Packing list for Côte d'Ivoire, travel insurance for Côte d'Ivoire and taking your belongings

What to take to Côte d'Ivoire: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a passport that is valid for at least 6 months, and for most travellers a pre-arranged e-visa is required. Also bring copies of your passport, visa, vaccination certificate, and travel insurance details. Côte d'Ivoire uses the West African CFA franc (XOF), and carrying some cash, stored in different places, is important. ATMs are reasonably easy to find in Abidjan, but getting cash can be more difficult outside the larger cities.
• Clothing: lightweight, quick-drying clothing for the hot and humid climate. Lightweight long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt are useful for protection against mosquitoes. A light rain jacket or poncho is particularly useful during the rainy season.
• Shoes: comfortable trainers or sandals for Abidjan and other cities. If you are visiting national parks, rainforest areas or the surroundings of Man, bring sturdy hiking shoes.
• Toiletries and hygiene: high-factor sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Tissues can also be useful when travelling around.
• Packing and protecting your belongings: a good rain cover for your backpack and waterproof bags or pouches for your phone, passport and electronics. Côte d'Ivoire has a tropical climate, and rain showers can be heavy during the rainy season.
• Insects and animals: insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin is one of the most important things on your packing list.
• Sleeping: an insecticide-treated mosquito net is important if you are staying in basic accommodation or travelling outside the larger cities.
• Medication and travel first aid kit: a well-stocked first aid kit with ORS, plasters, blister plasters, painkillers, hand sanitiser, medication for diarrhoea and any personal medication you need.
• Outdoor and useful items: sunglasses, a sun hat or cap, a reusable water bottle with a filter and a small daypack.
• Technology and equipment: a universal adapter for type C and E power sockets. A power bank and a headlamp are useful as a backup during power cuts or long travel days.
• Safety and theft: in Abidjan, use a bag that closes securely and avoid carrying unnecessary valuables. A few small locks can also be useful.

To consider:

• Water shoes for beaches and rocky riverbanks.
• A UV-protective shirt for activities in strong sunlight.
• Binoculars for spotting birds, monkeys and other wildlife in the national parks.
• Water purification tablets or a filter if you are travelling outside the cities.
• A few words of French as it is the official language, and English is much less widely spoken outside the tourist sector.
• Some knowledge of local customs and eating habits. Côte d'Ivoire has a strong food culture, and local markets are an important part of everyday life.
• No ordinary plastic bags: ordinary plastic bags are banned in Côte d'Ivoire, with restrictions on their production, import, sale, possession and use. A reusable cloth or foldable shopping bag is therefore a much better option.

Are there mosquitoes in Côte d'Ivoire?

• Yes, mosquitoes occur throughout Côte d'Ivoire all year round, and the risk is not limited to remote jungle areas. Mosquitoes are also found in and around urban areas.
• There is a high risk of malaria throughout the country. There is also a risk of dengue and yellow fever. Dengue mosquitoes are mainly active during the day, while the mosquitoes that transmit malaria are generally most active between dusk and dawn.
• Using an effective insect repellent throughout the day and night, wearing lightweight long clothing and sleeping under a mosquito net are therefore important precautions.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Côte d'Ivoire?

• Yes, but sandflies are a much smaller concern for the average traveller than mosquitoes.
• They can occur in rural and forested areas and are particularly active around dusk and at night. Some species can transmit leishmaniasis.
• DEET or picaridin can also provide protection against sandflies. In the tropical humidity, lightweight long sleeves and long trousers are another practical way of reducing the number of bites.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Are DEET, or other insect repellents, available in Côte d'Ivoire?

• Yes, in Abidjan and other larger cities, you can find insect repellents in pharmacies, supermarkets, and shops. The choice can be considerably more limited outside the major cities.
• When you are travelling to nature reserves or smaller towns, it is a good idea to bring enough DEET or picaridin with you from your homecountry. You do not want to discover halfway through your trip that the local shelf only has a small bottle of strongly scented citronella.
• More about DEET.

Is it legal to buy a joint or weed in Côte d'Ivoire, or bring it with you to Côte d'Ivoire?

• No, cannabis and other illegal drugs are covered by strict drug laws. Penalties can be severe for offenses including possession, use, sale, and international importation of drugs.
• So bringing cannabis, CBD products, or other cannabis products to Ivory Coast is definitely not a good idea