The Republic of Ivory Coast, a French-speaking and coastal country like some countries in West Africa including Benin, is a land of hospitality covering an area of 322,462 km² with a population of 29,389,150 inhabitants as of 2021.

It is bordered to the southwest by Liberia, to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west-northwest by Guinea, to the north-northwest by Mali, to the northeast by Burkina Faso, and to the east by Ghana.

Its political capital has been Yamoussoukro since 1983, and its economic capital is Abidjan. The official language is French, and the currency is the West African CFA Franc (XOF).

The country’s terrain, except for the mountainous western region, is relatively flat and undulating, consisting of plains and plateaus.

In the south, along the Gulf of Guinea, the coastline consists of a strip of sand and lagoons in the eastern part, and cliffs in the western part.

In the upper part of the coast, there is a vast plain followed by a region of low plateaus (altitudes below 350 m).

In the center, there are medium plateaus followed by high plateaus (altitudes up to 900 m) and mountains in the central west. The central-west (from Man to Daloa) is home to the country’s main mountain range, the Man massif, and its highest point, Mount Nimba (1,752 m). In the northwest (region of Odienné…), the terrain is dominated by small hills not exceeding 400m.

The country is divided into two vegetation zones. From north to south, it transitions from wooded savanna to increasingly dense equatorial forest in the south.

The northern part is covered with composite savannas. There are vast expanses of Teak and mango trees, as well as shea and kapok trees. The main plantations are fields of millet, sorghum, millet, rice, cotton, as well as market gardens of tomatoes and vegetables. In the center, there is clear forest or wooded savanna, but this is giving way to vast plantations of coffee and cocoa. In the southern part, the basic vegetation consists of dense forests with some protected areas such as national parks (Banco National Park). The approximately 550km coastline is lined with coconut and ron palm trees. There are also small mangroves.

The country has major lakes and rivers, namely: Ayame, Kossou, Buyo lakes, and Cavally, Sassandra, Bandama, Comoé rivers.

There are four types of climate in Ivory Coast: the Attiéen climate in the south; the Baouléen climate in the center; the South-Sudanian climate in the north; and the mountain climate in the west.

In the south, the country experiences three (03) major seasons: A long rainy season from April to mid-July, a short dry season with good weather from mid-July to November, and a long dry season, the time of the harmattan from December to March. While the north is drier with a lack of rain especially from October to May, but some years there are long rainy seasons from June to September.

The main cities in the north of Ivory Coast are: Korhogo, Ferkessédougou, Boundiali, Odienné, and Tenglela (Ivory Coast-Mali border).

The Bas-Sassandra region with its prefecture San-Pedro is home to the country’s most beautiful beaches. Unlike the east of the country and Abidjan, swimming in the ocean is safe.

The Haut-Sassandra region, also called the cocoa loop, is located further north and revolves around the cities of Gagnoa, Daloa, and Issia.

The east of Ivory Coast, bordering Ghana, includes the Comoé National Park where herds of elephants have taken refuge.

The west of Ivory Coast, bordering Liberia and Guinea, contains the country’s highest mountain ranges, notably Mount Tonkpi and Mount Nimba.

PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PLEASANT AND UNFORGETTABLE STAY IN IVORY COAST

VISAS AND ENTRY CONDITIONS IN IVORY COAST

NATIONALITIES EXEMPT FROM VISA: Benin, Burkina-Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Tunisia

NATIONALITIES SUBJECT TO VISA OR E-VISA: Nationals of other countries not listed above can obtain their e-visa online or at Ivorian embassies and consulates

HOW TO GET YOUR VISA?

The acquisition of a biometric visa for travelers wishing to enter the country has been mandatory for a few years except in cases of exemption. The visa is valid for 01 to 3 months.

ONLINE E-VISA PROCEDURE

It takes place in two (02) steps:

Firstly, payment for the e-visa (78 euros) must be made on the dedicated website (https://snedai.com/e-visa). A number of details must be provided online at this time. This is the official visa issuance site. No other site and no other means of obtaining it are authorized.

Afterward, you must have a copy received by email of the pre-authorization at least 48 hours before traveling to Ivory Coast, to be able to obtain your biometric visa upon arrival at Abidjan airport.

CLASSIC PROCEDURE AT THE EMBASSY

Simply go to the nearest Ivorian diplomatic representation. You must have the necessary documents.

NB: The conditions for obtaining visas, their prices, and the nationalities concerned change regularly according to diplomatic news. Please always check which formalities you are subject to.

HEALTH PROVISIONS

All travelers are recommended to get vaccinated against yellow fever and to carry this booklet during the trip. All sanitary restrictions for Covid 19 have been lifted.

USEFUL NUMBERS

ABIDJAN

Toll-free number in case of road harassment: 110 Abidjan police and gendarmerie: General Directorate of Police: +225 27 20 22 08 22; Central Police Station: +225 27 20 21 00/ +225 27 20 21 77 92; Gendarmerie: +225 27 20 21 88 83 POLICE STATIONS

Airport: +225 27 21 27 70 31

Plateau: +225 27 20 21 58 33

Treichville: +225 27 21 24 17 48

Ajamé: +225 27 20 37 44 65

Zone 4: +225 27 21 35 10 27

Port de Bouët: +225 27 21 27 71 78

Koumassi: +225 27 21 36 14 34

220 logements: +225 27 20 37 15 91

Cocody: +225 27 22 44 15 16

Marcory: +225 27 21 26 78 58

Attecoubé: +225 27 20 37 27 41

Williamsville: +225 27 20 37 23 28

II Plateaux: +225 27 22 41 35 05

Abobo (13th district): +225 27 24 39 00 90

Abobo (14th district): +225 27 24 39 15 54

Yopougon (16th district): +225 27 23 45 63 60

Yopougon (19th district): +225 27 22 43 18 65

Niangon: +225 27 23 46 37 28

Riviera: +225 27 22 43 18 65

SAN PEDRO

Police station: +225 27 34 71 13 43

Gendarmerie: +225 27 34 71 20 70

YAMOUSSOUKRO

Police station: +225 27 30 64 11 63/ +225 27 30 64 00 24 DALAO

Police stations

1st district: +225 27 32 78 36 22

2nd district: +225 27 32 78 32 13

3rd district: +225 27 32 78 35 85

Gendarmerie: +225 27 32 78 20 45/ +225 27 32 78 31 56

HEALTH

ABIDJAN

Resuscitation: 185 SMU

Abidjan (SAMU Cocody): +225 27 22 44 53 53

CHU de Cocody: +225 27 22 48 10 00

CHU de Treichville: +225 27 21 24 91/ +225 27 21 24 91 55

Polyclinique Internationale de Sainte-Marie (PISAM): +225 27 22 48 31 31

Clinique de l’Indénié: +225 27 20 30 91 00

Polyclinique Avicenne: +225 27 21 21 13 00 or +225 27 21 21 13 01 or +225 27 21 21 13 02

Polyclinique Hôtel Dieu: +225 27 21 25 79 19 or +225 27 21 79 20 or +225 27 21 75 91 81

Polyclinique Groupe médical du Plateau: +225 27 20 22 20 29 or +225 27 20 22 21 05

Nouvelle clinique de Belvédère: +225 27 20 21 46 65

Institut de cardiologie (CHU de Treichville): +225 27 21 21 61 71

Psychiatric Hospital of Bingerville: +225 27 22 40 30 40 SAN PEDRO

CHR Hospital: +225 27 34 71 29 00 YAMOUSSOUKRO

CHR Hospital: +225 27 30 64 00 33 DALOA

CHR Hospital: +225 27 32 78 33 01

Image: Discover Ivory Coast