Day One
We will be meeting in the hotel conference room for breakfast and your guide, Mai Cantrall, will go over the trip itinerary in detail. We will also go over what is to be expected and the “do’s” and “don’ts” during the trip.
We will depart from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro (the economic capital) to visit the world's biggest cathedral. Driving distance from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro is 240 kilometers (approximately 149 miles).
We will also visit the residence of Ivory Coast's first president. Snacks will be provided.
Day Two
We woll be meeting in the hotel conference room for breakfast and your guide (Mai Cantrall) will go over the trip itinerary in detail. We will also go over what is to be expected and the “do’s and "don’ts" during the trip.
We will depar from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro (the economic capital) to visit the world's biggest cathedral. Driving distance from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro is 240 kilometers (approximately 149 miles).
We will also visit the residence of Ivory Coast's first president. Snacks will be provided on the trip from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.
Day Three
After breakfast, we will head toward a small town called Tiebissou. There, we will dance with African masks, learn how to weave traditional African fabric, and shop for various African fabrics.
After Tiebissou, we will be heading to another city called “Bouake." There we will spend the day sight-seeing wild animals, making campfires and much more! We will spend the night in Bouake at the N'zi River Lodges.
Days Four & Five
We will be travelling to two towns nearby. The first town is called Bondoukou:
First we will meet the king and his court. There we will learn about how Royalty from this region works including the ins and outs of their culture based on Royalty. We will get chance to take pictures with the king, queens, queen mother, and other dignitaries.
From there we will go to a village near by to see a dance called the Dance of Fire. This is a special dance that one must be initiated to participate in. The dancers pic up fire and sit on fire during the dance.
From there we will go meet a tribe called the Lobi people and learn about their lifestyle which still very indigenous. We will meet with the Lobi tribe. We will get a chance to taste traditional wine from the Lobi people. You will see how both tribes have different lifestyles even though they are from the same town. We will also go and see a few dances Before heading to another town called Bouna.
Days Six & Seven
Bouna is the shea butter town; This is where it’s made and sold all over the world. We will go and see how it’s made traditionally, and get a chance to buy pure shea butter cream, soap, facial cleanser and many more shea butter based products.
From there we will visit a smaller kingdom in the town of Bouna if time permits.
We will visit a national park in Comoé where we will get a chance to sight see animals in their natural environment.
Comoé National Park is near the northeastern corner of Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa. Its diverse terrain spans savannahs, grasslands and stretches of rainforest not typically found in the north. Running through the park is the long, fish-filled Comoé River. The park is home to chimpanzees, hippos and dwarf crocodiles, plus hundreds of bird species.
After our visit to the park, we will head towards another town called Abengourou. We will stop in a nearby village and witness at least three dances performed there.
Days Seven & Eight
We will spend the night in Abengourou. In the morning, we will visit one of the Akan tribe's biggest kingdoms. While there, we will learn about the kingdom's history which is also part of the larger history of West Africa's story. We will also visit the king sorcerer's home and the women who protect the king from any evil intentions.
We will spend an additional night in Abengourou and head to our next destination early in the morning after breakfast.
Day Nine
From Abengouro we will be going to another town called Danane to see a traditional indigenous village. This village is unique because the people from this small tribe refuse to change their ways and adapt to the more modern changes round them. They continue to live the way their ancestors lived hundreds of years before them. We will have a guide who will explain their tradition and Mai will translate as the guide is talking about this ancient tribe. There are fascinating cultural secrets that will be revealed.
We will also travel to see a traditional bridge made by hand by the "chosen” among the villagers. No one truly knows how the bridge was made because it was constructed at night.
Day Ten
From Danane we will head to Bouafle to see two different dances among tribal people.
Day Eleven
We will head to a small town called Tiassale to learn the history of the slave trade. We will take a look at the old slave route and hear the story of how the people were sold. We will see the small river that the slaves used to rinse their faces while in transit to the boats that would take them to America. If time permits, we will also visit other historical sites in the small town of Tiassale such as the secret rocks site.
We will spend the night in Tiassale and then head to Bassam.
Days Twelve & Thirteen
We will be heading toward the capital (Abidjan) to a town called Bassam to get some rest and visit a few historical sites including one or two other large Akan kingdoms. We will also do some shopping at traditional local markets while in the area.
If time permits, we will head to the capital to visit the museum in Abidjan before heading to Ranch Bini for a day of rest.
Day Fourteen
We will spend our last day in a typical African ranch called Ranch Bini. There are numerous activities inside the ranch that we will engage in including meals, before heading back to our hotel in Abidjan to rest and get ready to leave for the States.
