Ivory Coast:
Since September 19, 2002, there has been a war going on in Ivory Coast at present, so it's not a good place to go for tourism and fun. Basically, there are three contingents of rebels who are trying to overthrow the government, and they hold a few areas here and there. French troops are backing up the government, although they are not supposed to be involved in any fighting.
Ivory Coast is actually one of the better-off West African countries, with a relatively well developed infrastructure. There's a good transportation system, so in normal times, tourism is easy, especially along the populous coast, where Abidjan is located.
Not a lot of tourists go to Ivory Coast, however, so you might still feel like a novelty outside of the cities. Crime rates in the countryside are low, and the interior is heavily forested. There are "game parks" where you can go on safari, and the further north you get, the more interesting and thriving the tribal cultures become.
In the cities, however, more people are of criminal bent, so tourists need to watch their valuables carefully and exercise caution at night.
This page last updated December 25, 2002.