"WONDERFUL BENIN in AFRICA" Benin by nygaston

Benin Travel Guide: 446 reviews and 1,752 photos

BENIN is so BEAUTIFUL

I like mostly the people and culture. it is another world , it is another planet !!!

Please, Look at my travelogue.

As soon as I arrived in Cotonou, I knew I was in another world, in Africa. it is the race in the airport, there is no rules; the airport is so small and the planes (Airbus 340) are so big, lots of passengers at the same time....

it is 7pm and the night is very dark here !

You can see a restaurant where they are preparing the meal.
This day, the ladies wanted to be in the picture,
it is quite rare.

The food is good and cheap if you want to eat a typical african food (less than $2.00 USD) ...

The people are kind, nice and always smiling.
it 's cool and relaxing. you need to experience that, if you are too bored of your confortable life ... ?

I would like to live in Africa (Mali, Niger...) for a while, so you could visit the travelogues...

NATITINGOU: we spent nearly 8 hours on the road from Cotonou with some rest in PARAKOU , a city with a huge market. Parakou is a nice city to stay for a rest. I met my friend Francisco (from Argentina). The sun is very hot...we visited the pretty little houses (tatasomba)

We arrived very tired in Natitingou and very dirty (sand, dust and Harmattan).
We ate couscous with chicken.

I walked in the streets of Natitingou during the night, it is currently the RAMADAN (November 2002), at 8pm men are in the mosque for the prayer (ladies are outside), they are oriented toward Arabia (LA MECQUE). Everybody is in the street, men, women, children, animals...lot of small shops in the streets.
We found a good hotel for 9000 CFA / night.

I had to made check the tires of the car, we met lot of animals on the road: goats, dogs, monkeys...

After 2 days, we came back toward Cotonou.
We stopped in ALLADA, a town for voodoo, I made an interview (movie) with an old man in the village "photo-télé". There is a market specilized for VOODOO purpose only. The temperature was so high.

Then we stopped in ABOMEY, a big town with art craft.
I was invited for a dinner in KIGALI (north of Cotonou), but I had to drive back in the night, it was very difficult and so dangerous.

After 2 days in Cotonou, we went to Puerto Nuevo near LAGOS (NIGERIA), I have an apointemnt with my friend BEN to visit a traditional village (VILLAGE ON WATER) by foot and by boat : a great adventure (I made a movie).

After 2 weeks in Bénin, I invited my friends in a vietnamese restaurant in Cotonou, just before leaving the country and we went to the outdoor pool, it was so nice for the sun was so hot.

I tried to meet my friend FADI atCofidis (he is from Lebenon) in Cotonou, but it was not possible.

The departure at the airport was quite amazinf (and funy); there is one line, but nobody want to respect the rules...in consequence, because of the chaos, the departure was posponed (one hour). it stopped at LAGOS for 1 hour to take somepassengers, the direction PARIS CDG (France): 6 hours.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful country, friendly people

Last visit to Benin: Dec 2001
Intro Updated Aug 2, 2003
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Reviews (15)

on the market, there is a lot... - Benin

on the market, there is a lot... Tourist Traps (1)

on the market, there is a lot of things to see (and to buy)... the prices are multiply by 4 or 10 sometimes if you are... more travel advice

the main danger is to travel... Warnings and Dangers (2)

the main danger is to travel by night by car or by bus in the cities and in the country there are some robers sometimes... more travel advice

Favorites (2)

The sun is sooooooo beautiful in Africa and so powerful that the earth sometimes takes the color from the sun and... more travel advice

in Cotonou
theater and movies... - Benin

in Cotonou
theater and movies... Nightlife (1)

in Cotonou theater and movies are very cheap - not good quality some bar with music . Picture : VILLAGE ON WATERS Try... more travel advice

Transportation (2)
See All BENIN - AIRPORTS
Hotels (1)
TATASOMBA.

HOTEL...
What to Pack (2)
See All Packing List
Off The Beaten Path (1)
there is a gas station here...

Travelogues (1)

Written Aug 2, 2003

21 photos

Benin and Mali

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Comments (49)

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aussirose Jan 25, 2009 at 6:52 PM

Great tip on a cooler bag for batteries, camera etc! I'm looking forward to visiting at the big 2011 Africa meet! :o) Cheers, Ann.
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evona Nov 27, 2004 at 9:26 AM

Beautiful page. Very interesting. This must be a great experience :)
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aussiedoug Nov 7, 2004 at 2:50 PM

What a fascinating journey this must have been Tom. Really enjoyed your travelogue too. A Bientot mon ami.
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thelittlevoice Aug 31, 2003 at 6:33 AM

thanks for sharing the great tips. benin surely looks like a nice place to visit!
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scrooge1947 May 19, 2003 at 12:28 AM

Great photos and travelogue.
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joks Mar 30, 2003 at 4:23 AM

wow...a great country and pictures too!
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lenoreva Mar 26, 2003 at 2:25 AM

great t'logue - I liked your pictures and descriptions
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herzog63 Dec 15, 2002 at 10:01 AM

Very interesting trip!! Quite an adventure!!
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s_odyssey Dec 11, 2002 at 10:01 PM

U make Benin come alive w/ ur wonderful pictures - Great insights!
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thinking Sep 17, 2002 at 11:22 AM

Interesting destination. Never would go without you.