Getting Around
Côte d'Ivoire
Getting Around by Air
Air Ivoire (VU) (website: www.airivoire.com) no longer runs domestic flights. Check with a travel agent for new options.
Departure Tax
XOF800.
Getting Around by Rail
The Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway is one of the most efficient in Africa and runs trains daily from Abidjan to Bouaké and Ferkessédougou. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged between four and 9 pay half fare.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Côte d’Ivoire has a good road system by West African standards, with 68,000km (42,250 miles) of roads, 5,600km (3480 miles) of which are surfaced. However, drivers should be aware of potholes and poorly lit vehicles. Petrol stations are frequent except in the north.
Bus: Small private buses and bush taxis operate throughout the country; they are efficient, although often extremely overcrowded. There are also larger coaches for longer journeys.
Taxi: These are available in main cities, although often of unsound mechanical condition.
Car hire: Cars may be hired in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport.
Documentation: Insurance is compulsory for the driver. The driver requires a UK or most other (applicable) national driving licences, accompanied by attestation from the embassy of the issuing country that it is genuine.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Extensive bus and boat services are operated in Abidjan by SOTRA on a two-tiered fare structure. Taxis are usually red and metered; rates are doubled from 0000-0600.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Abidjan to other major towns in the Côte d’Ivoire.
Air Rail Bondoukou 1.20 - Man 0.50 - Odienne 2.20 - San Pedro 1.00 -
Getting Around by Air
Air Ivoire (VU) (website: www.airivoire.com) no longer runs domestic flights. Check with a travel agent for new options.
Departure Tax
XOF800.
Getting Around by Rail
The Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway is one of the most efficient in Africa and runs trains daily from Abidjan to Bouaké and Ferkessédougou. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged between four and 9 pay half fare.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Côte d’Ivoire has a good road system by West African standards, with 68,000km (42,250 miles) of roads, 5,600km (3480 miles) of which are surfaced. However, drivers should be aware of potholes and poorly lit vehicles. Petrol stations are frequent except in the north.
Bus: Small private buses and bush taxis operate throughout the country; they are efficient, although often extremely overcrowded. There are also larger coaches for longer journeys.
Taxi: These are available in main cities, although often of unsound mechanical condition.
Car hire: Cars may be hired in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport.
Documentation: Insurance is compulsory for the driver. The driver requires a UK or most other (applicable) national driving licences, accompanied by attestation from the embassy of the issuing country that it is genuine.
Bus: Small private buses and bush taxis operate throughout the country; they are efficient, although often extremely overcrowded. There are also larger coaches for longer journeys.
Taxi: These are available in main cities, although often of unsound mechanical condition.
Car hire: Cars may be hired in Abidjan, main towns and at the airport.
Documentation: Insurance is compulsory for the driver. The driver requires a UK or most other (applicable) national driving licences, accompanied by attestation from the embassy of the issuing country that it is genuine.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Extensive bus and boat services are operated in Abidjan by SOTRA on a two-tiered fare structure. Taxis are usually red and metered; rates are doubled from 0000-0600.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Abidjan to other major towns in the Côte d’Ivoire.
| Air | Rail | |
| Bondoukou | 1.20 | - |
| Man | 0.50 | - |
| Odienne | 2.20 | - |
| San Pedro | 1.00 | - |








