Burkina/Togo/Benin: Mud Palaces and Voodoo Ceremonies

 

Day 1: Arrival at Ouagadougou Airport Meet and greet with your tour leader and transfer to the hotel (5 km). (-/-), Overnight at Ouagadougou, Hotel Le Grand Calao or similar Day 2: Ouagadougou In the morning, your tour leader will brief you about the trip. Next, embark on a sightseeing tour of Ouagadougou, Burkina’s modern and vibrant capital. Visits include the 1930s cathedral, a traditional bronze workshop and the Village Artisanal, an artisan centre on the outskirts of the city, dedicated to the skill and artistry of hundreds of local craftsmen. This afternoon, you will visit the small village of Laongo just outside the capital. Here you will find the Sculpture Park, where internationally renowned artists have engraved their works in granite, and the Opera Village project of the late German film director Christoph Schlingensief, two important cultural centres of the country. We'll return to the hotel in the early evening. (approx. 90 km) (B/D) Overnight at Ouagadougou, Hotel Le Grand Calao or similar Day 3: Ouagadougou - Bobo Dioulasso Today we leave Ouagadougou and its friendly people behind and carry on towards Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina‘s second largest city. En route, you’ll get your first glimpse of strange-looking baobabs, huge mango trees and traditional village life. In Sabou you‘ll meet the sacred crocodiles.  Legend has it that once a crocodile saved a hunter‘s life. Since then, crocodiles are considered sacred by the locals. We‘ll arrive at Bobo Dioulasso in the afternoon, in time to explore the famous Sudanese-stype mosque and the city‘s old quarters. You may have time to see the atmospheric central market, the Catholic cathedral and the train station, which is a splendid example of French colonial architecture (370 km). (B/D), Overnight at Bobo Dioulasso, Hotel Auberge or similar Day 4 - Bobo Dioulasso - Banfora Today we continue into the lush forest savanna of Southwestern Burkina Faso. After one and a half hours we reach Banfora, the pleasant capital of this region. Upon arrival, explore the stunning surroundings of this town set in beautiful scenery of sugar-cane fields and tree-lined hills. The highlight of this day are the magnificent rock formations of the Dômes de Fabédougou and the picturesque Karfiguela waterfall (approx.100 km). (B/D), Overnight at Banfora, Hotel Canne à Sucre or similar Day 5: Banfora Day excursion to the village of Sindou, reached by a newly improved road, which we follow from Banfora for about 50 km. The area is known for its craggy chain of castle-like rock formations, left behind when the surrounding softer rocks eroded away. Spend some hours walking through this tranquil wonderland of rocks. In the afternoon boatmen take us out on to the lake Tengrela, a great location for hippo-spotting and bird watching (approx. 100 km).Note: There is currently a travel warning for the border area to Mali (as of October 2020). If Sindou is not passable, we offer a substitute programme. (B/D), Overnight at Banfora, Hotel Canne à Sucre or similar Day 6: Banfora - Gaoua Heading east to Gaoua, we reach the land of the Lobi and spend the day with a local guide to learn more about the animist culture of these people. En route, explore the mysterious ruins of Loropeni, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009. In the nearby village of Obiré you‘ll meet the local king of the Gan people. The Gan are one of the six Lobi sub- ethnic groups and the only one to have a king. One of the king‘s wives will show you the memorial for the deceased kings and queens. This afternoon you‘ll reach Gaoua.Before check-in at the hotel, get a final glimpse of Lobi artifacts and historical photographs at the well-kept museum of Gaoua, set up by French anthropologist Madeleine Père (approx. 220 km). (B/D), Overnight at Gaoua, Hotel Hâla or similar Day 7: Gaoua - Leo After breakfast, you will spend some time in a Lobi settlement to meet the locals and explore their fortress-like houses. They still adhere to many of their traditional customs and animist practices, worshipping wooden fetishes and continuing to hold fast to their age-old beliefs. In the afternoon you‘ll depart Gaoua heading to the town of Leo. Enjoy the last rays of sunshine of the day at the magnificent pool of our hotel. (approx. 205 km). (B/D), Overnight at Leo, Hotel Sissilis or similar Day 8: Leo - Ouagadougou This morning you‘ll return to Ouagadougou, Burkina’s modern and vibrant capital. In the afternoon, explore Manega museum, in a rural setting about 50 km north of Ouagadougou, hosting one of the country´s best ethnological collections including centuries-old masks and musical instruments as well as items of clothing from Burkina Faso's various ethnic groups. In addition, traditional dwellings of the Mossi, Kassena, Peulh and Bobo have been reconstructed in an open-air museum. (approx. 235 km). (B/D) Overnight at Ouagadougou, Hotel Le Grand Calao or similar Day 9: Ouagadougou - Dapaong This morning will be an early start to be begin our journey into Togo. The first part of our drive is through the region where the Gourmantche people reside. In the early afternoon you‘ll reach the town of Dapaong in Togo, some 40 km from the border. We'll stop for a lunch break at our hotel before exploring the nearby caves Grottes de Nano. Hidden among high cliffs and lush vegetation they used to  serve as a shelter for the local population in uncertain times. Here they found refuge and numerous granaries ensured that they could stay there for weeks. We‘ll return to Dapaong in the evening. (approx. 330 km).

