Regional Center Songhaï — Local services in Ouémé Department

We came here for cheap accommodation and to experience a positive and innovative agriculture project, we found neither.

When we arrived with our backpacks at 9 pm after traveling all day, we were informed that there were no 5-6,000 franc rooms left. We had to pay 13,000 (nearly 30 canadian dollars) for our room. It had a/c but that’s it. We paid 5,000 the previous night for a room that was just as nice in Ouidah. The room was nice and comfortable but absolutely nothing special. We (2 people) ate a vegan dinner for under 3,000 francs together which was nice. Breakfast was also cheap and tasty (1,500 each) and they brought us extra bread and coffee for free.

At around 10:45AM we met a guide for a tour of the facilities, and this is where the disappointment really kicked in. They only have French guides btw. Yes, this place grows almost everything it needs, yes they compost and encourage recycling, yes they have a cool bio-fuel and bio-gas thing going on, but otherwise it’s just a factory farm! There are all kinds of animals packed into small, dirty spaces to be exploited. This includes a heard of ostriches that are just there to be gawked at. We actually saw an employee frightening the ostriches by charging at them with a shovel from outside their small cage. Not cool. There were people roughly swinging around hands full of upside down birds all over the property. Even if you don’t care about animal well being, this place is nothing special. It is just a money grab. We planned to stay for a few days, but after everything we saw we were not interested in supporting the operation further. Not to mention, the wifi does not work. I’m surprised that so many people liked this place, we were so let down by it. Really people, it’s just an industrial farm. We are all ashamed of the factory farms in the West, why do tourists like this?? What spell are y’all under? Maybe it’s the chance to look at all of the plants in a place with so much deforestation? I could see why it might be interesting to those who don’t know anything at all about farming and agriculture, in that case, you will learn a lot. But as someone who does, this is nothing special and...

Do not miss this review !!!!

This place is wonderful I do know that the Director of this place has put hard work for the longest time up till now he fights everyday to sustain this wonderful environmental place which is a role model for other Africans that you may start from nowhere and become someone like this wonderful man who has provided affordable and good quality foods such as bread, eggs, milk, yogurt and so much more good ingredients gotten from their natural resources in this center and you should all go visit it and think of the positive effects he has on Africa and if any bad experiences not their fault put yourself in their shoes we all don't know the experiences of taking care and revolutionizing such a big center people may have made it a bad experience for some but not this hard work put in for so many years so do not put a bad review on this peoples dreams brought to life and you thinking you giving them a bad review would make them feel bad well your wrong because they are still happy they accomplished it and have made an experience for you one of a kind so be more appreciative an respectful of others during this hard time especially and with bad economy as well.

He as well gave home to so many animals as well so be remarkably of positive impact instead of...

Centre Songhai has become over the years, the African Mecca for all who love agribusiness and want to learn hands on. Founded by Nigerian Father Godfrey Nzamujo, this village is a zoo, agri farm, fish farm, biogas generation center, solar energy promoter, skin and personal care manufacturer... This centre is breathtaking and humbling, it blows your mind about the creative genius of human mind. There's a restaurant on the premises, offering excellent gastronomy at incredibly affordable prices. Another one of my A+ places to visit in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic,...