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Ivory Coast

A - Z of places…

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Explore Mali

Learn more about some of the most important places and features of Mali.

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Explore Burkina Faso

Find out about some of the best places to visit in Burkina Faso.

Climate

Africa is a massive continent, with a range of climates. Some regions are hot and dry, like the Sahara, Kalahari and Namib deserts. Other parts are wet or covered in tropical rainforest. Conditions also vary by altitude, from the dry salt pans of the Danakil Depression (one of the lowest points on earth) to the snowcaps (at certain times) of the highest mountains. Weather-wise, Africa has it all!

Tai National Park

This national park is one of the last areas in West Africa to contain primary rainforest. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1982 and has a very large amount of flora and fauna. It is also home to five endangered mammal species including leopards, chimpanzees and Olive Colobus monkeys.

Foods

Africa has some of the most distinctive cuisines and flavours in the world. Food varies widely, but there are commonalities across regions. Depending on what's grown locally, dishes are also influenced by the traders, immigrants and rulers who settled across the continent. Arab, Asian and European elements blend in with traditional African cooking.

Health

Africa has a high number of communicable diseases, which place a huge burden on healthcare systems. The vast majority of malaria cases and HIV/AIDS-related deaths occur in Africa; these two diseases currently represent the greatest threats.

With low investment in healthcare and a severe shortage of medical staff, many countries struggle to meet the health needs of their people.

Geography & Wildlife

With its varied geography and diverse habits, the African continent is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Though famous for its 'big game' animals, Africa has huge numbers of fish, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and insect species, as well as many tree, plant and flower species.

Development

‘People are the real wealth of a nation.’ This is the belief of the United Nations, whose Millenium Development Goals provide a framework for improving the lives of millions.

It helps when nations are peaceful, stable and growing economically. But where even the poorest countries focus on health, education and creating fairer societies, more Africans have the chance of a better life.

Games & Sport

Africa is home to arguably the oldest-recorded games and sports. While some are only known through archaeology, modern-day games and sports such as Mancala/Mankala and Nubian wrestling are very much alive today.

Of course, new sports have come along to claim the attention of Africans. You may have heard of one - it's called football.

Comoé National Park

This is the oldest national park in the country. One of the largest protected areas in West Africa, the park is characterised by its great plant diversity. The presence of the Comoé river accounts for patches of thick rainforest which are normally only found much farther south.

Abidjan

Although ceasing to serve as the nation’s capital in 1983, Abidjan remains Ivory Coast’s cultural and commercial hub and its largest city. Situated in the Ebrie Lagoon, it stands on several converging peninsulas and islands. The main attractions for tourists are the Ifon Museum and the National Museum.

Yamoussoukro

In 1983, President Felix Houphouet-Boigny moved the capital of Cote d'Ivoire from Abidjan to his hometown Yamoussoukro. This lively market city’s main attraction is the Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix, a smaller replica of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. (Photo courtesy of Clément Bucco-Lechat [Own work] CC-BY-SA-3.0 at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.)

Women

A woman’s status varies by country and region across Africa. In many parts, women struggle against inequality in laws, education, pay and domestic responsibilities.

Women’s health is also at risk from traditional practices such as early marriage. But with better education, girls can make more informed choices, leading to the greater development of African nations.

History

The first humans are thought to have lived in Africa and powerful African empires formed from the medieval age onwards.

However, today's African nations were shaped by the European powers who colonised this vast continent. Having gained their independence, many African countries are still coming to terms with the legacy left by their colonisers.

Ghana map

Explore Ghana

Ghana has some interesting places to explore. Find out more about some of Ghana’s cities, such as Accra and Kumasi.

Children

Around one in six children born in sub-Saharan Africa don't live to see their fifth birthday and life can be tough for those who do.

What are the common challenges facing African children and how do their lives compare with those of children in the UK?

Man

This major agricultural region, home to many cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava, banana and soybean plantations, is situated among thickly forested mountains and plateaus. La Cascade waterfall is one of the key attractions of the area, along the region’s highest mountain, the Tooth of Man.

Agriculture & Famine

A quarter of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is undernourished and famines can impact whole regions.

Land is available to grow more food locally, but investment is needed in  technologies such as irrigation for land to be used effectively. Farmers must also adapt to climate change if they are to feed the continent's rising population.

Marahoue National Park

This is one of Ivory Coast’s national parks. It was established in 1968 but, in the last six years, has lost 93% of its forest cover. This has led to many problems for animals such as chimpanzees which live in the area, as their habitats have been destroyed. Most of these problems result from human occupation in the area.

Poverty

Across the rest of the world, absolute poverty has halved over recent decades, but in Africa it has barely fallen.

About two-fifths of the population of sub-Saharan Africa survive week by week on what someone in the UK earns from just one hour's work on the minimum wage.

Parc du Banco

Tropical hardwood trees occupy most of this 7,410-acre park with an arboretum displaying trees and shrubs from all over the country. African civet, genet, bushbuck, duiker, and monkey roam this attraction.