(B/D) Overnight at Dapaong, Campement de Dapaong or similar Day 10: Dapaong - Natitingou We'll depart Dapaong after breakfast, and travel on to the region where the Tamberma people reside. We‘ll stop at a Tamberma village, beautifully set in Atacora Mountains. This chain of mountains starts in southeast Ghana and cuts through Togo and Benin. We visit a number of medieval-castle-like houses of this extraordinary tribal group. The cultural landscape of Koutammakou has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Later today, we‘ll cross into Benin. Here we will have the chance to meet the Somba people, close relatives of the Tamberma. Similar to the Tamberma architecture, the Somba houses also resemble castle-like fortifications which are often flanked by small altars. (approx. 230 km) (B/D), Overnight at Hotel Tata Somba or similar Day 11: Natitingou - Abomey Heading towards Abomey, take a stroll through Tanéka, one of the fascinating Yom villages spread around the scenic landscapes near Djougou. The Yom are closely related to the Somba and, like them, have kept their tribal traditions alive. Further south, stop off to visit Dankoli, considered to be the most important fetish in West Africa. This phallus-shaped tree-trunk stained with sacrificial blood is considered to be West Africa’s most powerful fetish with hundreds of believers arriving every day from all over Benin and neighbouring countries. They make their requests to the gods hammering wooden pegs into the fetish, pouring palm-oil on to it and spitting specially made rum at the stake. If the wishes comes true, the person must return and make the necessary sacrifices. Otherwise he will face the consequences…. You‘ll arrive at Abomey by late afternoon. (approx. 450 km). (B/D) Overnight at Abomey, Hotel Guedevy I or similar Day 12: Abomey - Ganvié - Ouidah This morning visit the Royal Palaces of the pre-colonial kingdom of Dahomey. This UNESCO World Heritage site houses a historical museum and a craft centre. From Abomey continue to the stilt village of Ganvié which – for obvious reasons - has been called the “Venice of Africa”. It can only be reached by boat. Enjoy the exotic sight of busy waterways, floating markets and thatched-roofed houses perched over the water. Towards evening arrive at Ouidah, Benin´s capital of voodoo (approx. 150 km). (B/D) Overnight at Ouidah, Hotel Diaspora or similar Day 13: Ouidah - Grand Popo At Ouidah learn more about the history of slavery and the mysterious rituals of voodoo. Take a walk along the slave route, from the slave market to the beach where the unfortunate victims were loaded aboard the ships, and visualize their last trek on African soil. Stop also by the Python Temple dedicated to the ancient snake cult and, in the Sacred Forest, get acquainted with the concepts of voodoo. For a first-hand voodoo experience, we continue to Grand Popo to witness a spectacular dancing ceremony of the Zangbeto, the  “Guardians of the Night” protecting the community against thieves and evil forces. The Zangbeto masks resemble haystacks swirling around the ceremony place. Be prepared for a magical spectacle accompanied by the hypnotic beat of the drums! (approx. 50 km). (B/D), Overnight at Grand Popo, Hotel Awale Plage or simillar Day 14: Grand Popo You have a day at your leisure to relax on the beach or at the swimming pool of your hotel. You may join an optional pirogue ride on the Mono River, leading you to the King’s Mouth (“Bouches du Roi”) estuary where the river meets the ocean. Its banks are lined with sand dunes, palm trees, patches of mangroves and little fishing villages constructed with the branches of palm trees. (B/D), Overnight at Grand Popo, Hotel Awale Plage or similar Day 15: Grand Popo - Lomé Today we head west crossing into Togo. Via Aneho we reach Lake Togo where we take a pirogue trip to Togoville. Explore the town’s impressive cathedral built under German colonial rule and the animist quarter, where you will be met by a famous voodoo priestess. Later in the afternoon we continue to Lomé, Togo’s coastal capital. In the afternoon you will witness a stunning voodoo ceremony, a Knife Dance, in a small village near Lomé. Dancing to the hypnotic rhythm of the drum, the dancers cut themselves with knives without being hurt. Pure magic! (approx. 100 km). (B/D), Overnight at Lomé, Coco Beach Hotel or similar Day 17: Lomé - Return flight This morning we explore Togo’s charming capital. We visit the small National Museum and the famous Grand Marché, one of West Africa’s largest markets. At the fetish market, find traditional medicine, voodoo dolls and other items used in Voodoo ceremonies - mostly animal parts like crocodile bones, antelope horns, monkey skulls, dried chameleons and birds. The afternoon is left free at your leisure. Our tour ends this evening. Day rooms will be at your disposal until the transfer to the airport. . (F), Day-use room at Coco Beach Hotel until departure Please note that from time to time our itineraries may be amended.

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