- 11 Days
- Apr-Aug
- Availability: 22
- Minimum Group: 5
Exploring Ivory Coast traditions and customs
Descriptions
Ivory Coast boasts a rich cultural heritage with its 66 ethnic groups that preserve their customs and traditions. These traditions play a significant role in the daily lives of the people and are celebrated through various festivals and rituals.
Each region has its own unique celebrations, showcasing traditional masks and dances, such as the family celebrations in Atchan and Adjoukrou countries, the festive celebrations, Abissa de Grand Bassam, the Bonoua Carnival Popo, Ebeb (Feast of Wisdom) in the Adjoukrou country, the Yam Festival, Abengourou, and Aboisso. These festivals offer a window into the cultural richness and diversity of Ivory Coast and provide a glimpse into the country’s ancestral traditions.
Included
- Meet é greet and airport transfers
- Domestic flight to Bouaké
- Overland transportation all inclusive
- An English-speaking guide
- All visits and activities mentioned as in the program
- Pirogue ride on the Ebrié Lagoon
- A couple of spectacular dances (the Goli Mask Dance in Bouaké and the Bolo dance in Korhogo)
Excluded
- International flight, visas, travel insurance, visa paperwork and airport taxes
- Beverage
- Unforeseen circumstances including force majeure or flight delay/cancelation
- Laundry
- Any need of personal nature and not specified as included
From
€ 4,225
/ pp
*Indicative price
Send us an enquiry
Popular Spots
- Abidjan - bustling port city with plenty of sights to see
- Baoulé Culture - explore the kingdom of the Baoulé people and learn about their customs
- Kong to Korhogo - scenic drive through diverse landscapes and visit the Senoufou tribes
- Boundiali - visit Fulani families and learn about their lifestyle and culture
- Odienne - visit the Dan people, known for their mask dancers who perform on stilts
- Yamoussoukro - visit the famous Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
- Grand Bassam - explore the city and visit the National Museum of Costume
Memorable Moments.
Exploration of Baoulé Culture
The Dukawa are referred to as a fine race. The men average just under six feet in height and the women have strong healthy physiques from carrying heavy loads on their shoulders. They are intelligent people with a good knowledge of medicine.
The Dukawa have a history of being great fighters; bows and poisoned arrows were their principal weapons. Successful hunters and warriors wore black shirts and bracelets made of the skins their victims. Hunting continues to be an important cultural aspect of Dukawa life.
Traditional dance performance and drumming
Participating in a traditional dance performance and drumming workshop in the city of Abidjan. Tourists will have the opportunity to learn about the diverse cultural traditions of the Ivory Coast and immerse themselves in the local music and dance scene. They will also have the chance to interact with local performers and learn more about the significance and meaning behind the dances and drumming.
Trip Schedule.
Arrival in Abidjan
Upon arrival at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, you will be greeted by our team and assisted with airport transfers to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay. The airport is located about 15km from the central town, and travel time to the hotel may vary depending on traffic.
Abidjan City Tour and Flight to Bouaké
Begin the day with a city tour of Abidjan, a bustling port city with plenty of sights to see. After the tour, take a domestic flight to Bouaké.
Exploration of Baoulé Culture
In the morning, explore the kingdom of the Baoulé people, a subgroup of the Akan tribe that is the most dominant in the country. Visit a typical Baoulé family in one of the nearby villages and learn about their customs, which include cocoa farming, handicrafts, costumes, masks, traditional ceremonies, musical instruments, naming ceremonies, and funerals.
Korhogo-Koni
we set out from Kong in the morning and take a scenic drive to Korhogo, a journey that will take about three hours. The road is partially sealed and offers a diverse range of landscapes, including vast savannah plains dotted with giant Kapok trees, scattered grassland mountains, and picturesque hills and valleys. Along the way, we may make a detour to Koni, a small village known for its blacksmiths, where we can visit the various blast furnaces and meet the master blacksmiths at work. We expect to reach Korhogo later in the evening and spend the night at Hotel Olympe.
Korhogo-Boundiali
We spend the day exploring Korhogo and the surrounding villages, which are home to the Senoufou tribes. The Senoufou are skilled artisans who have managed to preserve their traditional way of life despite many years of interaction with the outside world. We will visit the Gon Coulibaly conservation centre and the Ugan craft centre to see various collections of artefacts that reflect the Senoufou’s cultural beliefs. We may also have the opportunity to visit the fetish houses of Niofoin, the village of Lataha where the Loboye dance will be performed, the weaver’s village of Katia, known for its Gbofé and Boloyé spectacular dance, Tanguikaha, the village of the carvers, and many other places. We will spend the night at Hotel Olympe.
Boundiali-Odienne
We embark on a scenic drive to Boundiali, a small town known for its pastoral landscapes and the presence of Peuhl cattle herders. We visit a couple of Fulani families to learn more about their lifestyle and culture, which includes traditional artwork such as tattoos, scarification, and jewelry.
Odienne
We leave Boundiali and head to Odienne, a town known for its Malinkes people who migrated to Ivory Coast in the 15th and 16th century. We visit the chieftaincy and have an audience with the chief.
Man
We visit a village belonging to the Dan people, known for their mask dancers who perform on stilts. We explore the area to learn more about their local customs before driving to Man for the night. Man is the central town of the Dan people, known for their strong attachment to ancestral beliefs and resistance to Islam.
Man Hotel Les Cascades
We begin our day with an early morning excursion to the sacred Liana bridge in the Vatuo forest. The journey to Vatuo, located 82km from Man, will take us on an unpaved road and a 20-minute walk to the Calvary River.
Man – Yamoussoukro Hotel President
After breakfast, we set out on a scenic drive to Yamoussoukro, a journey that takes around five hours and covers a distance of 320km. Along the way, we’ll pass through the heights of Man, descending the mountains and traveling through relatively flat land from Daloa. We’ll arrive in Yamoussoukro in the early afternoon and visit the famous Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
Yamoussoukro – Grand Bassam – Abidjan Return flight
We depart early in the morning for Grand Bassam, a city known for its colonial architecture and rich history. We’ll explore the city and visit the National Museum of Costume, which showcases a diverse collection of art reflecting the ethnography, history, and culture of the country. After lunch at a seaside restaurant, we’ll head back to Abidjan, arriving in the late afternoon. We’ll then transfer to the airport for our return flight home.
