Ancient Kingdoms and Chiefdoms

We begin our first day of exploration with a visit to the open-air international market of Cotonou: the Dantokpa market.

This vast space has the gift of making our heads spin with its diverse and multiple items: amulets, fabrics, traditional cloths, religious objects, etc. Also, food products, handmade and industrial goods rub shoulders there.

Many merchants come from all corners of Africa to set up their stalls, hoping to conclude a golden deal. Every day, this great bazaar brings together thousands of customers and sellers.

We then head 25 km away towards the lakeside city of Ganvié.

This village is built in the middle of Lake Nokoué and has been inhabited since 1770 by the Toffin, a tribe that fled inter-ethnic conflicts and the horrors of slavery.

The spectacle that unfolds before our eyes is exceptional: its floating market with a thousand colors and a thousand scents, and its bamboo and straw houses on stilts.

The ride is done in a canoe.

We then return to Abomey-Calavi where we spend the night.

We leave Abomey-Calavi and take the road to Porto, the administrative capital of Bénin and also capital of the Oueme department. A city also called Adjatché or Hogbonou, Porto-Novo was a former kingdom. A former French protectorate, the Honmé palace has become today a historical museum that preserves the relics of the past.

We visit the Honmé palace, before continuing with a bit of history and culture at the ethnographic museum. You can admire various indigenous artifacts such as the Guelede identity celebration, weapons and musical instruments. The great mosque of Porto is in turn a real treat for the eyes with its multicolored façades and architectural style.

In the afternoon we take an excursion to Adjarra, in the heart of the traditional tam-tam market. We observe the process from manufacturing to sale.

On the road to Ketou, we pass through Pobé to pay a courtesy visit to the "Holi" women and admire their traditional jewelry and tattoos. It is one of the rare ethnic groups that still preserve their cultures.

We arrive at Kétou, an ancient kingdom located in the plateau region. Very powerful and influential, it derives its strength from the powers received from Oyo in Nigeria.

Visit to the market and some mythical places in the city. The royal palace holds many surprises for us.

The gate Akaba idenan (gate that closes on foreigners) is also a monument to Yoruba tradition.

Today after a little over 2 hours of travel our delegation settles in the historic city of Dassa. Impressive rocky hills surround the city forming a natural amphitheater of great beauty.

Hiking on the Les Collines de Dassa to see the path of rituals followed by the Omondjagou, majority ethnic group forming the former kingdom of Dassa-Zoumé. On the hills we have the opportunity to see the fetishes and representations of voodoo worship.

Night in Dassa like a prince.

A very relaxed day where we drive very little. Savalou is a historic city founded by King Soha. It is a region populated mainly by the Mahis from Abomey.

In Savalou, we visit the royal palace, the pantheon, the lake with crocodiles, and the 7-branched palms.

Night on site in a magnificent hotel.

From Savalou, we head to the chivalrous town of Djougou, located just over 200 km to the north.

We set out to visit the Tanéka-Koko region, inhabited by animist hunters who live from millet cultivation.

In the Yaka camping area lives an animist ethnic group isolated from the wave of Islamization in the region. They undergo spectacular male circumcision initiation rites.

We speak with sorcerers who are guardians of tradition to experience and get closer to their culture based on the cult of the dead.

Night in a guesthouse in Djougou.

Quiet beginning of the morning in Djougou, before heading to Parakou.

Arrival at The royalty of Parakou and a stroll through the largest market of the largest city in northern Bénin.

Visit to the royal palace of the baribas.

Tasting of local cheese and the local drink, tchoukoutou.

Parakou is a very pleasant city full of small shops, craft activities and local products.

It is always with joy that we arrive in Kandi.

Kandi is both a cotton city and a former kingdom, a natural and charming city.

We visit the palace and the deities of the region.

With a bit of luck, we can visit a cotton field and witness the harvest of agricultural products.

Overnight stay in Kandi.

In Nikki, we visit the royal palace and the deities of the region.

We then meet an atypical ethnic group that will amaze us with its capacity for adaptation and the intense cultural life that characterizes it.

A day of exchange and sharing with the Burgu.

Night in Nikki.

We discover the kingdom of Abomey. Former capital of Dahomey, the city of Abomey is home to the royal palaces of ancient kings.

Founded in the 16th century, Abomey houses the museum that preserves the ancient royal objects, the adornments and treasures of the former kingdom. The sites were abandoned following the defeat of King Behanzin to French colonists. Later, these castles were renovated by UNESCO and became historical museums.

We visit Goho Square and take a break at the Hountondji, specialists in the transformation and manufacture of gold and copper objects.

Allada, also called Adanhounsa, is at the heart of the Aizo country.

Upon arriving in this city, we make a stop at the foot of the statue of General Toussaint Louverture, originally from the city and leader of the revolt leading to Haiti's independence.

Visit to Allada of the royal palace located in Togoudo.

Night at the hotel in Allada.

This morning we make the short transfer to the city of Ouidah, close to the Atlantic coast.

We dedicate the day to long hours of wandering in this historic city and begin with the Python Temple. This is located opposite the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the city's cathedral, with which it forms a striking contrast.

Then, we stretch our legs by exploring The sacred forest Kpassè Zoun. It is a wooded area where centuries-old trees stand tall. We enjoy discovering its voodoo temple with its statues of voodoo deities, as well as contemplating the iroko tree of the king.

The Slave Route remains an unmissable circuit in Ouidah. We walk several kilometers of beach to retrace one by one the 5 stages of this path, symbol of the slave trade in Bénin.

We end our visit to the city with a brief stop at the Zinsou foundation to admire contemporary art from Africa.

For our last hours in Bénin, we take a short tour in Cotonou, and do our last shopping.

Then, we are transferred to the airport for our return flight.