GLI ARGOMENTI

REVIEW OF THE IVORY COAST TRAVEL (Abidjan, Assinie, Grand Bassam, Yamoussoukro and Man), LIBERIA (Ganta, Buchanan, Marshall, Monrovia and Robertsport) AND SIERRA LEONE (Potoru, Tiwai Island, Bo, Freetown, Tacugama Schimpanzee Sanctuary, Kent, Banana Island, John Obey, York, Tokeh, River 2, Sussex, Lumley, Cline Town, Kissy and Tagrin).


IVORY COAST

 

Flight of the Brussels Ailines Company from Linate to Abidjan (Ivory Coast), with a stopover in Brussels and a technical stop in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Linate to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and from Freetown (Sierra Leone): Euro 640.24).

 

In the Ivory Coast there is a 1 hour time zone, compared to Italy, 2 hours when daylight saving time is in force in Italy

 

Entry visa: necessary, to be requested at the diplomatic / consular offices of the Ivory Coast in Italy or abroad. It is possible to apply for an entry visa online and collect it upon arrival at Abidjan airport. For the procedures relating to registration and payment, consult the website: www.snedai.com, where it is necessary to enter the travel data, upload the passport scan, the return flight booking and the hotel reservation (it is online booking through classic sites such as booking.com is sufficient, even for the first night only). Then you have to proceed with the payment of Euro 73.00, by credit card. In this way, after about 2 or 3 days, the E-VISA is received, to be printed and presented at Abidjan Airport, where after having fingerprinted and photographed, the actual visa is obtained on the Passport.

 

Then at another desk, you get the entry stamp in your passport.

 

In the Ivory Coast many people speak French but very few speak English.

 

Religions: Muslim (35-40%), Christian (30%), the rest animists.

 

In the Ivory Coast the police are generally kind to foreigners and do not bother foreigners with requests for money.

 

From Abidjan International Airport (Ivory Coast), located about 15 km south of Plateau, the center of the country's economic capital, to reach it you need to take a taxi at a price of 5,000 CFA. The journey lasts a short half hour.

 

For the Hotel I had booked through Booking at the Hotel Residence Vera, located in the Marcory district, 4 km south of Pletau, at the price of 18,000 CFA, but when I arrived, it was closed and I had to stay overnight at the nearby Hotel Hamanieh , at the price of 25,000 CFA, for a double with air conditioning and wifi not working.

 

From the Marcory district, to reach Assinie, I went on foot to the main street of Marcory at 500 meters. from my Hotel, where minibuses from Gare du Bassam pass.

 

From there I did not find direct minibuses to Assinie, but it is necessary to change at Grand Bassam.

 

The minibus journey to the Grand Bassam gare de routiere, located on Place de la Paix 2km north of the beach, costs CFA 500. Duration of the trip: about 1 hour.

 

From the gare de routiere in Grand Bassam, I took a minibus to Aboisso and got off at Samo. Cost of the ride: 500 CFA. Duration of the trip: about 1 hour.

 

From the main street of Samo, I walked for 500 meters. about on the road to Assinie, thus reaching the gare de routiere of Samo, from where, when full, collective taxis leave for Assinie Mafia. Cost of the ride: 1,400 CFA. Duration of the trip: about 1 hour.

 

The minibus at my request left me at the dock of the Assinie Mafia motor boats. The cost of the same to cross the Assinie Canal costs 2,500 CFA, for the round trip. The journey takes 10 minutes.

 

This leads to the white Copacabana beach. Free admission.

 

Back, with a direct minibus from Assinie at a cost of 1,500 CFA, to the gare de routiere of Grand Bassam, located in Place de la Paix 2 km north of the beach, I took a collective taxi to the Beach for the price of 200 CFA ( is the cost of each ride in the city).

 

The entrance fee to Grand Bassam beach is 500 CFA.

 

Grand Bassam, appears safe and can be easily explored on foot.

