Benin : Why go there?
Benin : The good reasons to go
Villages and rural life
In Benin, discovering the villages is an essential part of getting to know the soul of the country.
Go for a real adventure
Itineraries are not marked everywhere, and adventure is always just around the corner.
Going back in time
From the rulers of the Dahomey kingdom to the slave trade, this is a poignant story.
The welcome and the smiles
Don't hesitate to go and meet people, smiles and long discussions guaranteed!
Traditions well present
Everywhere, the Beninese are attached to traditions, history and their elders.
A mixed population
Some fifty ethnic groups make the population a symbol of diversity.
The cradle of vodun
This is where you can try to unlock the secrets of this traditional religion.
The diversity of nature
From the sea to the mountains, from the savannah to the palm groves, nature is everywhere and manifold.
Political stability of the country
Despite some upheavals, presidents succeed one another and democracy reigns.
A dynamic country
Roads, museums, large-scale cultural projects, festivals... Benin is on the move!
Benin : Good to know to visit
Timetable
To discover the country's forests and parks, it's best to get up at the crack of dawn to explore nature and maximize your chances of observing wildlife. As for the country's few museums, they are generally open from Monday to Saturday, and even on Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To be booked
You can visit all the country's museums without a reservation, although it's advisable to have a guide (and therefore a visit planned with an agency) to get the most out of your visit.
Budget & Tips
In Benin, there are no free passes of any kind. In any case, prices rarely soar... However, traveling with an incoming agency, and therefore a guide and driver, will always save you a few "extras" at checkout...
Guided tours
Incoming agencies, which hire only locals to guide tours, are the best way to discover the country. In particular, in a northern agency, local guides will show you the Atacora and the tata somba. As in the South, where the guides in Ouidah or Ganvié generally come from the region. In short, this is the best way to soak up the sites, especially as the guides will always have the right address for a truly local break.
Tourist traps
Some locals may act as guides to make a little money. Make sure that the person is trustworthy.
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Benin : Discover
Benin is a small country that seems to have everything Africa has to offer. First and foremost, it's the cradle of vodoun (voodoo), the traditional religion that crossed the Atlantic with the slaves. Benin is also home to Ouidah, one of the African ports that saw the most men leave in chains for the New World, and also boasts some fine examples of Afro-Brazilian architecture... The former Kingdom of Dahomey has a rich history, which you'll want to discover by following the trails that cut through a wide variety of natural landscapes, from the Atlantic coast to the Sahel, via the Atacora mountain range. It's also home to the Parc de la Pendjari, a UNESCO-listed sanctuary for African wildlife (still closed for security reasons in summer 2024), Lake Ahémé and its fishermen, and immense sandy beaches for a refreshing siesta after a grilled fish.
