Ouidah
Benin · Atlantique · 10 m
Description
Ouidah was one of the busiest slaving ports on the West African coast and is now the centre of Beninese voodoo, which is a state religion here rather than a folk survival. The Route des Esclaves runs four kilometres from the auction square to the beach, past the Tree of Forgetting and the memorial arch called the Door of No Return where the ships were boarded. The Portuguese fort holds the history museum. The Temple of Pythons faces the Catholic basilica across the street, and the sacred forest of Kpassè is full of voodoo statuary.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: July – August or November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Route des Esclaves
- Temple of Pythons
- Door of No Return memorial
- Portuguese Fort & History Museum
- Sacred Forest of Kpassè
- Voodoo Festival (approx. January)
- Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
- Tree of Forgetting & Tree of Return
- Ouidah beach & Atlantic shore
- Zinsou Foundation museum villa
- Voodoo fetish stalls & offerings
- Python temple python handling
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- COO