Sassandra is a sleepy yet charming coastal town the Southwestern Forests region of Côte d'Ivoire.

Understand

Sassandra, peaceful as ever

Sassandra lies on an estuary at the mouth of the Sassandra River. The town was founded by the Portuguese as Santo André and was later run by the British, then the French, as a seaport for timber. The town declined in the 1960s after the port at San-Pédro was completed.

Now fishing is the source Sassandra's livelihood. The fishermen are often Ghanaians, so there is a chance some English will be spoken if you happen to bump into one.

See

• Fishing port and market. The fishermen return with their catch in the morning after which the women prepare it with great celebration and ceremony at the fish market. (updated Nov 2023)
• Old Governor’s Mansion. Ruins perched on a promontory overlooking the ocean. (updated Nov 2023)
• Eglise Saint André. A lovely little Catholic church in the gothic style. (updated Nov 2023)

Do

• Go to the beach. Sassandra is surrounded by idyllic beaches and there's a good chance you'll have one all to yourself. 

Sleep

• Hotel le Pollet, ☏ +225 07 67 67 4025. A bit run down but has a nice view.