 

Back in the Marcory district of Abidjan and specifically at the Grand Bassam routiere race, I took a private taxi to Le Plateau, at a price of 1,000 CFA.

 

Le Plateau, on Sunday appears deserted but safe as there are security guards on every corner.

 

From Le Plateau, I took a private taxi to Cathedrale St Paul, for the price of 1,000 CFA.

 

Admission to Cathedrale St Paul is free.

 

The nearby Musee des Civilitasions, within walking distance, is closed on Sunday.

 

From the Musee des Civilitasions, I took a private taxi to Hotel Ivoire, located in Cocody (the most exclusive neighborhood in Abidjan), for the price of 1,000 CFA.

 

From the Hotel Ivoire, I took a private taxi to Galerie Fakhoury (closed on Sunday), located in Cocody (the most exclusive neighborhood in Abidjan), for the price of 1,000 CFA.

 

From Galerie Fakhoury, I took a private taxi to Hotel de la Gare, one of the cheapest in the city, located in Adjamè, the most dangerous district of Abidjan, at a price of 2,000 CFA.

 

The cost of a single room at the Hotel de la Gare is 7,000 CFA, with fan and 14,000 CFA, with air conditioning. WIFI, not working, breakfast not included.

 

Pay close attention to Adjamè, the most dangerous neighborhood in Abidjan. Do not go out on foot after sunset and also during the day pay close attention.

 

From my hotel, I walked about 200 meters. to reach the chaotic road where the buses of the various companies leave for the north and west of the Ivory Coast.

 

To find the one headed to the capital, a guy helped me to whom I had to give 1,000 CFA.

 

There are several companies that make numerous trips to Yamoussoukro every day. I took a bus of the company J.T.B., directed to Bouakè, which left me on the southern outskirts of the capital. Cost of the ride: 3,000 CFA. Duration of the trip: scarce 4 hours (it makes a lot of stops).

 

From there I took a shared taxi to Yamoussoukro's Basilique Notre Dame de la Paix, for the price of 500 CFA.

 

Yamoussoukro's Basilique Notre Dame de la Paix is ​​similar to the Vatican City's St. Peter's Basilica. The cost of admission is 2,000 CFA. Guides are available in English. It is not possible to take photos inside.

 

Yamoussoukro is the political capital of the Ivory Coast, although all government offices and embassies are in Abidjan. With its enormous semi-deserted avenues, apart from the aforementioned Basilica, it offers nothing interesting to see also because the Presidential Palace is closed to the public. However, in front of its walls there is a pond infested with crocodiles, which are fed every day around 5.00 pm by an expert, offering a noteworthy spectacle for visitors.

 

From there I took a shared taxi to Yamoussoukro's Gare Routiere, for the price of 200 CFA.

 

From the Gare Routiere in Yamoussoukro, located south of the City, I took a bus to Man, for the price of 6,000 CFA. Duration of the trip: scarce 8 hours (it makes a lot of stops). The first 3 hours I did sitting on the ground in the corridor because the bus was too full.

 

In Man the bus arrives right in the city center.

 

Man is a beautiful town in the middle of the hills.

 

In Man I thought of sleeping at the very central Hotel Leveneur, but I discovered that the same is no longer in business.

 

I then slept at the Amointrin Hotel, located in Rue du Lycee Professional, on the outskirts of Man. Room price: 15,000 CFA (I got a discount of 1,000 CFA). Hot water in buckets, available. Air conditioning. Working wifi.

 

To reach him by collective taxi, in the evening I paid 500 CFA.

 

The next morning I walked for 500 meters. About dirt road to reach the main paved road, where I took a collective taxi to the Cascades for 1,000 CFA.

The Falls of Man open at 9.00 in the morning, but if you show up earlier as I did, it is likely that a boy from the nearby Village will accompany you to see them for 500 CFA, passing the entrance gate on the left.

 

From the Falls, if you want to go back to the center of Man, you have to walk for over a kilometer, on a dirt road until you find the paved road where you can take one of the numerous collective taxis which, at a price of 500 CFA, take you to the city center.

