Rainforest, savannah and mountains 

The Ivory Coast, a former French colony, has a varied climate ranging from extreme aridity to pouring rain. Its political system unfortunately is not entirely reliable. 

Since 1983, the capital of the Ivory Coast has been Yamoussoukro, a city with about 110,000 inhabitants. Apart from its genuinely African name, this city, which is situated away from the coast, has little to offer. All the government agencies, ministries, embassies and large companies have remained in the former capital, Abidjan.

The country is divided into three parts, as a result of the big differences in rainfall: in the south there is rainforest, in the centre there is savannah and in the north-west, on the border with Guinea, there are mountains and arid areas. The Ivory Coast has about 150 officially protected forests, the most valuable of which is the Taï forest.

Destinations in Ivory Coast

Abidjan With their unspoilt nature and marvellous African jungle containing very rare trees, plants and animals, the surrounding areas of Abidjan are an attractive place to visit.  >>