Things to Do in Ivory Coast in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Ivory Coast
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
74°F (23°C)
Low Temp
3.0 inches (76 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Harmattan winds arrive mid-month, cutting humidity and creating golden-hour light that makes Grand-Bassam's colonial facades glow like honey. The air feels thinner. Your photos look filtered. Shoot at 5pm.
- + Mango season peaks. Roadside stalls between Abidjan and Assinie sell Kent variety so sweet it drips down your wrist. Buy extra napkins. Eat immediately.
- + Beach towns empty out after December 15th when locals return to cities, meaning you'll have Assouindjo's palm-lined coves mostly to yourself. Bring a book. Silence is golden.
- + Night markets in Treichville stay open until 3am with cooler evening temperatures good for trying garba (fried attiéké with spicy tuna). Go hungry. Leave happy.
Considerations
- − First two weeks still carry November's humidity. Your cotton shirt will stick to the backseat of any gbaka (shared taxi) by 9am. Pack spare tops.
- − Ocean temperatures feel like bathwater at 28°C (82°F). Refreshing if you're British, disappointing if you wanted to cool off. Jump in anyway.
- − Harmattan dust can obscure sunrise views from the Pont Faidherbe in Grand-Bassam for 3-4 days at a time. Check forecasts. Wake early.
Year-Round Climate
How December compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°C | 23°C | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Feb | 31°C | 24°C | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Mar | 31°C | 24°C | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Apr | 31°C | 24°C | 5.6 inches (142 mm) |
| May | 30°C | 24°C | 11.6 inches (295 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C | 23°C | 22.1 inches (561 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C | 22°C | 8.1 inches (206 mm) |
| Aug | 26°C | 22°C | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C | 22°C | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C | 23°C | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Nov | 30°C | 24°C | 5.6 inches (142 mm) |
| Dec | 30°C | 23°C | 3.0 inches (76 mm) |
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Ivory Coast feels like breathing through a warm, wet cloth. The rainy season is almost done. Yet the air still carries the smell of hot tarmac hit by sudden showers. Only three inches of rain fall this month, most in quick, heavy dumps that leave Abidjan shining under a rinsed sky. Locals ignore the thunder and keep traffic humming while fish sizzles over roadside braziers. No big festivals are scheduled. But holiday chatter and the scent of ginger and nutmeg rise from markets already gearing up. Travelers get a break from the worst downpours, though humidity sticks like a second skin. Coastal breezes in Grand Bassam bring salt relief. Evenings stay hot. The smart move is to sit at a maquis and eat attiéké with grilled chicken and sharp, oily sauce.
Découverte Bini Lagune
otherDécouverte Bini Lagune slips you onto quiet waterways behind Abidjan's roar. Stilt villages drift past, smelling of wet wood and drying nets. Fishermen in dugout canoes cast into tea-colored water while children shout from the banks.
It shows the water-based life that still survives in the shadow of the economic capital.
Insider tip: Leave early. Morning light keeps the heat off the water and the lagoon villages busy.
Abidjan Walking Tour (French and English)
walking_tourAbidjan Walking Tour throws you between two worlds. In Plateau, skyscrapers throw cool shade and heels click across marble lobbies. Ten minutes later you are jostling through Adjame market, smoked fish in your nostrils and ripe fruit underfoot.
You feel the split personality of the city, administrative polish pressed against commercial chaos.
Insider tip: Wear tough shoes. Sidewalks end without warning and alley floors are uneven.
Alternative City Tour
guided_experienceAlternative City Tour heads for Treichville and Marcory, where bass thumps from bar speakers and vendors shout in Nouchi slang. Murals cover concrete walls and bissap juice, tart and sweet, costs a few coins.
It swaps monuments for real neighborhood life.
Insider tip: Carry small bills for peanuts or a cold drink.
Private Tour of Abidjan
private_tourPrivate Tour of Abidjan lets you set the pace. Linger in the cool incense of Saint Paul's Cathedral or dig through fabric markets, fingers on wax prints. Your guide decodes tastes and histories, from fried plantain to the story of Félix Houphouët-Boigny Bridge.
You get a custom narrative, no timetable except your own curiosity.
Insider tip: Tell the guide your interests up front. They will build the route around them.
Grand Bassam City Tour & Workshop
guided_experienceGrand Bassam City Tour & Workshop walks you past sun-bleached colonial shells, Atlantic waves slamming the sand just beyond. A hands-on workshop follows. You sand wood or print fabric and leave with something you can hold.
It mixes ghost-town melancholy with living craft.
Insider tip: The sea breeze is strong. Hold on to hats and expect salt mist.
Yamoussoukro - Largest Cathedral in the World (Francais or English)
culturalYamoussoukro - Largest Cathedral in the World hauls you to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Footsteps echo across Italian marble under stained-glass light.
The scale is surreal, a monument to ambition and faith.
Insider tip: Cover shoulders and knees. The basilica is an active church.
Where to Stay in Ivory Coast in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Fête de la Récolte (Yam Festival)
Villages across the Baoulé region celebrate new yam harvests with masked dances and communal feasts. In Sakassou, families invite strangers to share foutou (pounded yam) with okra sauce. Bring small gifts like soap or biscuits as thanks. Eat with your right hand.
Late December
Abidjan Carnival
Treichville streets fill with coupé-décalé dancers and sound systems mounted on flatbed trucks. The party starts at 10pm and runs until police shut it down, usually around 4am. Local rum flows freely. Pace yourself.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Ivory Coast Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
GBaka drivers increase prices 30% for toubabs (white people) but will negotiate if you speak even basic French. Learn 'c'est combien?' (is this the price?). Speak up.
The best attiéké comes from women selling from buckets at carrefour (intersections). Look for steam rising and bring your own bowl. Eat hot.
Hotel receptionists will phone ahead to book pirogue trips to Assinie islands. Saves you getting soaked by waves while negotiating with fishermen. Stay dry.
December mangoes from the Korhogo region taste different. Smaller, sweeter, with orange instead of green skin. Ask specifically for 'mangue Korhogo' at markets. Buy extra.
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking oceanfront hotels in Grand-Bassam. The lagoon side has fewer mosquitoes and better breeze. Sleep easier.
Trying to see everything in one week. Domestic flights get delayed, roads flood, plan 2-3 days buffer. Slow down.
Assuming credit cards work everywhere. Bring CFA francs, for beach restaurants in Assinie. Cash is king.
Wearing shorts to mosques in northern villages. December tourism doesn't override dress codes. Cover knees.
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