The Ivory Coast

Day 1  Abidjan          
Arrive in the former French colonial city of Abidjan. The shining skyscrapers reflect in the waters along the Atlantic coast surrounded by smaller, humble neighbourhood. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Abidjan at any time. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.    

Day 2  Abidjan to Bouake    
Leaving Abidjan behind we head out into the country towards Bouake. The morning will be spent driving along the highway before reaching more rural roads where your Leader will decide where to stop in the small villages populated by the Baule people. The Baule are known for their fine wooden handicrafts and Goli masks. The Goli masks, often made from cow, antelope and crocodile, can be quiet intimidating to look at and we hope to see a Goli Masquerade today. A ceremony where two unidentified villagers wear different types of masks; one representing a human face known as kpan and disc-faced masks known as kple kple. The women start to dance and sing begging the masks to arrive and then proceed to welcome the masks as beloved personages, fanning them with scarves and dancing joyously behind them. Kple Kple masks are called to villages in times of danger or during funeral ceremonies. They are believed to connect people with supernatural powers and gods. After spending the day learning about Baule customs and belief systems you will continue on to Bouake, the Ivory Coast's second largest city, arriving in the early evening.    

Day 3  Bouake to Korhoho    
This morning, depart early after breakfast and begin the long drive north along bumpy roads as you make your way to Korhogo, the main city in the north of the country. On the journey your Leader will tell tales about the local tribes and communities that live in the area and may stop along the way at points of interest. After arriving in Korhogo you will spend the afternoon visiting villages of the Senoufo, who are renowned for their art and sculpture work. The villages have sacred houses decorated with bas-relief carvings and large clay granaries, and as these areas are generally untouched by western visitors expect a warm but sometimes wary welcome. However, hospitality is an integral part of their culture and they are proud to share their stories and show off their artistic skills.  

Day 4  Korhogo    
After breakfast this morning depart for a day of exploring surrounding Senoufo villages, to get an in depth understanding of their art culture, daily lives and spiritual rituals.Learn about the Senoufo's secret society called the Poro which has a complex, seven year long initiation ritual involving their young men, called colobele, spending up to 3 months in seclusion in the forest. One job of a colobele is to perform traditional mask ceremonies, known locally as the panther dance. Although this task is not the most important of a Poro member it certainly is one of the spectacular to see. We hope to see a panther dance this afternoon, however, this cannot be guaranteed as the right conditions for these rituals will be decided by the local shamans.

Day 5  Korhogo    
This morning take a walk to a sacred shrine just outside of Korhogo. The walk will be around two hours in total, and apart from the humidity, it should be relatively easy along flat terrain. For those not wanting to participate, it is possible to wander around Korhogo or just relax in the hotel. Later this morning, travel to Boundiali, a small town two hours away. Have lunch in town, before visiting surrounding areas home to the Fulani nomads. A nomadic society who are easily recognised by their conical straw hats, the Fulani live in villages and graze cattle on the nearby land. The ladies here are very welcoming and colourful in their dress and our Leader will arrange for us to spend some time with the women in their homes, learning about their daily life and getting an insight into their culture. Late in the afternoon, we attend a Senufo village to see the dance of the virgin girls - called Ngoro, part of the Poro Initiation. The young initiates spend months together in secluded sacred groves where they learn the social and religious secrets that turn a girl into a genuine Senoufo. After seven years there is a big celebration for those who have undergone all stages of initiation, in particular the dance of the virgin girls is performed at the end of the first stage of initiation.    

Day 6  Korhogo to Odienne    
From Boundiali, journey to the small town of Odienne, around four hours away, in the north-west of the country. The drive is along very poor roads so it can be slow-going but in this region its part of the adventure. The Odienne region is populated by the Malinke people, descendants of the former empire of Mali and this community include the Dozo, a hunter-gatherer sect who are feared and respected for their courage on the battlefield. After the drive have lunch in Odienne, and around mid-afternoon after the heat has subsided we will walk to meet with the Dozo. The two-hour walk is on flat but slightly rocky terrain and you’ll be accompanied by the Dozon hunters who will teach you about their way of life, hunting in the bush, about the plants and their importance for traditional medicine.  

Day 7  Odienne to Man    
Today is a long drive of around seven hours to the town of Man, which sits at the foot of the Toura Mountains in a greener part of the country. Travel through the lands of the Yacouba people, often known as the Dan. The area is fertile with green rolling hills and you will visit villages built on the slopes, characterised by big round mud huts with thatched roofs. Hopefully there'll be the chance to witness a mask dance, as the villagers call the dancers from the forest by the beat of the tam-tam drum. As they approach, the people begin to sing traditional songs and the dancers enter the circle on long stilts entertaining the crowd with incredible acrobatics to the sound of the tam-tam. Each mask has its own dance and song, steeped in local culture. Along the way, stop for a picnic lunch and hope to arrive in Man at our accommodation around 6pm.

