During our four-year journey around the world, we backpacked as a family down the West Coast of Africa. From Liberia, we crossed a slow-flowing river in a dugout canoe into Cote d’Ivoire AKA Ivory Coast. We spent four days travelling via local transport along the coast to reach Ghana.
Surprisingly, before the destructive impacts of a coupe in 1999 and two religious civil wars in the 2000s, Cote d’Ivoire was a popular tourist destination. Its beautiful stretches of sandy beaches and vibrant culture made it perfect for a relaxing holiday. In the 1960s and 1970s it was actually a powerful economic leader in West Africa because of its coffee and cocoa production. Although it was very rundown, we could imagine a beautiful, peaceful Cote d’Ivoire during its prime. The beach town of Sassandra was welcoming and laid back with friendly people and smiling kids to greet us. We needed to venture into the chaotic and overwhelming capital city, Abidjan, to reach Ghana.

Crossing the river from Liberia to Cote d’Ivoire in a dugout canoe. Bree, Me, Mom, Ammon

Waiting at the border crossing for the rains to settle and a ride to come and take us to Tabou. It took many hours of waiting.

Finally we have a taxi to take us to Tabou, and yes all the bags, the six of us and driver did fit in.

After walking a many miles in the blazing sun with our backpacks we were so thankful for the friendly stranger that picked us up and put us in the back of his pickup to finish the trip into Sassandra. Wow look how dirty we are from that walk. Dad, Mom, Me, Skylar.

A once lovely building looking very rundown with a wrecked car just laying there in the beach town of Sassandra.

Abidjan has more than 4.7 million people and is the most populous French-speaking city in West Africa.
Stay tuned for more #FridayFotos. Next week is CROATIA!
View more photos of Cote d’Ivoire here.
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Categories: Savannah Grace
Love it, who were the four people in the photo, you, your sister and?
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The people in the pickup truck are Brandon, Maggie, Savannah and Skylar 🙂 (Dad Mom Brother). We were so hot and dirty.
Reblogged this on maggiethemom and commented:
What an adventure.
4 years of travel , wow respect ! I’m making a bow now
🙂