BENIN

AFON GANDI A !

 

A country of tales and legends, going to Benin means going to discover many things. A country that stretches from north to south over some 800 km, which allows you to discover, even during a relatively short stay, different aspects of the country, its culture and its landscapes.

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION

 

1 flight per week between Congo and Benin

 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

 

Official language: French

Other languages spoken : Fon and Yoruba in southern Benin and six main tribal languages in the north

Business language(s) : English

Time difference :

Local time: GMT + 1
Eight hours more in Tokyo (time difference)

Info Diverse :

+229

Climate :

There are four seasons in Benin: Two wet seasons (February to May and September to December) and two dry seasons (May to September and December to January). However, it is rare to have average temperatures below 21°C.

The climate of the country, located in an intertropical zone, is generally hot and humid, with seasonal and geographical nuances linked to the latitude, the relief and the alternation of the seasons

Currency and Exchange Rate :

1 XOF = 0.0017 USD, 1 USD = 599.3896 XOF
1 XOF = 0.0015 EUR, 1 EUR = 655.9570 XOF

Currency exchange can be done in Banks and in most hotels.

 

Medical and Hospital Care :

ABOMEY

Abomey Hospital

COTONOU and its surroundings

PARAKOU

PORTO NOVO

• Amadiyya Hospital Porto Novo
• Louis Pasteur Clinic
• Djéregbé Hospital

HOLIDAYS TO REMEMBER

 

January 1st: New Year’s Day

January 10: Vodoun Festival

March 28 April 16 / 17 : Easter Monday

May 1st: Labor Day

16 May 16 / 5 June 17: Whit Monday

August 1st: National Day

August 15: Assumption Day

November 1st: All Saints’ Day

December 25: Christmas

Estimated variable date in September: Ramadan

Estimated variable date in November: Tabaski

 

 

TOURISM: 6 THINGS TO DO

 

 

Lagoons and beaches lined with coconut trees in the south, gentle hills planted with savannah trees in the center, arid mountains in the north … Benin offers an amazing summary of African landscapes.
But its richness is especially its immense cultural heritage, its varied traditions (a good forty ethnic groups), its dense and tumultuous history, well before the colonial presence.

ABOMEY

 

This city represents the origins of this country so rich with its kings, its Amazons, its royal administration which was very well organized.

Former seat of the powerful eponymous kingdom, a city which knew a golden age and whose history remains fascinating; numerous vestiges: royal palaces, colonial houses…

 

 

COTONOU

 

Between the handicraft market, the second-hand clothes at Missebo and the Tokpa market, Cotonou offers many hotels and bars. The Jammin Bar, known for its terrace and its food is a very friendly place. New York New York, an institution of Beninese dance not to be missed. Finally, for fans of reggae and jazz, the Yes Papa is a must for live music.

 

 NATITINGOU AND SOMBA Country

 

At the foot of a small mountain range, a pleasant town where several ethnic groups live together.

 

 OUIDAH

 

A mixed culture and architecture: Brazilian, Portuguese and colonial; a decaying historical heritage, with an outdated charm; land of Vodoun.

Every year, the Voodoo festival takes place on January 10th. Celebrated throughout the country, Ouidah is the epicenter. The city is then lined with numerous voodoo temples recognizable by their white flag, the color of the cult.

To attend ceremonies, you can ask the guides of the Portuguese Fort or of the sacred forest, or ask in advance in the travel agencies of Cotonou.

Don’t hesitate to visit the endless white sand beaches a few kilometers from the city.

 

PENDJARI PARK

 

One of the most remarkable tourist attractions of Benin and one of the most beautiful reserves of West Africa, where animals roam freely: elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles…

 

SPORTS FISHING

 

The coasts of the Gulf of Guinea are very rich in fish and are ideal for fishing. Several types of fishing are practiced depending on the region: casting, surf-casting, trolling, big game fishing. Those who are passionate about the reel or the rod as well as those who like fresh fish will be particularly welcome. You can find: swordfish, tuna, thiofs, captains, barracudas, jacks, hake…

 

More information for your trip to Benin by clicking here

 

THREE CULTURAL DAYS IN BENIN

 

COTONOU: The Zinsou foundation

PORTO NOVO: The Adandé ethnographic museum and the Songhai center

OUIDAH: The historical museum and the slave road (at the exit of the city)

ABOMEY: The palaces of the kings of Abomey