Ethnic lands journey

Our first ethno-epic adventure will take place in the traditional village of Ganvié. It is nicknamed the "Venice of Africa" because it is located directly in the middle of Lake Nokoué.

Its stilt houses, its floating market where food items abound (vegetables, fruits, fish), and its unique shops enhance the charm of this picturesque fishing village.

You can enjoy the peaceful life on the water and the hospitality of the Toffins (or Toffinous meaning "the men of the water"). This is the ethnic community occupying the area. They migrated to Ganvié to escape the ravages of slavery and the attacks of the kingdom of Dahomey in Togo in the 18th century.

Legend has it that the ancient king, Agbogdobé, transformed himself into a hawk to fly over Nokoué. Thus, he was able to spot a lake island capable of welcoming his people. Then, he took the form of a crocodile to lead them to this promised land.

The region was named Ganvie which means "we are saved". Quickly, these nomads adapted to this aquatic life through the exploitation of water hyacinths and their brilliant fishing techniques (Akadja).

The best thing to do in this locality is to stroll between the bamboo buildings topped with thatched roofs.

We're heading to Bénin's capital and the main city of the Oueme department:

Porto.

This administrative city is characterized by its buildings featuring exceptional architecture, a style that has earned them a place in the UNESCO World Heritage. Furthermore, this city is well known for its places of worship dedicated to the Orisha gods of the Yoruba religion.

We will also visit an old colonial building serving as an ethnographic museum. You'll find curious collections of masks from the Guelede identity celebration, musical instruments and tribal weapons.

Then, we will pass by its Great mosque of Porto. While admittedly dilapidated, it possesses an old-fashioned charm through its architecture and walls with rich, warm colors. It displays approximately the same style as the Christian churches of Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.

We end our discovery of the city of Porto after a hearty lunch.

We take time to admire the beauty of this city with multiple facets: monuments and remnants dating from the period of trade between Africa, America and Europe; museums (Honmé, Da Silva, Alexandre Sènou Adandé); etc.

Once satisfied, we set sail towards Pobé.

Our itinerary will pass through Onigbolo with its cement factory and through the Agolin region.

Our journey will be enhanced by the discovery of various rural markets and the ethnic village of the holi with their different tattoos

Refreshed by a good breakfast, we set out to meet the people of Agonlin. We will discover their way of life based on an ancestral code. These people also live from subsistence farming, hunting and ancestor worship.

We then take the track towards Gbaname.

Along the way, we will stop at a Wodaabe settlement. These nomads come from Nigeria and are distinguished by their Géréwol festival and their seduction competition.

We take the time to exchange a few words with them. This way of life marked by simplicity is a change from the modern life of the West.

Once we arrive in the municipality of Bohicon, we will wander around its central market where food supplies and sheep abound.

We then head to Dassa. This city is surrounded by a magnificent stretch of The Dassa Hills. It is nestled in the middle of this rocky cradle called the 41 hills.

Before reaching this historic city, we will make a detour to Betekoukou to admire the hippopotamuses bathing in the Ouémé River.

Our appointment with the locality of Savalou. The beauty of this region is stunning. You will find magnificent cashew trees and teak plantations.

We will also meet the Mahi people, the tribe that rose up to counter the Dahomean kingdom between the 17th and 19th centuries.

We will take the opportunity to see the famous fetish of Dankoli. It is a couple represented by two tree trunks. It is supposed to exorcise the worries of those who worship it.

Our journey continues. We head north to Djougou.

There, we will see what the Taneka Koko region looks like. It is mainly occupied by animist hunters and millet farmers.

By taking a tour in a Yaka camp, we observe that this animist community has been spared by the Islamization of the country. Traditional rites are well present there such as male circumcision.

The sorcerers of the camp explain their culture to us in detail, founded on the veneration of the dead.

Goodbye Djougou and hello Natitingou.

Heading to this city nestled in the heart of the Atakora Mountains. Our journey will include a tour of the sacred forest of Djougou and its traditional villages.

Next, we will visit the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions of Atakora. It is housed in a colonial building. It displays a multitude of artworks, photographs of eminent figures, ornaments and furniture.

Our journey will conclude with our arrival in Natitingou.

We arrive during the day in Abomey, the capital of the former kingdom of Dahomey.

What we will visit in this region: its ten royal palaces of the monarchs Guezo and Glélé serving as a historical museum. These buildings are constructed from earth and precious wood (palmyra and iroko).

They are decorated with charming multicolored engravings. Given their historical and aesthetic significance, they were added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985.

In one of its remarkable museums, you can see various royal objects including weapons, jewelry, pieces of fabric, thrones and photographs.

After this enriching excursion, we will rest at our accommodation in this amazing city.

We will combine leisure travel and ethno-cultural adventure with the village Grand: the most sought-after beach resort in Bénin.

This town invites relaxation and contemplation. Located at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Fleuve Mono, it is a very popular holiday destination for locals.

The surrounding nature is absolutely enchanting: with its fine sand beaches and coconut trees, its crystal-clear lagoon, its birds and its mangroves.

You can enjoy walking tours and canoe trips, and visiting the mouth of the Fleuve Mono known as "Bouche du Roi".

Completely refreshed, we leave the enchanting Grand-Popo to head to Possotomé. This peaceful town rests on the shores of the Lake Ahémé.

It captivates with its fishing activities, its thermal spring waters, its small beaches adorned with coconut trees, its pirogue excursions, and its opportunities for lake swimming. That said, this locality goes far beyond its wanderings in nature's lap.

It is also a haven of life where voodoo traditions dominate. We will also see voodoo temples, ceremonies, and sacred forests.

We will enjoy the idyllic setting of the « Chez Théo » hotel complex with its mini-cabins, its cosy rooms, and its dream pool.

After these two days of exoticism, we head to Ouidah. This great city was built by the Houéda people, great devotees of python scarification (voodoo ritual). It is full of historical sites, remnants of a dark period in its past.

It played a key role during the slave trade to South America, particularly to Brazil. The Route of Slaves remains one of the vestiges of this era. This trail takes five stages: from Chacha Square to THE GATE OF NO RETURN.

After a long overview of this terrible path, we clear our minds with a visit to the historic center of the city. You can see a multitude of colonial houses inspired by English, Portuguese and French styles. Then, we add to our itinerary the exploration of the old Portuguese fort which is now a historical museum.

For this last day, we have free time in the economic city of Cotonou.

We will take the opportunity to experience the fine reputation of its open-air market: Dantokpa.

And if we have time, we will visit the Missebo market, the Zinsou foundation, the Fidjrosse beach, and the craft center.