Ecotourism is a concept that by the generation of funds through tourist activities; communities, cooperatives, organizations, government, and private enterprise can both protect and conserve the environment and its natural resources. In many of the projects showcased in the following pages, the communities involved receive most, if not all, of the money received from tickets sales and through secondary activities, such as lodgeing, food and drink, and the sale of souviners.  The communities and villages then use the profits toward community-wide infrastructure and development improvements.  Other projects use revenues to cover project operating costs and to  further promote and improve the environment and their sites.

The projects covered within these pages are at different levels of development.  Remember it is always a good idea to call ahead of time to set up your tour or visit. Some sites may not be open due to the rainy or dry seasons, or the guide may not be available because of other work.  Other places may need an advance notice to prepare their guest house or meals. The contact person may also be able to suggest lodging in the area and transportation options to the site. 

Now get ready to plan your adventure through the forests, plains and waterways of Benin, where you will see elephants, hippopotamuses, lions and fresh water manatees. Take the time to discover stilt villages and scared forests, to view the trees from above the the forest's canopy, and to spot monkeys and tropical birds.  Or, get off of the main land to view whale, dolphins and see sea turtles tumbling to shore to lay their eggs.  

Map of Benin (Natural & Community Tourism Sites) here

Description of Sites

• Lac Doukon (Hippopotamus Viewing) here

• Lac Toho (Migratory Birds Veiwing) here

• Manatees, Sacred Forests, and the Silt Villages of the Ouémé (Cotonou, Oudé, Hozin and the Ouémé River) here

• Centre du Rechercher d'Agricole et la Forêt De Naiouli
  (Agricultural Research Center & Natural Forest with Fropical Birds and Green Monkeys) here

• Whale and Dolphin Watching (Off the Coast of Cotonou; September - November) here

• Forêt de Lama (Natural Forest with Tropical birds) here

• Parc Pendjari (National Large Animal Park) here

• Parc W (International Large Animal Park shared with Niger and Burikan Faso) here

• Forests, Sacred Wetlands, and the Sea Turtle Program of the Littoral ( Cotonou, Ouidah and Grand Po Po) here

• Un Tata à la Belle Étoile (Spend the evening in a tata samba, a traditional house, at the heart of the village of  Kounagnigou) here

Links here 

Page d'accueille Français ici