Togo & Benin

Day 1: Porto Novo and Dassa.

• The Expedition starts in Cotonou, Benin on June 3rd. To maximize our time, everyone should arrive a day early, on the 2nd. We’ll start in the early morning and visit the capital, Porto Novo.
• In the afternoon, we’ll attend a voodoo ritual dance with masked dancers, drummers and singers in a village near Dassa.
• Overnight in Dassa.

Day 2: Fulani & The North

• In the early morning, we’ll visit the Fulani tribe, a nomadic and islamic ethnic group in Benin and West Africa.
• Then, we continue North to Boukombé, to see regions of Benin that tourists that only reach the coasts rarely see.
• Overnight in Boukombé.

Day 3: Somba Country

• It’s time to head to Pays Somba, or Somba Country. This ethnic group is mostly known for their fortress-like houses called “tata”.
• We will meet the Somba King, their Shaman, and many villages in this region.
• Overnight in Boukombé.

Day 4: Taneka Country & Togo

• We’ll drive on to Djougou and into Taneka country, to meet this fascinating tribe that are known for not wearing many clothes and smoking on their long wooden pipes.
•  In the afternoon, we will cross into Togo, to visit Koutammakou cultural landscape and tribe, the only UNESCO WHS in the country.
• Overnight in Dassa.

Day 5: Abomey and Grand Popo

• In the morning, we’ll visit the biggest fetiche voodoo market, near Abomey.
• In the afternoon, we’ll slow down by the beautiful coast of Grand Popo.
• Overnight in Lac Aheme.

Day 6: Ouida and Lake Aheme.

• Ouida was a strategic center in the slaving routes of West Africa. Over 2 million people were enslaved and taken against their will to the Caribbean, Brazil or the US. We will visit the 4km that stretch from the “point of no return” to the beaches in the Atlantic and trying to better understand the tragic History of this place.
• Later, we’ll continue to Lake Aheme, another influential Voodoo center. Benin is one of the few countries in the World that has its own official religion. But, in fact, Voodoo is full of prejudices and transcends the idea of dolls pinned with long needles. It’s actually very connected to nature and the idea of spirits. We’ll visit a Yoruba temple dedicated to the God of Justice.
• Overnight in Lake Aheme.

Day 7: Ganvié and Cotonou.

• In the morning, we’ll venture to Ganvié, the town on lake Nokoue, built on stilt houses, canals instead of streets and boats instead of cars.
• The afternoon, we’ll relax by the pool of our Hotel, and go out to explore the market in Cotonou.
• Overnight in Cotonou.

Day 8: Free time, fly out. 

• After breakfast, the worst moment of every Expedition: we say goodbye. The Expedition is finished and we fly out.