Social Conventions One of the most striking features of Côte d’Ivoire, distinguishing it from many other African countries, is the extreme ethnic and linguistic variety. The size of each of the 60 groups – which include the Akar, Kron, Nzima, Hone, Voltaic and Malinke peoples – varies widely and the area they occupy may cover a whole region. With very few exceptions every Ivoirian has a mother tongue which is that of the village, along with traditions, family and social relations within their ethnic group. French has become the official language of schools, cities
and government and therefore has an influence on lifestyle even at a modest level. Handshaking is normal. Tropical lightweight clothes are essential, a light raincoat in the rainy season and a hat for the sun. Casual wear is widely acceptable but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Dress tends to err on conservative - men wearing long trousers and women wearing knee-length or longer skirts, dresses and trousers. Ties need only be worn for formal occasions. Small tokens of appreciation, a souvenir from home or a business gift with the company logo are always welcome. Normal courtesies should be observed and it is considered polite to arrive punctually for social occasions. There are no restrictions on smoking. Snakes are regarded as sacred by some ethnic groups.
International Travel:
Getting There by Air Airlines serving Côte d’Ivoire include Air Burkina, Air France, British Airways, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, SN Brussels,South African Airways, Trans African Airlines and VLM. Côte d’Ivoire has a shareholding in Air Afrique, although the future of this airline, due to financial difficulties, is still under negotiation. It is recommended that visitors re-confirm returns flights 72 hours in advance.
Departure Tax XOF3,000 for African destinations and XOF5,000 for all other departures (from Abidjan airport - prices differ according to airport flown from).
Main Airports Abidjan (ABJ) (Félix Houphouët-Boigny) (website: www.aeria.ci) is 16km (10 miles) southeast of Abidjan. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city (journey time - 25 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shop, restaurant, shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, pharmacy and car hire.
Yamoussoukro (ASK) (San Pedro) has been upgraded to international standard.
Getting There by Water Main ports:Abidjan is the main port in Cote d’Ivoire; however, there are no regular passenger sailings. Cargo liners provide limited accommodation for passengers traveling from Europe.
Getting There by Rail The Abidjan-Niger Railway extends to Burkino Faso. There are two through-trains with sleeping and restaurant cars from Abidjan to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) daily (journey time – 25 to 27 hours). Those intending to travel should be aware that the Burkina Faso rail network is under constant threat of closure because of financial difficulties: check with the appropriate authorities before finalizing arrangements.
Getting There by Road There are road links of varying quality from Kumasi (Ghana) and from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Liberia and Mali. Borders close at night.
Bus: Frequent services operate to Accra (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). There is a service approximately once a week to Bamako (Mali); the journey can be very long (36 to 96 hours).
Bush taxis also operate on these routes.
Overview The following goods may be imported into Côte d’Ivoire by passengers over 15 years of age without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco or 100 cigarillos; one bottle of wine; one bottle of spirits; 0.5l of toilet water and 0.25l of perfume.
Duty must be paid on video cameras, which may be imported for personal use only. A deposit must be paid on entry and is refundable on departure. Sporting guns can be imported under license. Limits are placed on certain other personal effects; contact the Consulate prior to departure.
Internal Travel:
Getting Around By Air Air Ivoire (VU) (website: www.airivoire.com) no longer runs domestic flights. Check with travel agent for new options.
Getting Around by Rail The Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway is one of the most efficient in Africa and runs trains daily from Abidjan to Bouaké and Ferkessédougou. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged between four and 9 pay half fare.
Getting Around by Road Côte d’Ivoire has a good road system by West African standards, with 68,000km (42,250 miles) of roads, 5600km (3480 miles) of which are surfaced. However, drivers should be aware of potholes and poorly lit vehicles. Petrol stations are frequent except in the north. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Small private buses and bush taxis operate throughout the country; they are efficient, although often extremely overcrowded. There are also larger coaches for longer journeys. Taxi: These are available in main cities, although often of unsound mechanical condition. Car hire: Cars may be hired in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport. Documentation: Insurance is compulsory for the driver. The driver requires a UK or most other (applicable) national driving licenses, accompanied by attestation from the Embassy of the issuing country that it is genuine.
Getting Around Towns and Cities Extensive bus and boat services are operated in Abidjan by SOTRA on a two-tiered fare structure. Taxis are usually red and metered; rates are doubled from 0000-0600.
Journey Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Abidjan to other major towns in the Côte d’Ivoire.
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