Assagny National Park, Grand-Lahou

Went for a walk with the guide in this big forest; saw nothing. It’s an expensive trip and for me it wasn’t worth it. The trail gets pretty boggy so wear appropriate shoes. Oh and watch out for crocs (apparently) 🐊

We travelled to the park entering from the North. Upon arrival park rangers claimed we needed a pre-entry authorisation paper. They made a call and we waited an hour for someone (?) to make a 20 min drive to deliver this (which is fine). However, finally a guy shows up and it turns out he is our guide, wants paying for making the drive over (no we never saw any authorization paper, and why wasn't he at the park already if he's the guide? ) and after a lot of ifs and buts we pay him half of what he wants for the trip (5000 CFA), the entry fee of 10 000 CFA for 2 people and an additional 10 000 CFA for the guide (a total of 25 000 CFA). Once this is done we head into the park which is a transportation route. We don't see anything along this route but figure that's normal and hope to see a few animals once he takes us on smaller paths into the park. After 3km we get to an abandoned hotel and our guide says that's it and it's time to head back. We couldn't believe our ears?! We asked him to take us on other routes into the park and claimed no tourist visiting a national park wants to pay to be taking on a transportation route to an overgrown building. He claimed it was a government decision not to let tourists go deeper into the park which we completely felt was fabricated. He was incredibly nonchalant and we felt he had no interest in the wildlife or park. We understand that wildlife can be hard to spot but the least we wanted was to have the opportunity to experience the POSSIBILITY of this. In the end we gave up and walked back extremely disappointed. We only hope what we paid goes towards conservation of the park and not towards another of the "guides" tacky gold bracelets....

Brilliant

In the moires of June, I had the opportunity to go to this national park with friends. M Bini personally invited us to discover the place. You have to take the left lane just before Irobo, take a track to the entrance of the National Park and finally take 3km on a path surrounded by nature, greenery. And after 2h30 of road we arrived at the Bini domain of the Parc d'Azagny. The view is amazing, as it is located high up and surrounded by flora. You can go camping there or sleep in hard cabins (the power cuts at 10 p.m. because it is solar energy). The welcome was warm and the activities were diverse, boat trips, mountain biking in the forests, hammock in the middle of the lagoon, chill around the campfire. It offers all-inclusive accommodation + food + activities packages at around 70-90k mil per person. (To check) Amazing experience in an equally amazing place. As Zexplorers: I recommend.

Seen on the Park from the village of Amessaguessado.