Côte d’Ivoire

The Côte d’Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast is beautiful! About 22.7 million people live here (2015) and the capital is Yamoussoukro. The Côte d’Ivoire is a religiously secular country, with roughly equal split between Islamic and Christian followers. The official language is French. . The time zone is 4 hours ahead of EST.

In the capital, check out the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, an architectural feat and the record holder for the largest church in the world. It is absolutely stunning and worth a visit. Many people use their cameras regardless of whether they paid the fee, so it is up to the visitor to decide whether to pay or not, though the fee will go towards keeping the church well-maintained. The stained glass inside is mind-blowing when light filters through the windows just right.

Travels looking to get out of the city life can head to the well-maintained Banco National Park in Abidjan, though be prepared to plan in advance as there are a lot of mosquitoes. Bring food and water, too, if planning to be out for a while (water is a must). This is a relatively untouched jungle area, making it a great place to see different plant, bird, and butterfly species.

Botswana

Jim & Susan in Botswana Jim's Perspectives: Botswana is rich with natural beauty and wildlife, and this countries is one of the best in all of Africa in which to "safari".  I get a lot of questions about taking safaris ... and let me tell you ... if you go to...

Cambodia

Country Information: The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. There are approximately 16 million people living here. The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. The majority of the population practices Theravada Buddhism. Major exports of the country include clothing,...

Sudan

With my buddies in Sudan Country Information: The capital of Sudan is Khartoum and the official languages are English and Arabic. About 43 million people live here, and the main religion is Sunni Islam, with almost all of the population being Muslim. Divers will...