Sail Harbour trip to Bagadry

The Bight of Benin

Beware the Bight!!

On Sunday we went on an amazing trip with the Nigerian Field Society. We went down the Badagry Creek into the Bight of Benin to visit some very remote communities. For anyone who has ever read the Patrick O'Brian novels set in the Napoleonic wars featuring Lucky Jack Aubrey, the Bight of Benin raises some concerns. As they say in the novels, " Beware, beware the Bight of Benin, one comes out for when a thousand go in" The area is very treacherous for shipping and that matched to the swamps, mosquitos and yellow fever used to kills the sailors rapidly. It is an amazingly beautiful place, but unbelievable poverty. No fresh water, no electricity  some very unreliable generators) no medical care and schools with nothing. However,standing on the beach with fresh coconuts being sliced open with a machete was an unbelievable experience.
After meeting the headteacher I have organised a book fair and we are donating 350 books to the school this week.
We finished up in a super spot, a hotel made from containers and fully solar powered- what a fantastic day.
The journey by the speed boat was a bit hairy with the half submerged wrecks all along the coast, but the joy of being out of the city and being able to see much more of this wonderful country was fantastic.Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves to remember we are on a hardship posting.- and then you read about a couple of car jackings on the road to the airport and a shooting etc etc,.

The intrepid group

The boat had just come in and all the children had to help to get the small fish out of the nets.

private beach hut - rent it for N7000 a night (£28.00)

home after collecting coconuts and fish

Year 5 and 6 classroom for 60 children

new infant school but it is bare inside and no doors 

Headteachers together

water supply for over 300 people

centre of the village

Carl with fresh coconut

pineapple plantation

the fully eco friendly hotel