akan large ethnical group that lives in large south West Ghana and South East Ivory Coast. They share with the famous Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana a similar lifestyle linked to the wealth of the forest and the cult of kings. The Akan people of the Ivory Coast use the word “Komian” to refer to trance, that is to say a spiritual possession. This term can also be applied to people and in this case it refers to those persons, mainly women, who have been initiated to communicate with the world of spirits through different divinatory ways, such as the throwing of shells, the vision on water or the dance. Dance is indeed the most spectacular divinatory form and is called to solve the most complex problems. Facing the interlocutor, some family members and the curious crowd, accompanied by the rhythm of tam-tams, the Komian does a ritual dance until she reaches the status of trance: the spirit will then manifest itself at the “opening of her mouth” and will indicate the nature of the problem and the way forward.  

Day 3: Abenguru – Yamoussoukro (250km; Driving time today is approx. 4 hours)

This morning we continue to Yamoussoukro. On arrival into Yamoussoukro we visit the Biax Foundation (Boigny Felix Houphouet Foundation for Peace), which hosts government meetings and conferences, and houses artifacts and information on the founding president and his family. We then 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 and pass by the Presidential Palace, where you may see crocodiles in the surrounding lake. Overnight Royal Suite Hotel or similar . (BLD) 

Yamoussoukro

The city of Yamoussoukro (or Yamkro as it is also known) is Cote d'Ivoire's somewhat odd administrative capital. The city was little more than a village only half a century ago but it has seen a dramatic transformation in a short space of time. The former president Felix Houphouet-Boigny began a programme of ambitious projects in the place of his birth in the 1960's culminating in a number of grandiose administrative buildings which seem somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the country. The focal point of the city is the Basilica of our Lady of Peace which is reputedly the largest place of Christian worship on the planet and is bigger than St Peter’s in Rome. 

Day 4: Yamoussoukro – Bouake (260km; Driving time today is approx. 5 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) 

Baulé people

The Baulé people are of Akan lineage originating from Ghana. The Baulé have retained in common with their cousins the Ashanti comprising of a complex social hierarchy and have expanded their own cultural traditions based on those of the surrounding native villages. Their rich production of handicrafts summarises these differences: fine statues that represent the world of the spirits, weaving-loom pulleys, and masks. 

Day 5: Bouake – Korhogo (225km; Driving time today is approx. 4 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. Korhogo dates back to the 13th Century and is now the capital of the Senufo people. On arrival in the late afternoon, we visit the traditional clay bead makers where we can participate in a workshop to make our own bead and also purchase a beautiful selection at reasonable prices.  Close to here we also find the traditional weavers and dress makers part of a local cooperative and great place to see the skilled process and buy a wide selection of designs at good prices. Overnight at Hotel Mon Korhogo, or similar – basic accommodation. (BLD) 

Korhogo

The history of this town dates back to the 13th Century, and today is the capital of the Senufo, the tribe that has produced some of the greatest artworks in Africa in almost every field – sculpture, weaving, painting and blacksmith. 

Senufo People

The Senufo are renowned for their complex initiation rites. Poro, the initiation of young men, is a long process which takes 21 years to be completed. It is the passage from youth to adulthood and it consists in learning the social and religious secrets that turn a young boy into a genuine Senufo man. 

Day 6: Korhogo (60km; Driving time today is approx. 2 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. We then visit a workshop to see shea butter processing and local pottery making, as well as the local wood carvers and continue to the Museum of Gbon. Later in the day we will and we attend a Boloy, or panther dance, performed by initiated young men. Overnight at Hotel Korhogo, or similar – basic accommodation. (BLD) 

Day 7: Korhogo – Boundiali (150km; Driving time today is approx. 5 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) 

Day 8: Boundiali – Odienne (150km; Driving time today is approx. 5 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) 

The Malinké

In the vicinity of Odienne live the Malinké, descendants of the old empire of Mali. Among the great names of the history of these families is Samory Touré, a warrior that in this region alone found great support against the advance of the colonists. Among the warriors, those of the hunter-gatherer communities of the Dozo stand out for their courage on the battlefield and their mystic power that is still transmitted today during a long initiation process.  Although nowadays there are no battles to fight, the respect given to this lineage has continued unabated. The Dozo (hunters) are considered to be a kind of local police. They are the guardian angels that watch over the villages to keep evil people away and act as mediators in disputes; they are also considered great healers thanks to their wide knowledge of plants and animals.  

Day 9: Odienne – Man (270km; Driving time today is approx. 5 hours driving)

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) 

The Dan People

The Dan is an ethnolinguistic people of west-central Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia. They are also known as Gio or Yakuba. Some of the houses of the Dan are decorated with frescos made by women during ceremonial periods, while the men gather in a big hut to recycle iron scraps in the form of a hoe, using old scraps as a hammer and anvil. Masks are the most important art form of the Dan and are used in many rituals. The masks of the Dan appear on long stilts with dances involving memorable acrobatics and normally the participation of the most of the village under the watchful gaze of the elders in charge of the cult. 

Man

The capital of the We and Guéré ethnic groups, scenic Man extends from the feet of 18 green mountains, some of which are in the middle of the city and separate different quarters. Man is one of the primary agricultural regions of the country with Cocoa, rice, coffee, and plantain plantations 

Day 10: Man – Excursion to Danane region (200km; Driving time today is approx. 5 hours on dirt track)

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) 

Liana Bridges

The rainforest that stretches between Ivory Coast and Liberia is famous for its big liana bridges. For the local population, the origin of these bridges is shrouded in mystery. They are built secretly in only one night by young men being initiated. Crossing them is not difficult provided that the taboos imposed by tradition are respected and that heavy loads are not carried on the head or babies tied to one’s back, as the local young women used to do.  

Day 11: Man – Flight to Abidjan

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 Détente or similar. (BLD) 

Day 12: Abidjan – Grand Bassam (50km; Driving time today is approx. 1 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 Etoile du Sud, or similar. (BLD) 

Grand Bassam

Once the former rich capital of the French colony, Grand Bassam is a town built on a line of sand between the lagoon and the ocean. It has many preserved colonial buildings and during the colonial times it became the maritime leisure resort for the Abidjanese. 

Day 13: Grand Bassam – Abidjan – Departure (50km; Driving time today is approx. 1 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)