Korhogo
Korhogo is a city in the northern part of the Côte d'Ivoire, also known as the Northern Savanna. With an estimated 225,000 inhabitants (and growing rapidly), it's the fifth largest city in the country.
Understand
Korhogo is the largest town in northern Côte d'Ivoire. Its inhabitants are mostly Senufo people.
Get in
There are bus connections operated by different companies to several other Ivory Coast destinations, and bush taxis run to surrounding villages.
Get around
Taxi-Moto take you anywhere in and outside Korhogo. Short rides (up to 2km) usually cost 300-500 CFA.
See
The two main sights are the Péléforo Gbon Coulibaly Regional Museum and the woodcarver's quarter, where wood sculptors can be seen at work all around. The Mosquée de Korhogo, the city's main mosque, sits in the centre of town and serves as a real landmark.
There is a sacred rock which is a place of worship for local people who practice indigenous belief systems. It's just outside Korhogo.
Do
Take a local guide and let them show you the traditional handicrafts in surrounding villages.
Buy
There is a big market in the center (grand marché). There are at least two supermarkets, one of them is in a side street of the main road, opposite grand marché, where all the banks are located, too.
Of course, buy some local handicrafts as souvenirs. Beautiful wooden masks are available for about 6,000 - 30,000 CFA. Ask for the cultural meaning of the stuff you buy, they will explain you everything!
Eat
Local restaurants serve the typical african dishes, like Aloko, Attiéké, mostly with chicken or fish (the latter is not recommended, usually it has been lying in the sun for a few days). Le Bokadios is a very good Moroccan restaurant in the center.
Drink
Ask local people for Chapallo (a local brew made from sorghum, very spicy). It's not available on the market, but in some small cafes. Bandji (palm wine) is not widely available, but you can find some if you're lucky.
Sleep
- 1 Hote Belle Cote. Different room categories, from 10000 CFA. A quiet place away from traffic noise. The rooms upstairs around the courtyard are nice. The restaurant serves Ivorian food.