Bondoukou

Zanzan is a northeastern district of Côte d'Ivoire centred on Bondoukou, a historic trading town near the borders with Ghana and Burkina Faso. The region's open savannah, river valleys and Comoé National Park give it a distinctive landscape quite different from the coastal south of the country.

Bondoukou, the district capital, traces its origins to the 15th century and is known as the 'town of a thousand mosques' because of its Sudanese-style mud mosques in old quarters such as Koko and Bambarasso. The old market building, constructed in the 1930s and 1940s, now houses the Museum of Arts and Traditions and is a notable example of colonial-era Sudanese architecture.

The wider district's main natural attraction is Comoé National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose savannah and gallery forests shelter wildlife and birdlife. Around Bondoukou, visitors can also experience traditional weaving and pottery, busy markets and cultural festivals, including the Kroubi dance festival held each June.

Zanzan remains an important crossroads for trade and agriculture, with strong commercial links to neighbouring regions and countries. Cashew, yam, maize and livestock are part of the local economy, and Bondoukou serves as a regional administrative and market hub.

For travellers, Zanzan offers a quieter and more traditional side of Côte d'Ivoire: heritage architecture, park excursions and cultural events for leisure visitors, plus regional trade, public administration and cross-border business for those travelling on work.