"Natitingou: capital of an intriguing region" Natitingou by Bonobo2005

Natitingou Travel Guide: 21 reviews and 37 photos

Interesting homesteads and fetish shrines

Natitingou is a very friendly town in Northern Benin in the hills towards the border with Togo.

Travellers come to this somehow isolated area to visit the fortress-like homesteads of the Tata Somba tribe and the intriguing market of nearby Boukoumbe, to do some hiking in the Atakora mountains (that includes the highest peak in Benin), or to organise safaris to the Parc National de la Pendjari (open from December to April only).

Children of Natitingou posing

For me Natitingou was the first substantial town in Benin I came across, after I crossed the border from the Togolese Tamberma Valley (that is similar in culture and landscape) via Boukoumbé.

I stayed 3 nights in Natitingou and took it relatively easy. An excursion to nearby Kota Falls and a short hike in the hills were my only activities.
It was raining a lot every day, and before I got really fed up with it, I left Benin, stopping over in the town of Parakou, for the great journey up north, to Niger!!

Last visit to Natitingou: Sep 2003
Intro Updated Nov 21, 2003
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Reviews (8)

Nosy child disturbing my beautiful sunset pic! - Natitingou

Go uphill for sunset time Things to Do (8)

After the daytime rains, the sky usually clears up a bit and colours beautiful as the sun set. It is great to climb... more travel advice

It does mind where you urinate... Things to Do (8)

Sometimes it was hard to get around without basic French, but at other times the signs were quite obvious! When I... more travel advice

Moto taxi's Things to Do (8)

Like anywhere in Togo and Benin, mototaxi's are abundant in Natitingou. They are an excellent and cheap means to cover... more travel advice

Red cheese sellers along the road - Natitingou

Local red cheese, a "must taste" Things to Do (8)

More a "must taste" than a must see, on the way to / from Natitingou, some villages specialized in producing... more travel advice

Comments (12)

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SLLiew Jan 18, 2007 at 9:39 AM

Interesting Benin experience tips. I have not been to Benin but got a postcard from there today of a village that was fondly called "Venice of Africa".
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conry52 Sep 17, 2006 at 10:54 AM

The cheese is called Wagassi. It is made by the Pull/Fullani ethnic group. It is best in a peanut sauce with Pounded Yams.
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vesna04 Oct 25, 2005 at 10:57 AM

Another stuning page :)
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luddinra Apr 16, 2005 at 11:10 PM

Thank you for the wonderful photos! I'm looking forward to a visit to Kenya in Sept. 05 Thanks!!!!
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olja1234 Aug 15, 2004 at 1:13 PM

Superb page. I enjoyed it from the begining to the end. Thnak you.
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Sharrie Dec 19, 2003 at 3:55 AM

U introduced the red lake, now red cheese? :-))) what an amazing world!
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deecat Dec 10, 2003 at 3:55 AM

What an inviting style of writing you possess! Amazing photographs and language that engages the reader. Moto taxi sounds great as well as the cheese.
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SirRichard Dec 1, 2003 at 7:02 AM

Amazing place, I miss Africa so much! Here the main highlights use to be the people itself, right?
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Helga67 Nov 29, 2003 at 8:39 AM

Excellent page. Those Tata Somba houses are so different but nice.
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sachara Nov 22, 2003 at 9:08 PM

Wonderful place. A pity I will visit Benin only a few days this time. Wonderful page, pictures and writings, as usual !!!