Moving westwards, towards the border with Liberia, the cocoa and hevea (rubber tree) plantations and palm groves give way to the intense green of the tropical forest. Tall trees tower above the surrounding landscape and the vegetation becomes increasingly dense.
This lush nature is the backdrop to the city of Man, the so-called ‘city of 18 mountains’, which owes its name to the striking reliefs that enliven its urban fabric. Man, inhabited by more than 80,000 people, mostly from the Dan (or Yacouba) group, with a waterfall within walking distance of the city centre, a forest populated by sacred monkeys, and lively neighbourhoods animated by craft shops and markets, offers unusual and evocative scenery.
But the real strength of this region are the characteristic villages that dot the surrounding area. Villages where the inhabitants are custodians of ancient traditions handed down from generation to generation through elaborate initiation rituals.
Here, masks are the dominant feature and represent the link between the world of humans and the magic of an “elsewhere” where spirits and ancestors reside, ready to manifest themselves during the frequent ritual ceremonies involving the entire village population. The tam-tam of the drums, the chants of the women and the cries of the initiates invoke the masks secretly kept in the heart of the sacred forests, and these, coming out into the open in a pre-established order, begin to dance.
In this special departure, you will participate in the Festival of the Masks of Man (Festival des 18 montagnes) scheduled from 4 to 6 July 2025.
Day 1 : Wednesday 02 July 2025
Outward flight/Abidjan (ABJ)
Day 2 : Thursday 03 July 2025
Abidjan (ABJ)/Domestic flight/Man (MJC)
Arrival in the “city of 18 mountains”, visit of the waterfalls and monkey sighting, before the opening of the Festival.
Day 3 : Friday 04 July 2025
Man/Yacouba Villages/Man (Festival)
Straw and mud villages and masks on Yacouba stilts, before attending the shows and events of the Festival.
Day 4 : Saturday 05 July 2025
Man/Dan Villages/Man (Festival)
On the mystical Dan liana bridges, before attending the performances and events of the Festival.
Day 5 : Sunday 06 July 2025
Man/Wé villages/Man
Performance by the “Jongleurs de l’Ouest” and meeting with the Gueré masks.
Day 6 : Monday 07 July 2025
Man/Yamoussokro
The cocoa plantations and the imposing Yamoussokro basilica.
Day 7 : Tuesday 08 July 2025
Yamoussokro/Baulé Villages/Yamoussoukro
The production of attieké, handicrafts and the Goly masks of the Baulé.
Day 8 : Wednesday 09 July 2025
Yamoussokro/Aniassué/Abengourou
The dances of the komian and the kingdom of the Agni Indenié.
Day 9 : Thursday 10 July 2025
Abengourou/Abidjan/Grand Bassam
The skyline of cosmopolitan Abidjan and the sunset on Grand Bassam beach.
Day 10 : Friday 11 July 2025
Grand Bassam/Abidjan
The colonial vestiges in the “quartier de France” in Grand Bassam and the art and craft workshops.
Day 11 : Saturday 12 July 2025
Abidjan (ABJ)/Return Flight
There are no extensions for this tour, please contact us at info@kanaga-at.com.
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