EXCURSION AGOUDA (OUIDAH)

The Door of No Return

Ouidah, also known as “Gléhoué” (the house of fields) was founded in the XVIth century by King Kpassè. The city expanded rapidly with the slave trade and the colonial trade. A strong town, it once sheltered Portuguese, French, English and Danish trading posts. Ouidah was the point of departure for slaves sailing towards the United States, Brazil and Haiti. Nowadays Ouidah is a museum town, and is verdant and peaceful.

Formerly the only port in Benin, Ouidah was the centre of the slave trade in the region and a bustling city of commerce. Nowadays it is as famous for its historic past as for the practice of the traditional religion known as “vodoun” or vodou. The diversity of its attractions (historic museums, sacred forests, temple of pythons, slave route) makes it a destination of choice.

Statues on the Road of Slaves

In the sacred forest of King Kpassè, the large gods which gaze at you with their stone-like eyes form a magic circle; a silent and solemn assembly of Héviosso, Dan and Sakpata. Also in attendance are royal “vodouns” like Dâguessou, protector of Ghézo, a one-footed idol whose powers are contained in miniature calabashes attached to bracelets. These are just some of the many wonders that the city of Ouidah offers its visitors.

Programme

• Depart for Ouidah in an air-conditioned bus
• Arrival at and visit of the sacred forest and the historical museum of Ouidah
• Lunch (optional)
• In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Pythons and the basilica “Notre Dame de l’Immaculée Conception”
• We end our day by following the route of the slaves’ road with rock-filled backpacks to the auction square and the Door of No Return. Here we will see:
  • Place Chacha, where the auctions took place
  • The Tree of Forgetfulness
  • Zomaï
  • The Zoungbodji Memorial
  • The Tree of Return
  • The Door of No Return

EXCURSION ADJATCHE (PORTO-NOVO)

Founded at the end of the XVIth century, Porto-Novo is named after the Portuguese city Porto to which it resembled during its time as a Portuguese colony. Numerous houses date from the colonial years and the city’s apparently prosperous times are visible.

Porto-Novo, once the centre of a kingdom, later became a place for slave trading. A historic city, Porto-Novo houses an ethnographic museum, the Ancient Palace of Governors and an authentic royal palace which has now been turned into a historic museum. We end our tour with a visit to the Songhai project which is a centre for training, production, research and development in sustainable agriculture.

Named after a prestigious empire of Mali in the XVIth century, Songhai is an NGO for development founded in 1985 by a Dominican Priest of African origin, Brother Godfrey Nzamujo O.P., and a group of African friends revolted by the level of development on the Continent and eager to give Africa its dignity back. This movement aims to enhance the standard of living of people in Africa and economic and social development

• By using local resources, traditional and modern methods,
• By streamlining them
• By using a rigorous management approach
• By encouraging the taking of responsibility and use of initiative through consultation and dialogue with all parties, in order to create viable agricultural enterprises

Songhai strives to develop a space of creativity and innovation to help build the African society. Its mission is to combat poverty and hunger and to raise the standard of living of African people. Songhai draws its inspiration from the Timbuktu effect, a phenomenon of attraction, by promoting all that Africa has to offer, in order that it may benefit from globalisation rather than be merely subject to its influence.

Programme

• Departure from Cotonou in an air-conditioned bus
• Arrival and visit of the Honmè Museum and the Ethnographic Museum
• Lunch at Projet Songhaï (optional)
• In the afternoon, visit of the Project Songhaï
• Cotonou and Porto-Novo city-tour and return to Cotonou

EXCURSION KOUTONOU (COTONOU-GANVIE)

Floating market

In the XVIIIth century, the Toffinous fled from the war of the Fons to seek refuge in the North, where the land was unable to feed everyone. The swampy region which surrounds the Lake Nokoué provided excellent protection against the kingdoms of the Fons and the Dahomey because of a religious custom which forbade their warriors to venture into the water. All the houses, restaurants, shops and hotels were built on stilts about two meters above the water level. Locals live almost exclusively on fishing. There are as many fish-breeders as fishermen. The men plant twigs at the bottom of the muddy lagoon. When the leaves begin to decompose, the fish gather to eat them. A few days later, the men return to collect them from the net. Most of the dugouts are managed by the women, who are also in charge of trade. Full of spices, fruit and fish, the dugouts are brightly coloured.

Cotonou, entry point to Benin and situated on the Gulf of Guinea, is proud of its lively streets full of vendors, friendly people, its famous market Dantokpa, its numerous squares and historic monuments and its centre for the promotion of crafts.

Programme

• Short tour of Cotonou’s monuments and business headquarters
• Departure to Ganvié
• Arrival and exploration in mechanised boats of the village on stilts, the lovers’ road, the floating market, its show villas, its schools, its churches, its cemetery
• Lunch (optional)
• Return to Cotonou
• Visit of Dantokpa Market, the biggest market in Western Africa
• Return to the hotel

EXCURSION NAGUEZE (ALLADA-ABOMEY)

Statue of King Gbéhanzin in
Place Goho

Abomey, the royal city, is reached after crossing the monumental square of Goho where the statue of King Gbèhanzin reigns, majestic and dignified. Abomey was the centre of the Kingdom of Dahomey which reigned over the region before the French colonisation. This rich city has an unprecedented history. The kingdom of Dahomey has left an indelible impact on history, with its organisational structures and the fierce resistance of King Gbèhanzin against the French Colonial conquest.

Programme

• Early departure from Cotonou in an air-conditioned bus
• Brief stop to discover the Toussaint Louverture square, hero and founder of Haïti
• Continue towards Abomey
• Stop in Bohicon to visit the underground caves of Agongointo
• Continue towards Abomey
• Lunch at Monique’s (optional)
• Visit to the Royal Museum of Abomey, a UNESCO global heritage site
• Brief city tour and return to Cotonou

Our rates include

• Entry tickets to the sites
• Transportation
• A professional bilingual English-French Guide

Extra lunch onsite

• 10.000 FCFA / Person (drinks included)