Liana Bridges of the Dan Country

In the Dan country of the western highlands, suspension bridges are woven from forest lianas across rivers, sometimes thirty metres or more, hung from trees on both banks and rebuilt as the vines rot. The knowledge of making them is held by specialists and the work is surrounded by ritual: in local accounts the bridges are made at night and their construction is not something outsiders watch. Several are still in use near Danané and Lieupleu.

What you actually see

• The woven span - a bridge made entirely from forest vines, hung between trees.
• The construction knowledge - a specialist skill held by few and surrounded by ritual.
• The crossing - the bridge in daily use by the villages on both banks.
• The river gorges - the water and forest the bridges span.

When to go

November to February is the dry season and the best for the roads. The rains from June to October raise the rivers and stress the bridges. Mornings are best.

Honest expectations

The bridges are working infrastructure, not attractions, and the villages charge and expect a guide. They move considerably underfoot and are not for anyone uneasy with heights. Photography arrangements vary and should be asked about.

Nearby

Danane is nearby, and Man is east.