Savanes District: Nature, Hiking, and Crafts

In Savanes District, a vast natural area and traditional crafts offer two distinct travel interests. Part of Comoé National Park lies within the district; in Korhogo, two sites offer insights into basket weaving and beadwork. When planning a hotel stay, this contrast provides a simple guide: should you focus on nature and hiking, or on craft traditions?

Nature and Hiking at Comoé

Comoé National Park covers 1,148,756 hectares; in 1983, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its size and the specific date of its inscription provide two concrete reference points for the natural area of Savanes District.

In the wider destination of Côte d’Ivoire, the Comoé River flows through the park. It features shrub savannas and areas of dense rainforest, including plant communities usually found farther south. The park’s landscape thus includes a range of vegetation types.

Hiking is another specific way to explore: the national park has a network of tracks suitable for this purpose. If you plan a hike, check the current access conditions in advance.

Crafts in Korhogo

Two craft traditions in Korhogo are clearly distinct. The Site des Vanniers de Torgokaha offers insights into traditional basket weaving. The skills are passed down from generation to generation, and the site has been fully rehabilitated. The Site des Perliers de Kapélé focuses on the traditional production of bead jewelry and decorative objects; the site has been rebuilt. The difference is clear: Torgokaha draws attention to basket weaving and how it is passed down, while Kapélé focuses on jewelry and decorative beadwork.

Both sites were inaugurated in the municipality of Korhogo on July 26, 2025. If you plan to visit, check the current operating status of each site in advance.

Cultural History in the Wider Destination of Côte d’Ivoire

In the wider destination of Côte d’Ivoire, preserved Sudan-style mosques in the north of the country offer a further perspective on regional architecture. Most were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. They combine a style developed in Djenné around the 14th century with local forms and techniques from the Gur and Mandé cultural areas. The mosques also represent an exchange of influences between these cultural areas from the 14th to the 18th century. Their architecture makes this connection tangible: low, tapering rectangular or square forms; massive pillars made of wood or earth blocks; tall, truncated-pyramid-shaped or pointed-arch minarets; and conical qibla towers.

Another cultural highlight in the wider destination of Côte d’Ivoire is the Historic Town of Grand-Bassam, the first capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Its colonial-era urban plan from the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided separate districts for commerce, administration, and housing for Europeans and Africans. Alongside the craft skills found in Korhogo, Grand-Bassam offers another perspective on cultural history: the division of an urban space according to different uses.

Discover more destinations: Boundiali, Denguélé District, Vallée du Bandama District, Lagunes, Sud-Comoé, Dix-Huit Montagnes, Bas-Sassandra

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Côte d’Ivoire.