The Grand Mud Mosque of Kong - Côte d'Ivoire
March 3, 2020 | Tagged: Côte d'Ivoire
The Grand Mosque of Kong, also known as Missiriba is one of the highlights of any trip to Côte d'Ivoire. There is also another mud mosque in the village of Sorobango which is some what more difficult to get to than it was for me getting to Kong.
The Grand Mosque of Kong is one of the earliest signs of Islam in Northern Ivory Coast. The exact date is unknown though certain texts found, indicate that Kong had many mosques by the year 1741.
Other West African mud mosques include The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali and the Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. After my trip to Kong, I found out that there is even one in Ghana, The Larabanga Mosque which is often referred to as the "Mecca of West Africa". One day I hope I can visit Mali again and go and backpack Burkina Faso and Ghana.
From Ferkessédougou or Ferke as it is commonly known as, I headed to Kong with newfound enthusiasm. The journey to Kong is only 92km but, this being West Africa the roads were mostly crap and as with a lot of places in West Africa, going anywhere involves a lot of waiting around.
Other West African mud mosques include The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali and the Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. After my trip to Kong, I found out that there is even one in Ghana, The Larabanga Mosque which is often referred to as the "Mecca of West Africa". One day I hope I can visit Mali again and go and backpack Burkina Faso and Ghana.
From Ferkessédougou or Ferke as it is commonly known as, I headed to Kong with newfound enthusiasm. The journey to Kong is only 92km but, this being West Africa the roads were mostly crap and as with a lot of places in West Africa, going anywhere involves a lot of waiting around.
I arrived in Kong at around 4 pm, hot footed it to the only hotel in town, the Auberge de Kong and then back to town just in time to catch the 'nice light'.
On the other side of the road is a much smaller and darker mud mosque:
I decided to stay a 2nd night at the Auberge de Kong. I had the shits all night anyhow. In the morning I braved the outside world and headed into town again. Water, cola, biscuits, La Vache Qui Rit, bread from the bakery and a Nescafe.
I went back to the Mud Mosque of Kong and got a second series of shots under a different morning light.
The sun was rather too high and the mornings have been very hazy lately but the shots turned out ok AND the doors to the mosque were open. I took a peek inside. There is no inner courtyard. There are lots of separate prayer rooms has an internal roof made of wood.
I went back to the Mud Mosque of Kong and got a second series of shots under a different morning light.
The sun was rather too high and the mornings have been very hazy lately but the shots turned out ok AND the doors to the mosque were open. I took a peek inside. There is no inner courtyard. There are lots of separate prayer rooms has an internal roof made of wood.
How to get from Ferkessédougou to Kong - Ivory Coast
From Ferkessédougou (Ferke) minivans cost 2,500 XOF and the ride is piste all the way. They go when full. I heard that there is an earlier departure but not when I went and the 2-hour trip I read about is something of a joke.
There is normally a full-size Abidjan - Ferke - Kong bus. It passes through Ferke at around 4 pm (no idea where you catch it though) and arrives in Kong at around 7 pm.
And it should go back at around 5 am. And I was told 3 times that this bus goes past the Auberge de Kong so there was no need to walk to town. But the reality is quite different.
When It came time to leave, I walked to town at 4:30 am and the bus was only a 25 seater minibus and I got the last seat and left within minutes of me arriving. And it did not take the paved road past the auberge as I was told but took another piste which was in much better condition than the one from 2 days earlier and we hit the highway pretty quickly and then we rolled on to Yamoussoukro, 7,000 XOF, 350km.
There is normally a full-size Abidjan - Ferke - Kong bus. It passes through Ferke at around 4 pm (no idea where you catch it though) and arrives in Kong at around 7 pm.
And it should go back at around 5 am. And I was told 3 times that this bus goes past the Auberge de Kong so there was no need to walk to town. But the reality is quite different.
When It came time to leave, I walked to town at 4:30 am and the bus was only a 25 seater minibus and I got the last seat and left within minutes of me arriving. And it did not take the paved road past the auberge as I was told but took another piste which was in much better condition than the one from 2 days earlier and we hit the highway pretty quickly and then we rolled on to Yamoussoukro, 7,000 XOF, 350km.
Where to stay in Kong - Ivory Coast
There is, seemingly, only the Auberge de Kong, 1km from town, it's signposted at the road junction. They have 26 rooms, all with TV and AC (you need it here). The standard deluxe is 15,000XOF and the mega deluxe is a whopping 30,000XOF. No idea how that one looks. There is a WIFI connection but, someone changed the password and nobody knows what it is or even thinks to try and go about getting it fixed. They have a restaurant and bar but the prices were kinda expensive as you would expect. I ate in town and had my evening beer at one of the many little makeshift bars called a marquis by the roadside.
Here is my little detached bungalow at the Auberge de Kong:
Here is my little detached bungalow at the Auberge de Kong:
