Experience in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, by Karim

What’s life like in Abidjan? Would you recommend the city?

Abidjan is a big city and it’s part of the African metropolis. As the Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital city, Abidjan is the only city in the country where all of the institutions can be found. That’s why every Ivorian wants to live in Abidjan. The first objective is to take advantage of all its amenities.

Life in Abidjan is good and anyone who wishes to do so can come here to live. There are buses and water taxis for public transport, as well as other types of transport such as taxis, ‘gbaka, ’ (traditional taxi minibuses), and ‘woro-woro’, (an Ivorian-invented colour-coded taxi system), for private transport. Abidjan comprises several districts, each one with its own unique personality. The state business district is called ‘Le Plateau. ’ The residential area is ‘Cocody. ’ The recreational district, where you can spend wild weekends, is called ‘Yopougon. ’

You can find pretty much everything in Abidjan. You can spend some unforgettable holidays here.

What’s student life like in Abidjan?

In Abidjan, studying isn’t easy. There aren’t many university halls of residence and they are unable to accommodate enough students. Public transport, being overwhelmed and also congested, makes it difficult for students who don’t live next to university to get to campus on time. For students hoping to arrive on time, they often have to get up at 4am. On campus, there are too many student strikes and there’s too much administration.

What’s the cost of living like in Abidjan?

The cost of living in Abidjan is high. A large amount of money needs to be spent in all areas.

Is it difficult to find somewhere to live in Abidjan? Do you have any tips?

There is a serious housing problem in Abidjan, but this is partly due to the cost of living. For a good house you can spend 100,000 West African CFA francs (about €150). If you want to live in a residential area you can often spend up to 500,000 West African CFA francs (about €750). The high cost of housing means that people end up crammed into rooms.

What’s the cuisine like? Do you have any favourite dishes?

In terms of food, it has to be said that all of the country’s dishes can be found in Abidjan, which is the biggest city in Côte d’Ivoire. The most commonly tasted food here is ‘garba’ (‘attiéké’ served with grilled tuna). ‘Attiéké’ is made from cassava. This is probably the Ivorians’ favourite dish. Other than that, the different peoples have their own traditional dishes, and each person chooses according to their ethnic group. For example, I myself love pistachio sauce on yam foutou, a type of dough made from yams. Where I’m from, this is a speciality, which is really interesting, and I invite you to taste it one day.

Which places must be visited in Abidjan?

If you’re in Abidjan, visit ‘Le Plateau, ’ the different bridges which connect South Abidjan with North Abidjan, ‘Le palais de la culture’ (‘Palace of Culture’), and the Ivorian universities. Deep within the country, you can see the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the mountain called ‘la Dent de Man, ’ and the bridge made from climbing plants, to the west of the country. There are lots of tourist attractions in the Côte d’Ivoire.

Can you tell us about your favourite places to eat out in Abidjan?

For eating out, there are restaurants, but they vary depending on the area. In the residential areas, there are African, Asian and European restaurants and also ice cream parlours. In the working-class areas, there are African restaurants serving typical African dishes, as well as some ice cream parlours.

What is the nightlife like in Abidjan? Where is good to go?

For nightlife in Abidjan, Yopougon is the most recommended. This area of the city is home to the biggest nightclubs and the best places for entertainment.

What advice would you give to students who are about to leave for Abidjan?

It has to be said that Abidjan is a beautiful city. Come stay in Abidjan, you will feel really at ease amongst your Ivorian hosts. However, you will need money to live well in Abidjan, as the cost of living is expensive.