Through royal cities, convents, public squares, and villages in the North, this expedition offers an immersion into the heart of Beninese mask traditions . Far more than mere spectacular figures, the masks embody spiritual presences , collective memories , and forms of transmission deeply rooted in local societies.
From Porto-Novo and its Festival of Masks to the ceremonies of Dassa-Zoumè, from the Vodun practices of Ouidah to the famous masked horsemen of Djougou, this tour explores the diversity of ritual and cultural expressions surrounding masks in Benin . Each stop allows you to explore the symbolic, social, and spiritual dimensions of these traditions, in an approach that respects the communities and ceremonial spaces.
Designed for photographers, videographers , documentary filmmakers and researchers , this trip prioritizes access to authentic contexts, accompanied by field expertise attentive to cultural realities and the ethics of the image.
Expedition program
After lunch, departure for Ouidah, check-in at the hotel and photo shoot and portrait session of the Azohoun masks in a dedicated session combining details of the costumes, expressions and movements.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Early departure for Porto-Novo, check-in. Grand opening procession, ceremonial entrance of the masks into the city. Egungun masks (ancestor spirits, Yoruba tradition), processions and ritual dialogues with the living. Gelede masks (mother cult, UNESCO World Heritage site), dances. Zangbeto masks, twilight apparitions, guardians of cosmic order. Gunuko masks, confirmed for the official 2026 program. Guest troupes from Africa and around the world. Time dedicated to documentary photography led by our guide.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel.
International symposium of the festival “The Mask as Living Memory.” Encounters with mask artisans and sculptors, symbolic interpretation of costumes, materials, and colors. Photographic sessions and complementary performances. Afternoon outside the festival: Deep in Porto-Novo; Honmè Museum, former palace of the Toffa kings, linking royalty and initiation cults. Brazilian quarter, return of the Agoudas and their influence on contemporary Vodun. Meeting with a family of guardians of the Egungun in a Yoruba neighborhood of Porto-Novo. Official closing of the festival with a popular atmosphere, music, and collective celebration.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse.
A hike in the hills to see the ritual paths followed by the Omondjagou, the majority ethnic group of the former kingdom of Dassa-Zoumé. In the hills, we have the opportunity to see fetishes, representations of the Vodun cult, and witness an Atingali Vodun ceremony.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: Guesthouse or hotel.
At sunrise, a photo session will be dedicated to portraits of the Batonu horsemen and their magnificently decorated horses. We will witness equestrian demonstrations by these riders, dressed in sumptuous ceremonial costumes—a regal encounter offering a fascinating glimpse into traditional power in West Africa.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: Guesthouse or local family.
Route to Cotonou. Possibility of taking the evening flight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Circuit services
Included
- Driver + vehicle + fuel
- Bilingual photographer guide (dedicated English-French)
- Entrance fees to sites and ceremonies
- Accommodation as mentioned
- Drinking water
- Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Round-trip transfers
Not included
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses,
- Tips for the driver and guide,
- Alcoholic beverages
Request a quote
Thanks to its expertise in the field and in Beninese culture, Vodoun Travel designs immersive tours and tailor-made expeditions for photographers , videographers , researchers and content creators … Get a quote for one of our expeditions by filling out the form below so that our team can contact you.
