Benin Things to Do

  infront of hist.museum of d abomey with...
by hanspeter_W.
 
  • infront of hist.museum of d abomey with guide rose
      infront of hist.museum of d abomey with...
    by hanspeter_W.
  • craft village at historical museum of abomey
      craft village at historical museum of...
    by hanspeter_W.
  • sunset at lake doukon
      sunset at lake doukon
    by hanspeter_W.
  • sunset at lake doukon
      sunset at lake doukon
    by hanspeter_W.
  • ready to go on canoe to search for the hippos
      ready to go on canoe to search for the...
    by hanspeter_W.
 
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ganvie - the venice of africa

by hanspeter_W.

Ganvie in Benin (West Africa) is a unique village built on Lake Nokoué, just an hour north of the administrative capital and Benin's largest city, Cotonou. About 20,000 people live in Ganvie. It's commonly believed that the Tofinu people settled here around 400 years ago and built their lake village to escape slavers who came from the Fon tribe and were not allowed to fight in water for traditional reasons (or perhaps could not swim). Hence the Tofinu were safe to build their homes on the water. Ganvie is marketed as the "Venice of Africa", but that may be raising expectations a little high.

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visit hippos in lokossa at lake doukon

by hanspeter_W.

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...

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The Tata Sombas

by janiebaxter

The Tata Somba region is slightly South of Natitingou in the Atakora Hills. Here you will see the unique group of people called the SOMBA whose lifestyle is hardly touched by the modern world and who live in 3 storey houses called TATAS. The houses were originally built for defence purposes – against raids by the Dahomey slave traders and by neighbouring tribes. They are still built today and each man has to build his own Tata when he wants to marry and start a family. Traditionally if a son wanted to build his own Tata his father would shoot an arrow and the son would build his Tata where the arrow landed.Tatas are made from traditional mud bricks. The bricks are made from mud, grass and water in a mould then dried in the sun. There are many different variations on the Tata, depending on which village you visit. We visited Kouba The father sleeps on the ground floor in a separate room,...

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Pendjari National Park

by janiebaxter

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...

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Dassa Zoume Catholic Pilgrimage Site

by janiebaxter

Dassa Zoume is in Central Benin, North of Abomey and Bohicon and is on the route to the North so if you are travelling on a Sunday it is worth a stop to visit the Catholic sanctuary and pilgrimage site. There is a modern Basilica, built in 2002 and services are held outside so it is very busy with crowds stood under colourful awnings listening to the preachers. Behind the Basilica is the “Marial Grot,” which is a cave where the virgin Mary appeared. The hillside behind the Basilica and the Grot has 14 shrines which represent the stages of the crucifixion. More details Dassa Zoume

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Porto Novo

by janiebaxter

Porto Novo is actually the capital of Benin, but has been overtaken in size and population by Cotonou which is the commercial capital with the port and the airport. Porto Novo can be visited in a day from Cotonou as it is only 30 km and 45 minutes drive to the East close to the border with Nigeria. As prices in Benin are much higher than in Nigeria for most goods, there is plenty of trade in Nigerian goods here, particularly petrol.Things to do and see in Porto Novo include - KINGS PALACE MUSEUMThis is the old Palace of the Kings of Porto Novo who can be traced back from 1688 up until King Toffa signed the Palace over to the French in 1883 for protection against the Kings of Dahomey who would have sold the people as slaves. The last King lived here until the 1970's when it was opened as a museum. Every year a ceremony is held here in honour of the ancestors. The palace complex has a...

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Ganvie, Town on the Lake

by janiebaxter

Ganvie is another must-see on a visit to Benin. 25,000 people live permanently on Lake Nakoue in houses built on stilts. The whole life of the town is lived on and in the water and a trip to Ganvie is absolutely fascinating. The town was established here during the slave trade. The local King took advantage of a rule that states the Kings of Dahomey, who were capturing slaves, could not pursue their enemies over water as the Juju (magic) would work against them and also the lake was out of range of their guns. So the King took his people to safety and the town has stood on the Lake ever since.Boats depart from the Lakeside village of Abomey-Calavi which is a short drive from Cotonou. My trip was pre-booked and our motor boat was covered to protect us from the sun. We passed the many fish farms along the journey to Ganvie and many people coming and going from Ganvie to Abomey-Calavi to...

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Abomey – City of the Kings

by janiebaxter

Abomey is about 100km North of Cotonou and it takes under half a day to get there by car. The road is good all the way and you can stop at Allada, original home of the Dahomey (the old name for the Kingdom of Abomey) Kings, and Bohicon along the way. The name Dahomey was derived from French meaning "in the belly of Dan" because of the origins of the first king who was descended from Dan the serpent god, who is one the the most powerful and popular gods. The Dahomey kingdom became very powerful during the slave trade and the kings became very wealthy from selling their captives as slaves. Even before this they were well known and feared for their warlike natures and bloodthirsty tendencies. Considering it is such an important site, Abomey is surprisingly small and quiet. The main tourist attraction is the Palace of the Kings complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site where 12 of the Kings each...

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Ouidah - Slavery, Voodoo and Pythons

by janiebaxter

Ouidah is just 40km from Cotonou and the roads are very good so it is easy to get to. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Benin as it has a lot of history and there is much to see there - SLAVERYOuidah was the main port in West Africa for shipping slaves to the Americas. You can visit the Old Portugese slave Fort with its excellent museum, place Chacha where the slave auctions were held and where Don Francisco de Souza, the main slave trader in West Africa was based. The De Souza family home is still there. Then you can walk along the route the slaves took, past the Tree of Forgetfulness to the Door of No Return where they were put onto the ships. The history of slavery is well documented in Ouidah in the museum and the monuments and it is all very well laid out, although all signs are in French.VOODOOOuidah is a Voodoo stronghold and there is a yearly Voodoo Arts and Culture...

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Relax on the Beach at Grand Popo

by janiebaxter

Grand Popo is along the coast 85km from Cotonou and has an endless sandy beach which stretches all the way to Lome in Togo. The town is spread out along the road which runs parallel to the beach and is very quiet and laid back. It is a great place to relax and chill out for a few days by the sea.There is plenty to do in Grand Popo if you can be bothered to leave the beach and explore.The Old Town is between the river and the beach and was important during the slave trade but is now rundown and crumbling. It is great to walk around and look at the old buildings and watch the fishermen.The Mono river flows from Togo into the sea at Les Bouches Du Roi and you can take a boat trip along the river, visit a village where they make salt, explore the mangroves and spot all the Voodoo temples along the riverbank, as well as see some nice birds.You can even take a day trip to Lome in Togo which is...

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Fun things to do in Benin

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Reviews and photos of Benin attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Benin sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Benin
  1. Cotonou Things to Do
  2. Ouidah Things to Do
  3. Porto-Novo Things to Do
  4. Abomey Things to Do
  5. Natitingou Things to Do
  6. Grand-Popo Things to Do
  7. Ganvie Things to Do
  8. Tanguieta Things to Do
  9. Ouidah-Plage Things to Do
  10. Dassa-Zoume Things to Do

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Q:  I shall be travelling through Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso very soon. Any advice on what I should or should not wear... 

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A: Hi I am assuming from your VT name that you don't usually favour skimpy clothing? Well, just in case I am mistaken, this is not the part of the world to venture out in... 

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