Sitatunga Valley

The Vallée du Sitatunga runs behind the lagoon outside Cotonou, a mosaic of swamp, forest and floodplain that a community organisation manages as a reserve, and it takes its name from the sitatunga, the swamp antelope whose splayed hooves let it move through flooded ground. Mona monkeys, crocodiles and a long bird list use the valley, and it is worked by boat and on foot from a base near Calavi. The reserve was set up by a local association rather than by the state, and the fees collected go directly into running it and into the villages around.

What you actually see

• The sitatunga - the swamp antelope the valley is named for.
• The mona monkeys - the primates in the forest patches.
• The boat channels - the routes worked through the flooded ground.
• The community management - the local organisation running the reserve.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. Water levels are highest after the rains, from around August. Early morning is best for wildlife.

Honest expectations

Sitatunga sightings are uncommon and take patience. Facilities are basic and access needs arranging. Mosquitoes in the swamp are severe.

Nearby

Cotonou is southeast, and Ganvié is north on the lagoon.