Mangrove islands
Birds above.
Afolabi LADIKPO — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Afolabi LADIKPO — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Afolabi LADIKPO — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Padonou Dotou — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rachad sanoussi — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Ahémé is a broad lake in south-west Benin, covering about 78 square kilometres and up to 100 in the rainy season. The Couffo River feeds it, and its water then runs south through channels to the Grand-Popo lagoon and the ocean. The villages on its shores live from fishing and farming, and it is a quiet place away from the busy coast. Fishermen here use acadja, enclosures of branches planted in the water to gather fish. The method is less widespread here than on Lake Nokoué because of the shallow beds. The Beninese singer GG Vikey released a well-known song in 1963 called «On Lake Ahémé». You see calm brown water and small islands of dense mangrove with birds flying above. Palms and grasses line the shore, and fish traps of sticks rise from the water. At the village of Guézin a long bridge with red and white railings crosses an arm of the lake. The colour of the water shifts with the clouds and the light. It is about 19 km from Ouidah in a straight line. You can hire a boat with a fisherman to explore, so agree the price first. Ask for a life jacket. Do not photograph people without permission.
Birds above.
Sticks in the water.
Red and white rails.
West of Ouidah, south-west Benin
Yes, with a local fisherman at an agreed price.
Yes, from Ouidah or Cotonou.