Ivory Coast OVERVIEW
Judging by the location (sub-Saharan) and its neighbors (Mali, Ghana or Liberia, to mention just a few) one can't help but expect everything except for ivory whiteness. It's Africa- wrinkled from sun exposure, blessed with rainforest, wild and untamed. With a number of perils lurking in bigger cities and the on-going (although dormant) conflict between the government-controlled south and the rebellious north, Cote d'Ivoire can indeed be strongly identified with the Black Land. Yet, close ties with France, fostered even after the resurgence of independence, as well as the diversification of export-oriented agriculture and incentives for foreign investors unleashed development and opened the door to relative prosperity that no other country in Equatorial Africa can rival.
It is this European feel of major cities that makes the place stand out from the background. Abidjan resounds with cars whizzing through its financial center, Yamoussoukro boasts a spitting image of St Peter's in Rome, and a scent of French colonialism still floats in the air of Grand Bassam. Finally, if you're truly looking for whiteness, you'll find it in abundance along the Atlantic coast. People-packed or secluded, these strands of sand will caress your feet and please your eyes. If wildlife is your thing, why not socialize with pygmy hippopotamus in Tai National Park or canoe the lagoons in search of unique water species.
Yet, the brightest highlight of Cote d'Ivoire is the people- multi ethnic, artistic, and creative. Their history, artifacts and music as well as heart and passion for living simply can't go unnoticed. Just go check out the town of Man and the surrounding villages nested in greenery. Don't be misled with petty thieves in Abidjan- they're not a reliable measure of the locals. Just get your yellow fever shots, open your minds and see for yourselves.
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