Benin holiday advice

“Benin has a lot of wildlife – several of the Big Five live here, and you can see them in Pendjari National Park. Ghana just has elephants, so if you combine it with a trip to Benin you can see elephants, lions, cheetah, hippos… it’s a good way to combine the culture with wildlife. We usually spend two nights in Pendjari to have time to go on safaris. And at Ganvié you have the “Venice of Benin” – a village on stilts in the middle of a lake. It’s very authentic; the people you see there are just living their lives. You can stay in a hotel that is actually out in the middle of the lake, it’s totally unique, and one of the best experiences in Benin.”

Jim O’Brien, from our Benin supplier Native Eye, shares his Benin travel advice:

“There’s a really interesting fetish at in Savalou called the Dankoli fetish. It is the most powerful fetish in the whole country, so you get a lot of pilgrims coming there to make sacrifices. I don’t know what it was originally but so many people have made sacrifices here that it’s just this mound of blood and feathers and wax and just congealed, rotting matter that they pay homage to. Voodoo is the state religion; it doesn’t have the same connotations in Benin as Hollywood has given it. It’s almost like a fairytale world. I’m slightly in love with Benin!”

Petty crime and pickpocketing is the greatest threat in Benin, so take the usual precautions, don’t carry valuables and use a moneybelt. Avoid walking round the cities alone at night, and don’t walk along the beaches by yourself. Visitors should also be very vigilant in Cotonou and in particular in its Dantokpa market. Public transport is always a full on immersion into a new culture – but be aware that driving standards are poor, as is vehicle maintenance. If you are really keen to try Benin’s buses, take a short minibus ride around the city, rather than an intercity bus or taxi. The long, empty, sandy beaches are incredibly enticing, but the sea is rough with large waves, strong currents and dangerous undertows and riptides. Do not swim in the sea here. If you do happen to get caught in a riptide, swim parallel to shore and never against the current; most deaths occur when the victim exhausts themselves by trying to swim back to shore. Wait until you come out of the rip (and you will), then swim back. You generally won’t experience much hassle in Benin as tourism is still rare– but women in particular can reduce the amount of attention they get by wearing modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, at least. The more rural the community, the more conservative – so cover up as much as possible, even though it is hot. Loose scarves around the shoulders or sarongs are a good idea. Homosexuality is legal but still a taboo in many communities; same sex couples should act discretely. There is no British Embassy in Benin. Note down the contact details for the British High Commission in Accra, Ghana, should you require assistance while in West Africa.