Voodoo is the national religion because Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo. Much the same as Togo, Benin will blow you away with its primitive culture and practices. Fetish markets can be found at most towns and stocked with the heads and skins of every animal imaginable, they will certainly catch your eye. As you journey through the country coming together with local oracles and visiting many pre-colonial locations, one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Royal Palace complex in Abomey – you will learn much about the history of these ancient people.
Meeting with a local Oba (Yoruba king), entering the House of Pearls, a temple whose walls are made from a mixture of clay and human blood, mask ceremonies shrouded in secret and excitement, tribes that still hunt with bows and arrows, mutilation initiation rituals, traditional Somba dance, isolated villages, fetish markets, snake cults and the famed Python Temple, spending a night in a stilt village on Lake Nokwe and visiting the spiritual home of Voodoo – just some of the experiences Benin will reward you with.
Take your holiday as part of a Voodoo exploration combining Benin with Burkina Faso and Togo, or opt for the shorter adventure with Togo.
