| Reviews and photos of Benin attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Benin sightseeing. Map |
 | Benin Things To Do | Tips 61 - 70 of 74 |  |
 by jubbleguffLeave a Comment
|
Visiting Benin?
Read reviews about Benin Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 by jubbleguffLeave a Comment
|
 by seratonin
Have a look in Cotonou, Benin's biggest city. It lies between the ocean an a lagoon, and offers a wide range of the experiences of an african city. Like for excample the large market view on this picture.
Leave a Comment
|
Shop in the Grand Marché de Dantokpa
Located in Cotonou, the Grand Marché de Dantokpa is a popular area for tourists. Here you can buy a wide variety of items, ranging from blank cassettes, food and radios to monkey's testicles and voodoo love fetishes ;) Leave a Comment Address: Cotonou
|
 by jubbleguffLeave a Comment Address: Southern Benin, 32 miles West of Porto Novo
|
Visiting Benin?
Read reviews about Benin Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 by jubbleguffLeave a Comment Address: Southern Benin
|
I had just crossed the border with Togo where I visited the incredible fetish market of Lome and the witches, when I stopped in Grand Popo village in my way to Gauvin and the so called Venice of Benin.
As usual in Africa I observed the first rule to be welcome: I asked for Le Chef du village. He was an old man considered a Pope of the Animist religion. He even spoke German learnt when Benin, then called Dahomey, belonged to Germany.
I paid my respects wishing long life for his relatives and himself. He was so pleased to meet a foreigner that he organized for me a dance where a conical straw roof of a hut “danced” alone as if by magic. I noticed that the trick consisted in a diminutive pygmy that in a moment of noise of drums was slyly introduced into the conic roof through a false door. Being very tactful I said nothing and applauded with great enthusiasm like everybody else. After the dances I was invited to sleep in a hut. Next day I thanked Le Grand Popo and left to Gauvin. Leave a Comment Address: Grand Popo village
|
 | |  |
Lac Doukon is 109 km east of Cotonou. Here, visitors can see hippopotami, many species of birds and aquatic plants, and enjoy the daily life in an African village. Visitors will have the chance to explore the area by walking around the lake and taking traditional canoe. You will be able to find food and lodging in the city of Lokossa. Take the opportunity to discover our local cuisine like, le manioc pilé(pounded manioc), les poissons d’eau douce(ocean fish), and la viande d’aulacode(agouti or cane rat).
Lac Doukon is a small lake (25 ha) outside of Lokossa where a small family of Hippopotami live. This lake is unusual because of village and hippos living together and sharing the lake. Visitors will see villagers fishing, tending there gardens and crops and doing their laundry while hippo are not far off in the lake. Like other places conflict do exist between the two groups. Hippos destroy crops, damage fishing nets and cause traffic accidents. In many places throughout Benin hippos are highly valued for their nutritional and religious uses. However, here humans try to live together with these Pachydermes. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Pendjari National Park is in the far North West of Benin on the border with Burkina Faso over 600km from Cotonou. The nearest large town is Natitingou, 80km south.
The park was created in 1961 and made a UNESCO world biosphere site in 1986. It covers a total area of 2750 sq km and you can see a large variety of animals and birds, except for Giraffes and Zebras.
One of the most interesting features of the park are the “Mares” or waterholes which are completely natural and much larger than waterholes I have seen anywhere else – more like small lakes. There are 7 of them in the park and the animals congregate around them so they are excellent places for animal and bird viewing. Some of them have hides or covered viewing platforms with seats. Mare Bali is in the centre of the park and is the biggest.
This area is not the dry Savannah that you get in Southern and Eastern Africa. It is actually very wet with a lot of vegetation so the game viewing is a little more difficult. However, the Mares and the many roads allow good views of the animals. Our visit was mid March which is at the end of the dry season which starts in December. The park is closed from the end of April until the beginning of December as the roads get flooded by the rains.
You need a 4WD vehicle to visit the park. We had our own vehicle with a driver which we hired in Cotonou and used for the whole trip, but you can arrange hire of 4WDs in Natitingou at one of the travel agencies or at the Tata Somba Hotel which also runs the best lodge in the Pendjari park. On arrival you can get a guide at the ranger station, however ours didn’t speak any English which I think is the norm.
For more info and tips see my Tanguieta page. Directions: North from Natitingou past Tanguieta and Tanougou.Other Contact: Tata Somba hotel htsnati@yahoo.f
|
| | |
|
Botswana Tours
Luxury Southern African Tour. Botswana, Victoria Falls & Kruger! Hotels Cheap
Save up to 50% on Hotels and Now Get Our Best Price Guarantee. Cotonou Hotels
Compare cheap hotels in Cotonou Book now and save! Cotonou Hotels
Save Up To 50% on Hotels! Great Cotonou Hotel Deals at ORBITZ. JetBlue from Newark
Award-winning service, TV at every seat, lots of legroom & more. Sponsored Links
|
