NATURA LUXURY LODGE OUIDAH
I recently had the most fun and relaxing weekend at this beautiful lakehouse. My mind has been set on making this trip ever since I saw pictures of the lakehouse sometime in 2019. Natura Luxury Lodge is a three-bedroom cabin located in Ouidah, Republic of Benin and it can accommodate up to six guests.
The Trip
Tha Globe Trotters planned this staycation and they did an amazing job. They came highly recommended by Remi of Abuja City Tourist. We started the road trip in a nice air-conditioned bus from Lagos at 7 am and the journey took about 6 hours. This is including the unnecessary, time-wasting antics of the immigration officers we met at several checkpoints while approaching the border. When we got to the border we changed some cash at the rate of ₦1000 to 1020 CFA.
The House
Natura Luxury Lodge is located a few kilometres away from Casa Del Papa resorts and a bit isolated from the busy parts of Ouidah. It is very eco-friendly and literally a home away from home. Fully equipped with a kitchenette, wifi, a neat bathroom, two toilets, a dining and living room, a beautiful patio overlooking the lake, and a bathtub in the masters’ bedroom. There is also a nice swimming pool outside.
This house is just as breathtaking as it looks in pictures – a very minimal design with luxe finishing and a serene environment. I loved the placement of furniture and the fact that it didn’t have any weird smell and everything was clean. The beauty of Natura Luxury Lodge will be best captured in a video so watch out for the vlog on my Youtube channel.
There is a watchman on the property which gives a sense of safety. The power supply was also very stable and we had hot water available at all times. Some activities you can engage in include swimming, kayaking, barbecuing, picnics, sip and paint (with your own supplies). I also observed that the whole house has mosquito nets and we weren’t really bothered by insects but it was quite terrible outside at night. There is no air conditioner in this house but there are fans in the rooms. It gets quite chilly at night so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Cost Breakdown
Firstly, to secure a spot in Tha Globe Trotters’ group, I paid ₦200,000. This covered transportation to and fro Lagos and within Ouidah, accommodation, border controls, breakfasts, and tours. The lake house currently goes for about ₦170,000 – ₦200,000 per night. Secondly, I spent about ₦100,000 on flights because I had to fly to Lagos from Abuja to join the group. At the border, I changed ₦20,000 for feeding and purchase of souvenirs. This should be more than enough except you intend to buy a lot of things. I’d advise you to factor in airport cab fares if you live outside Lagos and other miscellaneous expenses.
Overall, I had an amazing time and met some really cool people on this trip. I’d definitely recommend Natura Luxury Lodge to anyone looking to have a staycation in Ouidah.
