Travel in Ivory Coast – Hotels, Ivory Coast Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

The Ivory Coast: A Vacation Dreams Are Made Of

The Cote d'Ivoire, is known in English as the Ivory Coast and is located in West Africa. There are an estimated 65 different languages that are spoken in the country, however, French is the official language. Most parts of Cote d'Ivorie are a vast plateau that leans gently toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Abidjan is the former capital of Cote d'Ivorie until 1983, and sometimes is referred to as the “Paris”, of Africa. Located in the heart of the town is the beautiful St. Pauls Cathedral, which was built in 1985 and consecrated by the late Pope John Paul the II. For those in search of artwork, the National Museum of Contemporary Art has everything from relics and artifacts, to exhibits about African arts and craftsmanship of the local artisans.

For those seeking a quite respite from the sights and sounds of Abidjan, the town of Parc du Banco is an essential. The town boasts traditional huts, open air markets and a village known for being warm and inviting to its guests. While here many people will make a detour to visit the Comoe National Park. Located 567 km west, this park is the largest game park in West Africa. It is covered in savannas, forests and grasslands with the Comoe River running the northwestern part of the park. Guests are invited to watch and take pictures of the park lions on the south side of the river. There are many other animals that live in the park such as elephants, 21 different species of pigs, green monkeys, hippos, water buck, antelope, leopards and over 400 species of birds. Visitors to the park can either camp within the region or stay at one of the many hotels nearby. The camp welcomes visitors from May to December and is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.

Treichville is considered to be the most lively location in the country. The streets are not named but are rather numbered one to twenty-five. Some popular locations here include the Omnisport Palace, Sports Park, Culture Palace, the Cultural Race, and the Living Room, which is formerly known as the “Boulevard of Stars”. The most popular attraction in Treichville would have to be the African Market. On any given day, visitors can find thousands of merchants with their wares spread out waiting to make a deal.

The Hotel Ivorie is considered to be an entertainment zone. There is a cinema, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, a casino, bowling alley and tennis courts. There is even a supermarket located in the structure, which is a top attraction for tourists and locals alike.

In the capital city of Yamoussoukro, visitors flock to the lovely Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro. The building was erected and consecrated by Pope John Paul II, on September 10th, 1990. The stained glass used in the cathedral is more than the total area of stained glass located in France. The church has become a veritable landmark on the island and is opened to the public for touring.

Tourists can enjoy a pleasurable stay at the Sofitel Abidjan which is a five-star hotel located in the center of the city. The hotel has two-hundred plus rooms, eleven suites, a lagoon, coffee shop, a fine dining restaurant, two bars and a rooftop swimming pool. The hotel is spacious and very comfortable and the staff is always courteous and helpful. For tourists seeking a more out-of-the-way location, the Best of Africa is just perfect. This hotel is privately owned and located in the Sassandra region. Best of Africa offers guests one-on-one attention and privacy. Spread out over the ten acres are lush gardens, flowers, a private white sand beach, a lagoon and rainforest. When traveling to the Ivory Coast one can never know what to expect, but it is surely a vacation that dreams are made of.