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Home & Tours > New Tours > New Ivory Coast Exploratory Tour next month

New Ivory Coast Exploratory Tour next month

14th August 2021

We are pleased to announce that Wild Images’ in-house African culture expert Inger Vandyke will be leading a small exploratory tour to the northern part of Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in late September.

Joining a very small group, you will have the chance to visit and photograph numerous masked dancers from this vibrant West African country and visit the ancient, beautiful mud mosque in the northern city of Kong.

A draft outline itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: 28 September – Flight to Abidjan, upon arrival transfer to hotel Onomo for 1 night

Day 2: 29 September – After breakfast transfer to the airport for 1115am flight to Korhogo.  On arrival in Korhogo, transfer to Hotel La Rose Blanche and enjoy lunch.  Afternoon visits to Kapele Village to visit handmade bead craftsmen and then the Waraniene village which is famous for its weavers.  At Waraniene we will see the Boloye, or “Panther” dance which forms a part of the initiation rituals of the Poro, a part of the Senoufo ethnic group.
Day 3: 30 September – After breakfast take a long transfer to Kong to the visit the two ancient mud mosques in the town.  A box lunch will be included.  Return to Khorogo and depending on the time we will visit the Koko’s sculptors’ quarter where a women’s cooperateve makes shea butter.  We will visit the craft market where Pablo Picasso gained his inspiration for his famous paintings of the Ivory Coast before staying overnight.
Day 4: 1 October – After breakfast we will visit Niofoins, a typical village with tapered Senoufo granaries that can be up to five meters tall!  We will then depart to Boundiali to witness a Ngoro dance that forms a part of the initiation of young girls.  Lunch will be at a local restaurant.  After lunch we will visit some Peulh (Fulani) villages who are known for their beautiful broad brimmed hats and the women’s tattooed bottom lips.  We will then continue to Odienne where we will check in to hotel des Frontieres or similar for an overnight stay.
Day 5: 2 October – After breakfast we will travel to a Manding village where we will witness the masked dance of traditional warriors. Our next stop will visit another mask dance of the Yacouba who emerge from a sacred forest on stilts (The Gue Gblen) and who are known for their acrobatic abilities!  We will then continue on to the city of Man and check into the Hotel Les Cascades or similar.
Day 6: 3 October – Morning sightseeing around Man (waterfall, monkey sightseeing and artisanal workshops) and visit to a village to watch a masked dance of the Dan people. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon we will travel to Daloa and if it is possible (or we are very lucky) we may see a beautiful masked dance by the We people.  If this is not possible then we will attend another dance of the Dan people that afternoon.  Check into the hotel Imans or similar for an overnight stay.
Day 7: 4 October – Depart towards the capital.  Upon arrival at Yamoussoukro (also called Yakro) we will visit the Basilican of Notre Dame de la Paix, the largest Christian religious building in the world that was inspired by St Peter’s in Rome.  Lunch will be at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon we will travel to some Baulé villages where we will admire the work of Kita weavers and enjoy a mask dance of the Goly.  After the dance has concluded we will return to Yamassoukoro for an overnight stay.
Day 8: 5 October – After breakfast we will depart of Aniassuè which is home to a school for  animist priestesses known as Komian.  Here we will meet the feticheuses, or guardians of ancestral divinities and we will be able to watch them performing traditional dances.  A boxed lunch will be provided.  From there we will return to Abidjan and overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar.
Day 9: 6 October – This morning we will allow time for PCR or other covid testing before we head to Grand  Bassam for an afternoon of street photography.  We will stay overnight in Hotel Etoile du Su or similar.
Day 10: 7 October – Today we will visit some of the sights around Grand Bassam which has  been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site due to its historical buildings.  We will walk through the sleepy streets of quartier du France, punctuated by decadent vestiges like the palace of the governor Binger, which houses a museum of traditional costumes.  We will also visit the ancient post office and customs buildings before enjoying lunch in a maquis on the lagoon. Our afternoon will be spent relaxing, reviewing photographs, spending time on the beach or at the swimming pool.  We will stay overnight in Grand Bassam.

Day 11:  8 October. A free morning to enjoy in Grand Bassam relaxing or doing some last minute shopping. Depending on PCR results and flight schedule we will return to Abidjan airport for our flights home. End of tour.

 

The full details and costs of this tour are being finalized.  To register your interest please contact the Wild Images office and we will let you know costs, inclusions and exclusions when they are available.  We hope you can join us.