9 Day Guided Motorcycle Tour Togo Benin Adventure

Overview

On this motorcycle adventure, you ride through the animistic countries of Togo and Benin. The voodoo religion originates from this region along the coast. The landscape varies from dense forests to a coastal route along the Atlantic Ocean. You learn about daily life in the villages. People live in mud huts and thatched roofs. Further, there are many lively markets. You meet different population groups and visit the pole villages of the Tofinu people. You take a trip through the dubious history of the slave trade, colonization, and coups in Abemey and Ouida. Finally, we discover beautiful forests with a wide variety of insects and butterflies. The extremely variable quality of surfacing and paving consists of asphalt, sandy roads, and small forest paths. Therefore, the support vehicle cannot follow you everywhere and regularly take a different route.

Highlights

• Ride through all types of small villages
• Enjoy a boat trip at Lake Ahémé
• Visit the water village of Ganvié with a canoe
• Visit the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO heritage site
• Admire the spectacular environment in the plateau of Dayes
• International tour leader available for a group of more than 5 participants
• Support car available for a group of more than 5 participants
• 8 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival - Lome

   You will probably arrive at Lomé Airport in the evening. If it is not too late, the tour guide will meet you. You will receive some information, and you can have dinner at the Hotel. If you have more time, please explore the city. In 1897, Lomé was the capital of Togoland. During that time Togo was a German colony. The city Lomé is named after Alotimé by the Ewe people. This means ‘between the plants Alo’. Alo is a tree species. In the 1960s, the Germans constructed a 420-meter jetty and a deep-water port for the export of raw materials. Now in Lomé, there is a fetish voodoo market and a big m

2. Day 2: Lome - Vogan - Possotome (Benin)

   Today is your first ride on the motorcycle. After a short explanation about the motorbikes, you ride out of Lomë. There is a lot of traffic such as motorcycles, mopeds, and cars. Soon it gets quieter on the roads. You ride through all types of small villages. Vogan is known for a large vodoo market on Friday. Next, you ride through the old city of Grand Popo. This was an important city during the slave trade, which was first occupied by the Portuguese and later the French. You see many empty and dilapidated buildings here. Then you cross the long river Mono to Benin, which runs along the borde

3. Day 3: Possotomé - Ouidah

   Today you go on a boat trip at Lake Ahémé. Your guide tells stories about gods and legends. In addition, you see daily life along the lake and discover different fishing techniques. Then you go to Ouidah, the capital of the Voodoo religion. Due to its favorable location and the harbor, Ouidah was an important place for the slave trade. A holdover from the Portuguese era of Benin is the Fortress of São João Baptista de Ajudá which was also important for the slave trade. The fort is now a museum. Many monuments are connected to the former slave trade, such as the Route des Esclaves (the slave ro

4. Day 4: Ouidah - Abomey

   Today you start driving along the beach between the ocean and many coconut trees and finally arrive in the capital Cotonou. You ride to the north of the city towards the west bank of Lake Nokoué. Here, you visit the water village of Ganvié with a canoe. The traditional houses of the Toffinu are built from bamboo or tree trunks that disappear into the water. The lake is an important area for many different birds. If there is time, Motor Trails recommends that you go to the Artisanal Craft Center. There you can find traditional wooden masks, baskets, pots, and woven fabrics. These products tell

5. Day 5: Abomey - Atakpame (Togo)

   Today is your last ride through the former kingdom of Dahomey. Benin has been independent since 1960 and was given its current name in 1975. The handicraft rugs with symbols of the 12 kings and the slavery that Benin has known are reminders of the country’s past. You go to Togo again, crossing the Mono River and driving along the Nangbéto dam to finally reach the city of Atakpame. This city is a center of textile processing and a turning point for the cotton grown in the area. In the western part of Atakpamé, cocoa, and coffee are mainly grown. On a hill, the “coffee-cocoa triangle” is formed

6. Day 6: Atakpame - Badou

   Today, you ride to the west towards the border of Ghana. You can choose between several routes. You follow an old colonial colorful route past villages and colorful markets through the Okpabe region. Today’s final destination is the green town of Badou, which is located in a fertile valley surrounded by hills with forest and coffee plantations. After this beautiful day of motorcycling through tropical forests, you go to your hotel in Badou. In the small village of Akloa is a beautiful waterfall. If there is not enough time left today you can go to this waterfall tomorrow morning. The forests i

7. Day 7: Badou - Kouma Konda

   The environment consists of forests and hills. You have to ride close together. After a varied ride, you arrive at the plateau of Dayes. From here, there are beautiful views of the spectacular environment. Now the ride is full of curves, so you must ride carefully as we ascend to a height of more than 600 meters to reach the village of Kouma Konda. The climate here is very pleasant. People in this region mainly live from the cultivation of coffee and cocoa. You can take a walk and see avocados, mahogany, iroko, cocoa, pepper, and a lot of butterflies. You sleep in the village tonight.

8. Day 8: Kouma Konda - Lome

   This morning you can choose between a walk or a short motorbike ride through the area. Afterwards, you all ride to Lomé. You leave the woods shortly after taking off, transitioning to an area mainly consisting of palm and coconut trees. The road is now sandy and you can smell the sea. It gets busier again as you arrive in the capital Lomé.

9. Day 9: Departure – Lome

   This is the end of the holiday. You will return home with beautiful memories.

Ride Details

Terrain

~ 60% off road

Bike

rental bike (Yamaha TTR 250, upgrade to Suzuki DR 350 available)

Mileage

1100 kilometers / 684 miles

Riding gear

Not included, please bring your riding gear such as helmet, jacket, gloves, knee armor, and boots

Meals

Most breakfast are provided

Accommodation

During this trip, you stay in midrange hotels. Sometimes these are the best in town but still very basic. Tourism in Togo and Benin is almost non-existing, so there are only local hotels available. Be prepared.

Getting There

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