Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery

Arrive in Lome, the lively capital of Togo. For those arriving on time, our tour leader plans to meet you at the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting. For those who wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner afterwards. There are no other activities pla...

After breakfast and our welcome meeting , we kick off our West African adventure with a guided tour of the capital city of Togo. Once an important landmark within West Africa's notorious slave trade, Togo was colonised in the 15th century, evidence of which can still...

We'll set off after breakfast for a guided hike through the countryside. Following well-marked tracks, we'll hike for around two hours guided by a butterfly expert. Along the trails, we'll learn about the ecosystem in the surrounding adjacent forest. The walk is mainl...

Today we travel towards Kara. Along the way, we'll stop to meet the Bassar people. The Bassar live in traditional large clay houses with conical roofs and are known for their production of iron. They abide by strict rules - only old women can provide the coal needed t...

This morning, we'll continue our journey north, entering a more mountainous arid region. Leaving the main road, we enter the land of the proud Tamberma people who live in fortified dwellings. Similar to medieval castles, they're one of the most beautiful examples of a...

We have an early start this morning to begin our journey into Benin via Ketao. Our destination is the town of Natitingou, located in an upland range. Along the way we make a stop at a village called Taneka. The village is made up of round houses covered with a conical...

Today is a long travelling day, with several stops en route. Departing early, we drive south; to stop at a Fulani settlement along the way. The Fulani are mainly shepherds, the men move around with their herds while the women take care of the camp and milk the cows to...

We start our day exploring Dassa, which used to be the capital of an ancient kingdom in 1385, by visiting Sacred Hill where funerals for the royal family take place accompanied by Voodoo practices. The town is full of history, our tour leader will share the story of t...

This morning we visit the Chameleon temple in Abomey and a church, which for many is an unexpected highlight of the trip. Next, we head out to witness an Egun mask performance in nearby Cove. According to the local tradition, people perform the rituals not only to rep...

Our departure time will depend on the mask ceremony the day before. We spend this morning travelling by bus and boat to Ganvie, the largest stilt village in Africa, where we are welcomed by singing and drumming on the boats. Settled by the Tofinou people, fleeing the ...

We'll depart Ganvie after breakfast, and travel by boat and bus to the capital, Cotonou. We'll see from the outside the Cathedral of Notre Dame, visit the impressive statute of Queen Tassi Hangbe a great fearless warrior queen who led an all-female army, the Agodjies ...

Discover the Mono River estuary in a small motorboat, passing tiny villages where the old way of extracting salt is still practised. Our journey leads us along the river to where it meets the ocean, we cross the lagoon through forests of mangroves. Later we head to...

After breakfast, we'll cross the border back into Togo, where we'll continue for a short while before stopping in Aneho, a village of thatched houses with shrines and fetishes, and there may be an opportunity to watch a Voodoo ceremony. During such a ritual we will se...

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Lome. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Lome at any time. If your flight is departing early in the morning, breakfast will be served very early. If your flight is departing later in th...