 

Gare du Rutiere in Mn is located in the city center, on the main road opposite the petrol station.

 

From the gare de routiere of Man, a minibus leaves for Dananè when it is full (you can wait even more than 1 hour). Cost of the ride: 2,000 CFA. Duration of the trip: about 1 hour and a half. The same makes numerous stops.

 

The aforementioned minibus ends the race at the gare de routiere of Dananè, on the eastern outskirts of the city. From here, collective taxis to Kpantiaplay, on the border with Liberia, are rare. On the other hand, it is easy to find a Motorbike, at a price of 10,000 CFA. But by bargaining heavily I found one at 5,000 CFA.

 

The road between Dananè and Kpantiaplay, on the border with Liberia, is terrible. There are about 20 km of dirt road, sometimes sandy, with gigantic holes, which becomes impassable after the rains.

 

Quite easily I obtained the exit stamp from the Ivory Coast.

 

Then I walked for about 100 meters. scarce to reach Liberia.

 

LIBERIA

 

 

In Liberia there is a 1 hour time zone, compared to Italy, 2 hours when in Italy there is daylight saving time

 

Entry visa: necessary, to be requested at the diplomatic / consular offices of the Liberia in Italy or abroad. It is not possible to apply for an entry visa online or at the airport. I asked the Embassy of Liberia in Rome based in Piazzale delle Medaglie d'oro n. 7, Email: ambaliberia.roma@gmail.com. The employee who speaks excellent Italian is very polite and helpful and replies to both email and telephone.

I sent the following documents by courier:

 

-2 color passport photos taken recently;

- original passport;

 - Return flight ticket;

- Completed and signed entry visa application form;

- photocopy of Yellow Fever booklet;

- 70 Euros in cash;

 

In just 2 days I got a tourist visa valid for 90 days.

Then I sent my courier to collect it

 

In Liberia, the official language is English and therefore almost everyone speaks English.

 

Religions: Animists 40%, Christians 40%, Muslims 20%.

 

At the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), you have to pass several checks, before obtaining the entry stamp on the Passport.

A cop politely asked me for a tip and I gave him a dollar.

 

Keep in mind that in Liberia the US dollar is used to pay for larger expenses such as hotels, while the Liberia dollar is used to pay for Restaurants, Supermarkets, means of transport, ect.

 

At the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), there are 2 money changers that do not exchange Euros, but exchange US Dollars at the following exchange rate: 1 USD = 155 LRD In Monrovia the exchange rate is: 1 USD = 160 LRD

 

 From the land border of Kpantiaplay (Liberia), there is a collective taxi that leaves for Monrovia when it is full but it is likely to wait several hours before it fills up. The journey takes approximately 8 hours.

 

A faster solution is to take a motorbike, which takes about 2 and a half hours to cover the 70 km of dirt road, sometimes in poor condition, which separates Kpantiaplay from the City of Ganta. There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money. Sometimes you may be asked for a tip. In this case, you can get away with 50 or 100 AMLA.

 

 

In Ganta I spent the night at the E.D. Motel, located right on the main road in front of the minibus and collective taxi stand for Monrovia. The cost of a single room with fan is USD 10, with private bathroom and USD 5, with shared bathroom.

 

From Ganta, when full, many collective taxis leave for Monrovia. The cost of the ride is LRD 1,000. The journey of about 260 km, entirely asphalted, takes about 3 and a half hours.

 

In Monrovia all means of transport from the north and east of Liberia stop in Paynesville, located 16 km south-east of the capital.

 

From Paynesville, when full, many shared taxis leave for Buchanan. The cost of the ride is 550 LRD. The journey of about 130 km, entirely asphalted, lasts a good 2 hours.

 

In Buchanan, the collective taxi dropped me on the main road, right in the center.

 

In Buchanan, I rented a motorbike, for half a day, for the price of 600 LRD to visit the city and to go to Sunset Beach, located 5km south of the City.

 

The road from Buchanan to Sunset Beach is unpaved.

