"WONDERFUL BENIN in AFRICA" Benin by nygaston
Benin Travel Guide: 446 reviews and 1,752 photos
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:Beautiful country, friendly people
Reviews (15)
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 Cotonoutheater 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
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Comments (49)
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.
Beautiful page. Very interesting. This must be a great experience :)
What a fascinating journey this must have been Tom. Really enjoyed your travelogue too. A Bientot mon ami.
thanks for sharing the great tips. benin surely looks like a nice place to visit!
Great photos and travelogue.
wow...a great country and pictures too!
great t'logue - I liked your pictures and descriptions
Very interesting trip!! Quite an adventure!!
U make Benin come alive w/ ur wonderful pictures - Great insights!
Interesting destination. Never would go without you.