This tour takes you through the green, coastal areas in the south and the drier inlands of the north of Benin. The south, where the hectic seaport and economic centre of Cotonou is situated, is famous for its stirring history of important Kingdoms, wars, slave trade and colonisation. The north with its savannah landscape and hilly areas was less infected by influences from outside, the villages do look a lot like they used to for ages and the people kept their age old customs and values.
During this tour you will visit important historic places like Porto Novo, Ouidah and Abomey, in the south. In the north you will make some hikes through the hilly areas of the Atacora region. You will visit small villages where you’ll sleep in simple, local guesthouses or stay with the local people.
FROM AUGUST UP TO NOVEMBER THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES TO GO WHALE WACHING ALONG THE COAST OF BENIN.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Cotonou
Transfer airport - hotel
Day 2:
Cotonou – Porto Novo
Visiting the Royal Palace and the Ethnological Museum of Porto Novo. Boat tour through the Laguna of Porto Novo, visiting a lake-village.
Day 3:
Porto Novo – Abomey
You will visit the impressive royal palace museum of Abomey and get a guided tour through the town.
Day 4:
Pirogue tour through a newly discovered primeval forest
You make a tour through a primeval forest which is recently discovered and is not even situated on a map.
Day 5:
Abomey – Natitingou
You travel from the green south through the savannahs to the hilly area of the Atacora region.
Day 6:
Natitingou
You will visit Natitingou and its Somba museum.
Day 7:
Natitingou - Kousoukouangou
You will drive to Kousougouangou, where you will make a walking tour of about 3 hours. You will sleep in a Somba house.
Day 8:
Kousoukouangou –Somba family
From Kousougouangou you will descend into a valley and walk for about 4 hours to a small Somba village. The landscape with its scattered villages and impressive Baobab trees is beautiful. You will spend the night in the house of a Somba family.
Day 9:
Somba family – Manta – Natitingou
You will walk along farming fields and a nursery for trees and crops. Furthermore you will visit a potters village, a mushroom nursery and see how the typical grass jewellery is made. You will visit a market in the area.
Day 10:
Natitingou - National Park Pendjari
In the Pendjari Parc you’ll have a good chance to see elephants, buffalos, warthogs, lions and different bocks, cobs and antelopes.
Day 11:
National Park Pendjari - Tanougou
In the morning you will continue your visit to the park. In the afternoon you will visit the falls of Tanougou and stay near a small village in nice, local style bungalows.
Day 12:
Tanougou – Parakou
On the route you will visit the village of Taneka Kogo, with its relaxing natural swimming pool and the fetish grotto. You can visit the market of Parakou
Day 13:
Parakou – Grand Popo
In a long day drive you will head for the beach resort of Grand Popo
Day 14:
Grand Popo - Ouidah
In the morning you can relax at the beach or the swimming pool. In the afternoon you visit Ouidah. Ouidah is famous for its voodoo priests and powerful fetishes. It was also one of the main deportation points for the slave trade. You will visit the museum situated in one of the former slave fortresses, the voodoo museum, the sacred forest and the slave route.
Day 15:
Ouidah – Ganvié – Cotonou
In the morning you finish the tour in Ouidah. Afterwards you’ll drive back to Cotonou. From there you will visit the lake village Ganvié by pirogue. The houses here are build over the water and all the transport between houses takes place by pirogue. At the floating market, vendors are selling their goods from small boats. Buyers likewise come by boat.
Day 16:
End of the tour, Transfer hotel – Airport
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price is based on participation of 4 persons. With more or less participants, the prices will change
Included:
Transfers from / to the airport ·All transport in car or (mini)bus
All accommodation in double rooms in tourist class, sometimes simple hotels with private bathroom where possible and (twice) at peoples homes.
The following excursions and activities: All mentioned day hikes, the palace and the museum of Porto Novo, guided tour and visit to the palace in Abomey, the Somba museum of Natitingou, tour by pirogue in Porto Novo, tour by piroque through the virgin forest near Abomey and guided tour and visits in Ouidah, tour by pirogue to Ganvié
Not Included:
Airfare to and from Cotonou.
Meals, mineral water and drinks.
Fees for not mentioned excursions or museums
Personal expenses
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Benin
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
National Parks
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