 

Entrance to Sunset Beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Buchanan, costs 200 LRD.

 

The Buchanan collective taxi stand is located on the north-eastern outskirts of the city.

 

From Buchanan, when full, many shared taxis leave for Paynesville which also stop at Marshall Junction. The cost of the ride is 500 LRD. The journey of approximately 120 km entirely asphalted, lasts 2 hours.

 

From Marshall Junction, there are many motorbikes, which are necessary to reach Marshall. The cost of the ride is 250 LRD. The journey of about 15 km of dirt road in good condition takes about 20 minutes.

 

In Marshall, I rented a rowing canoe, with 2 rowers, to go and see the Chimpanzees on Monkey Island, for 20 USD. If you want you can also rent a motor boat but the cost of the same is 50 USD.

 

Keep in mind that the Chimpanzees can only be seen from the boat without going ashore as they are aggressive towards humans.

 

I spent my night at a Motel, located on the link road between Paynesville and Buchanan, a good 1km northeast of Marshall Junction. The cost is USD 10, for a double room, with fan. Also supplied with 2 condoms. Only cold water in buckets available. Ball music until after midnight.

 

In front of the aforementioned Motel pass numerous collective taxis bound for Paynesville. The fare is 120 LRD. The journey of approximately 15 km entirely paved, takes from 20 minutes to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Numerous collective taxis pass through Paynesville to the center of the capital Monrovia (Broad Street). The fare is 120 LRD. The journey of approximately 16 km, entirely asphalted, takes from 20 minutes to approximately 40 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Monrovia is a seemingly safe city by day. It is good to walk around while after sunset it is better to use a taxi.

 

To photograph the Monuments and the National Assembly Building, located in Ashmun Street, in front of the National Library, I paid the custodian 500 LRD.

 

To move around the center of Monrovia you can take advantage of a short three-wheeled vehicle at a cost of 30 LRD for a short ride.

 

If from the center of Monrovia, you want to reach Robertsport, you have to reach the Duala collective taxi stand, located 7 km north of the capital.

 

To reach Duala it is necessary to take a collective taxi which departs from United Nations Drive, at the intersection with Broad Street. The cost of the ride is 50 LRD. The journey of approximately 7 km, entirely asphalted, takes from 20 minutes to approximately 40 minutes depending on traffic.

 

From the Duala car park, when full, some collective taxis leave for Robertsport. The cost of the ride is 700 LRD. The journey of 100 km, of which the last 43 km are unpaved, takes about 3 hours.

 

There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money. Sometimes you may be asked for a tip. In this case, you can get away with 50 or 100 AMLA.

 

From the Robertsport taxi stand, located in the center, near Lake Piso, I rented a motorbike which for 180 LRD (round trip), took me to Cassava Beach, the most beautiful beach in the area, located 3 km south - east, the last of which is a dirt road.

 

In Robertsport, I slept in a Guesthouse, located in front of Emmanuel Chapel, in the center, for the price of 25 USD. Wifi not available. Fan not working. Cold water in buckets available.

 

From the Robertsport car park, when full, some collective taxis leave for Bo, on the border with Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 700 LRD. The 96 km journey, of which the first 43 km are unpaved, takes about 3 hours.

 

In Bo there is a guy who changes money for you with the following exchange rates: £ 1 = SLL 8,900, 1 Euro = SLL 8,700, USD 1 = SLL 8,300 (with tickets of USD 100; with tickets of 50, 20 and 10 the change is worse)

 

At the Liberian Border of Bo, you need to register your passport before obtaining the Exit Stamp. Then there is the control of the Yellow Fever certificate.

 

To reach the Sierra Leone border it is necessary to walk for about 1 km, I take a motortaxi.

