Banco National Park
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Port
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$280
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 6 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Join this exceptional tour, and escape from the capital's urban bustle and delve into a threatened world of natural rainforest at Banco National Park. Board your coach and depart from the port. Your tour will begin with exploring the real city of Abidjan, which in its golden days during the 1980s and up to the early 1990s, Abidjan, with its towering skyline and surrounding lagoon, was often referred to as “the Paris of West Africa”. The city’s business district, Le Plateau, is referred to as “the Petit Manhattan of
West Africa” since it’s considered one of the foremost African cities in terms of skyscrapers, fashion, culture and the standard of living. Enjoy the view from your coach and take in some of Le Plateau’s most modern architectural buildings such as the fascinating St. Paul Cathedral. Heading North of Abidjan, you will reach the amazing Banco National Park - a center for research, education, and leisure - has survived deforestation and urban development. The Banco National Park is a real hydraulic reservoir, covering an area of 3474 hectares of tropical forest - and is known as “the green lung” of the city of Abidjan!
Enter the Park and go on a safe, adventurous guided hiking tour through the ancient mahogany woods, and get a glimpse of other rare wood such as avodirés and waffle wood. The Park offers a huge variety of plant and animal life and you will get a chance to admire the diversity of flora and fauna and not least the exotic noises of the forest.
Re-board your coach and head back towards Abidjan, passing by the upscale residential neighborhood of Cocody, that has also become home to the presidential palace and numerous embassies, housing many of the wealthy businesspeople, ambassadors and other affluent people living in Abidjan. This is also, where you will find the largest United States Embassy in Africa. Next stop on the tour will be at one of the popular local Ivorian restaurants, where you will get to enjoy a culinary lunch break experience, offering some of the most delicious and traditional Ivorian dishes.
From Cocody, your coach will take you across the popular Henri Konan Bédié Bridge, The bridge is a 1,5km road bridge and expressway linking the north and south of Abidjan, crossing the beautiful Ébrié Lagoon and connecting the districts of Cocody and Marcory. Head back to the port.
Please note:
Photographing military or government installations is not allowed in Ivory Coast. Local logistics can be challenging; please expect to be flexible. Your understanding is appreciated. Your guide will do his/her best to speak English, but please keep in mind that the limited tourism infrastructure here is part of the city's charm, and bear with any language difficulties he/she may encounter. Your guide will likely have a very strong Ivorian accent. Transportation is basic and falls well short of the standard you will find in many other ports. Participants should be in good physical condition; please realistically assess your physical fitness and ability prior to booking, as the weather is very hot. Due to the amount of hiking required at Banco National park, this tour is not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring bottled water and a hat and wear biodegradable sunscreen. Leave all valuables in a safe on board the ship. Bring local currency (euros), as many vendors do not accept credit cards or US dollars.