Ouidah

A historic slave trade city and Voodoo sacred site on the coast of Benin, where the Route des Esclaves and the Temple of Pythons are unforgettable.

Ouidah is located on the Atlantic coast of southern Benin. It was once an important port for the West African slave trade and is now one of the centers of Voodoo culture. The Route des Esclaves (Slave Route) leads to the Gate of No Return by the sea, where heavy history is remembered. Within the city, there are the Ouidah Museum of History (Portuguese Fort), Chacha Square, the Temple of Pythons where pythons are kept, and the Kpassè Sacred Forest. The Zinsou Foundation Contemporary Art Exhibition at Villa Ajavon offers another perspective, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Central Mosque are also worth a visit. The dry season from November to March is more suitable, and the Voodoo Festival takes place in January. The gateway is Cotonou Airport, about a one-hour drive away.

Destinations

• Ouidah

Itineraries

• Ghana, Togo & Benin Coastal Cultural Journey – Travel from Accra to Cotonou, connecting coastal castles, Ashanti heritage, Voodoo culture, and stilt villages.
• Southern Benin Loop: Palaces, Voodoo & Lagoons – Starting and ending in Cotonou, this loop covers the stilt village, Porto-Novo, Abomey, Grand-Popo, and Ouidah.
• West African Coast: Lagos to Accra – Traverse four countries along the Gulf of Guinea, connecting slave trade heritage sites, Voodoo culture, and coastal ca…