 

 

SIERRA LEONE

 

In Sierra Leone there is 1 hour of time zone, compared to Italy, 2 hours when in Italy there is daylight saving time

 

Entry visa: required, to be requested at the diplomatic / consular offices of Sierra Leone in Italy or abroad. It is possible to apply for an entry visa online and thus obtain a visa upon arrival at Freetown airport, or at all land borders. For the procedures relating to registration and payment, consult the website: https://www.visitsierraleone.org/visiting-sierra-leone/getting-there/visa-application, where it is necessary to enter the travel data, upload passport scannings, round trip flight reservations and hotel reservations (online booking through classic sites such as booking.com is sufficient, even for the first night only). Then you have to pay 120 USD, by credit card. In this way, after about 2 or 3 days, the E-VISA is received, to be printed, together with the receipt of payment and to be presented at Freetown Airport or at all land borders, where the actual visa is obtained on the Passport. Keep in mind that on the E-VISA, even if you have declared that you want to enter Sierra Leone, by land, you will be written that the port of entry is Freetown Airport, but this is not a problem, but it is the practice. Then remember to print at least 3 copies of the E-visa and the receipt of payment, which could be requested at the numerous checkpoints in the country.

 

In Sierra Leone the official language is English and therefore almost everyone speaks English.

 

Religions: Muslims 60%, animists 30%, Christians 10%

 

Once you have obtained the visa and the entry stamp you have to show the Yellow Fever certificate and here I met my problem, as the 2 bold young people eager to get some money from a foreigner, tried to convince me that to enter the Cholera vaccination was mandatory in the country, as there was an epidemic in place and therefore they would have stamped me the vaccination at a cost of 30 USD, without getting the vaccination. Logically all false and I objected but in the end after evaluating their persistence and arrogance I had to pay 20 USD, getting a 10 USD discount. Before leaving the border, another employee wanted a tip. I got away with 10,000 SLL.

 

From Bo in Liberia I took a motortaxi which first took me to the one in Sierra Leone, waiting for me to obtain an entry visa and then to the Kambama Village at a price of 200,000 SLL. The 90 km journey, almost entirely unpaved (a new asphalted road is under construction), of which the last 10, in poor condition, last a scant 3 hours.

 

There are several checkpoints, where you need to show your passport for registration. The Police are almost always polite and generally don't ask foreigners for money, but sometimes they ask your Motor driver, who will then logically make you pay.

 

If you need to stock up on food, you can do it in Potoru Town.

 

In Kambama Village, the young Village Chief will help you organize your excursion to Tiwai Island, on the Moa River, at a cost of SLL 200,000, which includes the cost of the motor boat or the rowing dugout, accommodation in a tent on the Island and the Guide (30,000 SLL) needed to spot the numerous bird monkeys present on the Island. To this it is desirable to tip at least 20,000 SLL.

 

Tiwai Island offers a unique ecosystem in the world where numerous species of primates and birds live in harmony. However, sighting them is not easy because they live on very tall trees.

 

From Kambama Village, Sierra Leone, I took a motortaxi that took me to the town of Bandajuma for a price of 75,000 SLL. The journey of 40 km, scarce, of which the first 10 dirt roads in poor condition, while the remaining almost all asphalted, lasts for an abundant hour.

 

From the taxi rank of Bandajuma, located in the center, when they are full, some collective taxis leave for Bo, in Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 15,000 SLL. The journey of 53 km, all paved, takes about 1 hour.

 

The aforementioned taxi ends its journey near the roundabout between Prince Williams Street and Tikonko Road, right in the center of Bo.

 

If you want to go to Freetown, you have to reach the minibus and bus stand, located on the western outskirts of Bo. To do so, get a motorbike for the price of 5,000 SLL.

 

From the aforementioned Bo parking, frequent minibuses leave when they are full to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The cost of the ride is 40,000 SLL. The journey of 230 km, all paved, takes about 4 hours.

 

In Freetown if you are heading to Lumley you have to get off at Hastings, 12km south-east of downtown Freetown, cross the road and take another minibus.

 

Otherwise it is necessary to stay on the minibus until you reach the center of Freetown, which appears safe from sunrise to sunset, while afterwards it is advisable to move by motorbike, Tuc Tuc or taxi.

