WATERFALLS OF Man

The vine Bridge

IMPACT OF CIVIL WAR ON IVORY COAST TOURISM(WEST AFRICA)

PRESENT SITUATION OF THE SITE

Since the outbreak of the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, waterfalls Man receive very few visitors. Only a few officials of international organizations working in the city of Man and then, pupils and students also benefit from weekends or holidays.

The road which leads to the waterfalls is now a rocky track with deep furrows by the flow of runoff water rushing down from the mountains. The edges of the road are covered with brush and if one does not have a vehicle with solid body, he/she may replace his/her bumper after this trip. It is in an advanced state of degradation yet this is the same road used to travel to another interesting area which boasts one of the most beautiful villas of the colonial era.

The restaurant on stilts built in 2000 on the site was looted following the outbreak of war in September 2002. Since then, there remain only the walls. It is today, nothing else but a field of ruins left to rust, mold and insects.

The mythical bridge made of ropes and vines which serves for the rest of the trip to the waterfalls has not resisted to time and lacks maintenance. Before object of myth and fantasy, this bridge, made during one night with the help of a genius according to legend, has always aroused curiosity. It is only the skeleton of the bridge that can be seen nowadays.

Another difficulty is tourists’ movements. Large trees are continually slaughtered and abandoned on the ground, which encumbers the passages of tourists and also affects the beauty of the landscape. The site is not only in need of appropriate maintenance but it is also badly exploited.

During the period of the political crisis, acts of vandalism were committed on the site there is no more electricity because everything was looted. Even the electric cables have not been spared. For this fact, it is difficult to get to the waterfall once it is night. This is also the reason why the door of the fence closes at 18:30 PM.

Revenue from entrance tickets sold (twenty pence each) is shared between the village and some soldiers from the rebellion who settled in this region who claimed responsibility to ensure the security of the site. Very often it is a very meager sum of money that is allocated to the village.

 At the entrance of the waterfalls, the fence is still maintained for the simple reason that it allows filtering entries hence protects income.

THIS IS HOW ARMED CONFLICTS CAN CHANGE THE IMAGE OF TOURISM.