Guide · Surf in West Africa
Surfing in Côte d’Ivoire
Waves of exceptional quality line the Ivorian coast, and a new generation of surfers is riding them. Here is where surfing in Côte d’Ivoire stands, and how to come and surf it.
Can you surf in Côte d’Ivoire?
Yes. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), in West Africa, has waves of exceptional quality along its Atlantic coast, and a surf culture is taking shape there. Surf Côte d’Ivoire, a nonprofit founded in 2022 by Ivorian director Nadi Saddy and surfer Souleymane Sidibé, is building that surf culture: it has given more than 200 boards to young surfers from coastal communities, started Diaraby, the country’s first women’s surf club, organised the first international surf competition in Côte d’Ivoire, and launched the Africa Surf Tour in Assinie in February 2025. For visitors, the association runs an all-inclusive surf camp in Assinie-Mafia, about 80 km east of Abidjan: seven days and six nights, two coached sessions a day with a certified instructor, for beginners to intermediates. Its documentary, The Rising Dawn, shows the waves and the people behind this new era of surfing in Côte d’Ivoire.
Where to surf and learn in Côte d’Ivoire
The Surf Côte d’Ivoire camp sits in Assinie-Mafia, on the strip of sand between the Aby lagoon and the Atlantic, at the eastern end of the Ivorian coast. Local surf guides know the waves in front of the camp, and the week is coached by a certified instructor, with video analysis, theory and progression.
Boards and equipment are included, and the groups are kept small, so it is a place to learn from your first wave or to move on from beginner to intermediate.
A new era of Ivorian surfing
It started with a film. The Rising Dawn revealed an unsuspected potential: waves of exceptional quality, and coastal communities without the means or structures to reach the sport. Souleymane Sidibé, its protagonist, is one of the pioneers of this new era of surfing in Côte d’Ivoire.
From that came the association’s ambition: to make surfing a lever for human, economic and cultural development, and to open new perspectives for Ivorian youth.
Côte d’Ivoire in African surfing
The Africa Surf Tour brings together emerging talent, encourages regional exchange and positions Côte d’Ivoire as a key player in African surfing. Its first edition, a surf and music festival, was held in Assinie in February 2025, the start of an annual travelling event.
Diaraby Surf Club, the first women’s surf club in the country, gives young girls supervised surf sessions, workshops and a place to grow together. Through Surf Solidaire, more than 200 young surfers have received a board and ongoing mentoring.
The Rising Dawn, the Ivorian surf film
The Rising Dawn (2024, 60 minutes) is a documentary by Nadi Saddy and Nuits Balnéaires, starring Souleymane Sidibé. It unveils unexplored waves and ethereal landscapes and celebrates the communities shaping the country’s surf culture. It has been covered by CNN, Le Monde, RFI, TV5MONDE, Brut and Surfer, among others, and can be rented online for 48 hours.
Questions we’re asked
Is Côte d’Ivoire good for beginner surfers?
Yes. The Surf Côte d’Ivoire camp in Assinie is made for beginners to intermediates, in small groups, with two coached sessions a day with a certified instructor. Boards and equipment are included.
Who develops surfing in Côte d’Ivoire?
Surf Côte d’Ivoire, a nonprofit founded in 2022 by Nadi Saddy and Souleymane Sidibé. It has given 200+ boards to young surfers from coastal communities, runs Diaraby Surf Club, the country’s first women’s surf club, and organises the Africa Surf Tour in Assinie.
How do I get to the surf in Côte d’Ivoire?
Fly into Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) in Abidjan. Assinie-Mafia is about 80 km east, an hour and a half to two hours by road through Grand-Bassam, then a short boat across the lagoon. Camp guests have the transfer and the boat included.