THE WATERFALL OF MOUNT TONKPI

If there were only one reason to come to Man, it would be the beautiful Ypou waterfall, located at the entrance to the village of Zadepleu, and its refreshing natural pool. The hillside that houses the sanctuary of vegetation where the falls flow is dotted with plantations of cassava, corn and coffee, and as you go along, the path gradually rises above the basin where Man lies. The Dent watches in the distance, guardian angel of the city, whose mineral aggressiveness contrasts with the softness all in curves of the other mountains covered with forest. The jagged peaks of the latter seem to compete with the wandering clouds for the exclusivity of an ever-changing sky. The peacefulness of the spectacle evokes some Japanese prints drawn by a masterful artist. This impression is further reinforced when, after paying a modest tribute to the guardians of the waterfall, one reaches the gorge by a stone staircase, rather steep and with uneven steps, sinking into the semi-darkness of a preserved forest made up of immense groves of protective bamboo. It is to Pierre Kipré, historian, teacher-researcher and former Minister of Education, that we owe the development of this beautiful site. Residing at the time at the top of Mount Tonkoui, he had this very staircase built so that, at first, the populations of the surrounding villages could have access to this source of drinking water.
Once arrived on the spot, you discover an enchanting place. Even Ivorians, who are not very keen on tourism, like to travel from Abidjan to enjoy its peaceful coolness and admire its beauty. The young Manois, in particular, like to come and bathe there in their free time. Coming from a river with variable flow, the waterfall flows on a height of about 20 m, in a bucolic setting, where the songs of birds and the gurgling of water are harmoniously mixed. Its particularity: here there is no direct and bubbling waterfall. The waterfall tumbles down along long and flat stones arranged in strata, forming a natural staircase for the water. It is logically less majestic in the dry season when the river drops in speed. In addition to the waterfall, streams, natural pools and various facilities, the area is home to many spectacular trees and a multitude of butterflies and dragonflies attracted by the humidity and coolness of the undergrowth.