 

In Freetown, I stayed at the YMCA, which is one of the cheapest accommodations in the City. It is located in the center, on Fort Street, about 600 meters from the Cotton Tree. The cost per night is 150,000 SLL. Mosquito net, breakfast, WIFI included. Shared bathroom. Tv in the room. Good level of cleanliness and safety.

 

In the center of Freetown, in Siaka Steven Street, near the Central Bank and the Post Office, there are young people who, every day except Sunday morning, change money at the following exchange rate: 1 USD = 8,500 SLL

 

 

To reach Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (http://www.tacugama.com), located 12km south of downtown Freetown, I took a motorbike for a price of 15,000 SLL. The last good km is on a dirt road in poor condition.

 

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, is open every day at 10.30 and 16.00. The cost of entry is 125,000 SLL. Reservations are required only if you are part of a large group. If you are alone or with a few people, you can show up 15 minutes before opening time.

 

At Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary it is possible to see the Chimpanzee for about 1 hour and a half, while they are being fed.

From the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, it is necessary to walk a generous 1km downhill before reaching the paved road in Regent, where the means of transport pass. From there I took a motorbike to Kent, covering the 48 km in less than an hour. Price of the journey: 40,000 SLL.

 

From there I rented a motor boat for the price of 150,000 SLL (round trip) for the 20 minute ride to reach Dublin on Banana Island.

 

To set foot in Dublin on Banana Island, I had to pay the SLL 20,000 admission fee.

 

The Boat Driver accompanied me to visit Dublin in Banana Island. In return, I gave him a 10,000 SLL tip.

 

Back in Kent, I rented a motorbike for half a day for the price of 150,000 SLL, which allowed me to see the following Beaches: John Obey Beach, York Beach, Tokeh Beach, River Two Beach and Sussex beach.

 

Entrance to Tokeh Beach costs 5,000 SLL.

 

Entrance to River Two Beach costs SLL 5,000.

 

Admission to Sussex Beach costs 2,000 SLL.

 

The roughly 8km dirt road that separates Tokeh Beach from River Two Beach is in poor condition.

 

Once I finished my tour in Lumley, I took a motorbike, which took me to my Hotel YMCA, covering the 10km in scarcely twenty minutes for the price of 15,000 SLL.

 

The National Museum, located near the Cotton Tree, is open every day except Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. The entrance fee is 7500 SLL.

 

To get to the Railway Museum, located in Cline Town, 12km east of downtown Freetown, I took a Tuc tuc for the price of 4000 SLL. The vehicle left me at the roundabout on the state road, from which I had to walk for 200 meters. about to reach the aforementioned Museum.

 

 The Railway Museum, located in Cline Town, is open every day except Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. The entrance fee for foreigners is 5 USD.

 

To reach Kissy Ferry Terminal, located 2.5 km south-east of the Railway Museum, in Cline Town, I took a motorbike for the price of 3000 SLL.

 

 From the Kissy Ferry Terminal a passenger ferry leaves from sunrise to sunset every 2 and a half hours to Tagrin, which crosses the Bay of the same name for 8 km, in about 40 minutes. Price of the journey: 5,000 SLL in second class. I took the ferry at 2.30pm which left 40 minutes late.

 

To reach the Lungi International Airport (FNA), located in Cline Town, 13 km northwest of Tagrin, I took a motorbike for the price of 15,000 SLL. Duration of the ride: 20 minutes. Collective taxis also make the same journey.

 

There are also fast boats that take you to the Airport from Freetown, costing around USD 30.

 

At Lungi International Airport (FNA), I easily get the exit stamp from the country, without filling out any form. There are 2 security checks, the last of which checks your hand luggage by opening it.

 

19.15 flight of the Brussels Ailines Company from Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Malpensa (Va), with a technical stop in Monrovia (Liberia) and a stop in Brussels (Belgium). (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Linate to Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and from Freetown (Sierra Leone): Euro 640.24).

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/04/viaggio-in-costa-davorio-abidjan.html

 

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