Forests, Sacred Wetlands, and the Sea Turtle Program of the Littoral

Visit the Benin's treasures along the coast of the Atlantic

		The Tour This expedition visits many environmental and cultural sites. The tour begins at the Museum of Nature Tropicale in Cotonou. The visitor will then go to Ouidah, taking the route de pêche along the Atlantic, where you will see the mangroves of Avlékété, its sacred forest and wetlands, and people practicing traditional fishing methods. At Ouida, we will visit the Python Temple, the Slave Route and the Door of No Return. From Ouidah guests will enter into a motorised boat and traverse flood plains to Grand Po Po, passing a coastal lagoon and the semi-silt village of Guézin. On the beach of Grand Po Po, visitors will see the activities of the Sea Turtle program and the Mouth of the King(mouth of the Mono River). After the tour the guests will return to Cotonou by vehicle
Sea Turtles Four speciecs of sea turtle frequent the coast of Benin and are specfied in their order of importance, the olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the lute turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the tortue imbriquée (Eretmochelys imbricata). From September to December, the first two species come to lay their eggs on the beach of Benin, the last two species are fished for in the sea. The sea turtle population of Benin, like in the sub-region, are spiraling downwards and are being overexploited. Since 199 Nature Tropical ONG has focused its action towards the preservation of the its species and you contribution is necessary. Here are four daily activities that you can adopt for their survival: Do not throw plastic bags in the sea, the lute turtle confuses them with jellyfish and chokes; Do not hunt turtles in the sea, on the beach or collect their eggs; Do not buy any products made from turtle shells or consume turtle meat, and Show your action towards the protection of endangered species.
	National Sea Turtle Day January 8^th

General Information
Contact Us Nature Tropicale Muée des sciences Naturelles 06 BP 10150 Akpakpa PK 3 Cotonou, Benin Tel: (229) 33 37 73 / 40 91 14 Fax: (229) 33 87 32 Website : http://ifrance.com/ntong-benin E-mail: ntongmu@yahoo.com ou josea_bj@yahoo.co.uk		Costs and times Adults : 12.000 FCFA Children : 10.000 FCFA Price includes photographs, boat, breakfast and lunch 6h30 - 18h00 any time of the year 10 people maximum
OTHER attractions
Ouidah: A city above the rest, where the Basilique and the Temple of Pythons are facing each other. This city is a historic site of slave trading posts for the Portuguese, French, English, Hollanders, Dutch and where Voodoo also finds its origins. Ouidah is religious city, home to the ancient port that sent African slaves to the Americas, Caribbean’s, and Brazil, and city of museums and tourist sites(The Temple of Pythons, The Route of Fishers, The Slave Route, and the Door of No Return).
		The sacred forest and wetlands of'Aholboé
The mangroves of Avlékété and of Gjègbadji
Things to Bring Shoes and clothes for hiking and water Sunscreen Insecticide Potable water Sunglasses Binoculars Photo and video cameras Life jackets will be provided
Project Partners Nature Tropicale ONG The Netherlands Committee of IUCN The Communities of Aguégués, Goukon, Avagbodi, Bèm'bé, Hozin, Kessounou, Hêtin, and Dangbo Peace Corps Specail Thanks To Comité Néerlandais de l'IUCN Van Tienhoven Stichting Ambassade des USA au Bénin New York Aquaruim (WCS, USA) Sirenia Project in Gainesville (USA) Conservation Wildlife Trust, Florida (USA) Forum Biodiversité du Bénin Agence Béninoise pour l'Environnement(ABE Ecotourisme avec Nature Tropicale ONG : L'écotourisme est axé sur la nature avec une composante éducative et un besoin de durabilité. Un tourisme solidaire et équitable avec un respect pour l'environnement, un respect pour les traditions locales, un partage équitable des revenues et un accompagnement de micro- projets pour un développement durable.

Home Page English here