Day 8  Man    
This morning walk to La Cascade Waterfall on the outskirts of Man. There are a couple of options of paths to the waterfall and the Leader will choose a route best suited to the group but either option takes around 90 minute's roundtrip. This natural attraction's close proximity to the town attracts locals and visitors alike for a refreshing dip in the waterfall's pools that are surrounded by lush, green vegetation. There will be free time for lunch in Man; due to the French influence within the country there is choice of traditional West Africa cuisine such as attieke - a couscous like dish made with cassava - or something more familiar such a French baguettes. Later this afternoon you will meet the Guere people - also known as Gere, Ngere and Wee - and hopefully see one of their mask ceremonies. They believe that their god communicates to them through only a couple of humans - the masquerades; you’ll watch the dance where the masquerades interact with their god.

Day 9  Man to Daloa    
Start this morning with a tour around Man. Man is an energetic, colourful little town with a buzzing market selling all sorts of produce along a dusty street packed with pedestrians, trolleys, vans and cars, and not many tourists! After a break for lunch, begin the four hour journey to Daloa. Your leader will ensure there are plenty of breaks along the way to stretch the legs or at points of interest. As one of the world's largest cocoa exporters, your leader will look for an opportunity to stop at a cooperative cocoa farm for the chance to learn about the country's biggest agriculture.    

Day 10  Daloa to Yamoussoukro    
An early departure from Daloa this morning to make our way to Yamoussoukro, the capital city and one of the most surreal urban areas in Africa. First though, stop to visit a nearby village to see the traditional Zaouli dance. The dancer is always male but the mask itself honours a legendary goddess Djela Lou Zaouli which translates as The Lion's Daughter. It's thought the male that wears the mask takes on a spirit as he dances for the drums. Arrive into Yamoussoukro around mid-afternoon. The first post-independence President of the Ivory Coast was Houphouet-Boigny from Yamoussoukro and he had big dreams to create a city that could rival the best in Europe and as you drive into the city it's possible to see the remnants of his vision. Visit the Basilica of our Lady of Peace, inspired by Saint Peter's in Rome this giant church complex was finished in 1990 and stood as the largest church in the world. It is really hard to believe that you are in West Africa as you walk around this mind boggling building; the basilica has 7000 seats and space for over 11,000 standing worshippers, though it only attracts a few hundred on most Sundays. Though this is an unmissable stop of any trip to the Ivory Coast, the church is shrouded in controversy as many feel anger and sadness at the incalculable waste of money, given the country's current level of poverty.    

Day 11  Yamoussoukro to Grand Bassam
Have an early breakfast this morning so you can depart first thing for Abidjan, the country's economic capital set on the Ebrie Lagoon. The drive will take whole morning but arrive into the city just in time for lunch and after you've eaten our leader will show you the highlights. Take a ferry across the lagoon; popular with commuters, it's a chance to see where traditional meets new, with colourfully dressed women in traditional clothes and businessmen in dapper suits go side-by-side about their daily lives. The short ferry ride also offers a chance to see the city's skyscrapers and modern skyline which ever growing and always buzzing with life. After disembarking you'll visit the National Museum and the Cathedral. Then drive across the peaceful neighbourhood of Cocody, a residential area which houses the Prime Minister's office and many old French colonial buildings. Visit the lively market of Treichville, one of the city's bustling markets where people come to barter, hawk and catch up on gossip. There will be a short amount of free time for shopping at the craft centre Kava before departing. Travel about one hour to Grand Bassam which is sat on the coast and over a lagoon, laidback Grand Bassam is full of faded French colonial charm and it's an ideal place to enjoy a sundowner on the beach.  

Day 12  Grand Bassam    
There is no rush at all this morning as you wind down for our last day of discovering the Ivory Coast. Our leader will take us on foot around UNESCO-listed Grand Bassam this morning to experience the slower pace of life. Once a French colonial capital, Grand Bassam was all but deserted after a yellow fever epidemic broke out in the late 1800s but has since built itself up again as a modest seaside town set upon golden beaches. You'll also visit the craft centre which brings together culture from all over the Ivory Coast and the museum. This afternoon will be free to carry on wandering around taking in the atmosphere. Although swimming in the sea is not advised because of the strong Atlantic current. There are plenty of places to have a drink and just take in the view, or alternatively relax by the hotel's pool to wrap up your Ivory Coast adventure. Grand Bassam is quiet in the evenings but there are a few places to choose from for the last night's meal including international and African food. A number of simple marquis that serve rustic Ivoirian food on little wooden terraces by the sea.    

Day 13  Grand Bassam    
The trip ends this morning after breakfast at out hotel in Grand Bassam. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Grand Bassam at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport, which is around one hours drive.