The Collines & the Centre
Sacred hills, yam country and the Bariba north: the Benin almost nobody visits.
[ 7°45′ N, 2°11′ E ]Five days through the middle of the country. The forty-one hills of Dassa-Zoumé, the yam festival country of Savalou, the Gèlèdé masks of Kétou and the horsemen of Parakou. Slow roads, big skies, almost no other travellers.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Group
- Up to 8
- Season
- Oct – Mar
- Experience
- Kingdoms & culture
- Sunrise walk on the sacred hills of Dassa-Zoumé
- Kétou and the Gèlèdé mask society
- Savalou in yam season, with the harvest festival in August on request
- Parakou's market and the Bariba horsemen
The journey
- Day 1Night in Kétou
Cotonou to Kétou
Airport meeting and the road north-east to the Yoruba kingdom.
- Day 2Night in Dassa-Zoumé
Kétou to Dassa
The Gèlèdé society in the morning, then west to the Collines.
- Day 3Night in Dassa-Zoumé
The sacred hills
Sunrise walk, the grotto, and the yam country around Savalou.
- Day 4Night in Parakou
Parakou
North to the crossroads city: the market and the horsemen.
- Day 5
Return south
Train or road back to Cotonou and departure.
Where you go
- 01Kétou[ 7°22′ N, 2°36′ E ]
- 02Dassa-Zoumé & the Collines[ 7°45′ N, 2°11′ E ]
- 03Parakou[ 9°21′ N, 2°37′ E ]
Nights along the way
Chosen for where they are and who runs them. Rooms are confirmed with your dates; we tell you the exact houses when you book.
CotonouA five-star hotel on the marina
The first and last night of most journeys, with the Atlantic on one side and the lagoon on the other.
Terraced stone balconies over a long pool, a lobby hung with Beninese painting and sculpture, a bar under a glass chandelier, a spa and tennis courts. Close enough to the airport to arrive late and leave early without losing the day.
Dassa-ZouméUnder the hills
A small hotel at the foot of the sacred hills, with the rocks lit at sunrise.
The stopover on the road north: a garden, cold drinks, and the hills of Dassa framed from the terrace. Nothing to do after dark, which is the point after a long day of driving.
- Private driver throughout, English and French speaking
- All road transport in an air-conditioned 4×4 with driver
- Accommodation as described, breakfast included
- All entry fees, permits and ceremony contributions
- Airport meeting and transfers in Cotonou
- Round-the-clock support from our Cotonou office
- International flights
- E-visa fees
- Travel insurance, which we require
- Lunches and dinners unless stated
- Tips and personal purchases
Departures
Scheduled small-group departures. Private departures run on any date from two travellers.
Good to know
How do I pay?
A 30% deposit confirms your dates. Pay in FCFA by MTN or Moov mobile money, or in euros by card. The balance is due 45 days before departure.
Can I travel on other dates?
Yes. Every journey runs privately on request, from two travellers. Private departures carry a small supplement outside the dry season.
Is Benin safe?
The south and centre are calm and welcoming. For the far north we follow the latest government advice and adapt routes with our local partners; we will tell you plainly if a leg has to change.
890 000 F
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