CRUISING THROUGH THE EHOTILÉ ISLANDS

A NATURAL PARK ON THE ABY LAGOON

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A trip to Assinie-Mafia feels like a paradise retreat. Part of the Sud-Comoé region, it offers the perfect weekend getaway on the beautiful Atlantic coast of West Africa. Beyond its numerous beaches, the rest of the area, with its natural parks, offers a new perspective on the region's incredible biodiversity. Less crowded than the famous coastal resort, the Ehotilé Islands provide a natural, tranquil setting. Populated by stunning flora and exceptional fauna, this estuary of the Comoé region is an ideal stopover for a day's visit and a magical moment in the wild.

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Located in the extreme southeast of Côte d'Ivoire, the Ehotilé National Park is a splendid eco-tourism area with its half dozen islands spread over 772 hectares. One of Côte d'Ivoire's 16 protected areas, the park's archipelago consists of six main estuarine islands.

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In Ehotilé, each island has its own peculiarity; there is Assoko (327,5 ha); the island of botanical trails, Elouamin (22,5 ha), the island of coconut fields, Balouhaté (75 ha); the island of bats, Meha (45 ha), the island of birds, and Bossoun-Assoun (32,5 ha), the sacred island of the protective geniuses where only insiders can go. Nyamouan Island (47,5 ha), the King's Island, is home to the ancient cemetery of the kings Ehotilé, the oldest inhabitants of the eastern part of Côte d'Ivoire and the first owners of the land of Assinie to whom the region owes its name.

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Classified as a Ramsar site in 2005, the area has an exceptional landscape and an invaluable natural, historical, and religious heritage. It also plays an essential role in recharging groundwater, stabilizing the shoreline, and regulating the exchange of nutrients between the sea and the lagoon, creating the perfect home for biodiversity. Together with Comoé, Tai, or Azagny, the Ehotilé Islands National Park is one of the green jewels of Côte d'Ivoire.

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The various sites on the islands were protected because of their historical and religious value to the local people, following an initiative by the local communities in 1974. Since then, no activities other than tourism have been allowed on the islands. Fishing is only permitted as a primary activity in the rest of the area to preserve this rich natural heritage for future generations. Access is strictly regulated and requires authorization and the accompaniment of a member of the OIPR (Ivorian Parks and Reserves Agency).

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The organization manages the site and organizes lagoon walks and boat visits to the Ehotile Islands. The ride gives a chance to discover the diversity of the local flora and fauna at a slow pace, sailing in a pirogue from one island to another on the Aby lagoon, one of the largest lagoon waters in the country. Meet the local fishermen, take a walk in the large wet meadows, or visit the botanical trail.

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The tropical vegetation consists mainly of red mangroves on the islands, dense forests in the center, or swampy meadows with classified, rare or endangered species. In addition to its magnificent scenery, the park is home to an exceptional diversity of 128 bird species belonging to 35 families, thanks to its coastal wetlands. In particular, the island of Balouaté is home to a large population of Roussette des palmiers, which can be seen especially at night, while Meha, the bird island, is a sanctuary for avifauna. If you're lucky, you'll be able to see many birds, including storks, egrets, kingfishers, herons, kites, and wasps.

The area is home to rare, classified, or threatened species, including rare manatees and aquatic mammals representative of the Ivorian lagoons. Crocodiles, gazelles, pythons, cobras, primates, reptiles, fish, and crustaceans can also be found on the islands.

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Accessible from Assinie, the Ehotilé Islands are a heaven of remarkably diverse fauna and flora, a natural escape that deserves to be discovered and protected.