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Travelling to Benin: what to know before you go

Benin is a narrow West African country stretching north from a palm-lined Atlantic coast to savannah and national parks on the edge of the Sahel. It was the heart of the Kingdom of Dahomey and is the birthplace of Vodun, which remains a living religion. It suits travellers interested in history, culture and wildlife who are comfortable with basic tourist infrastructure.

Where to go

• Ouidah. A coastal town that was a major port of the Atlantic slave trade.
• Ganvié. A large village built on stilts in Lake Nokoué, north of Cotonou, where houses, markets and schools stand above the water and daily life is carried out by pirogue.
• The Royal Palaces of Abomey. The former capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey has a complex of royal palaces listed by UNESCO, with bas-reliefs that record the kingdom's history and the reigns of its kings.
• Pendjari National Park. Part of a large protected area in the north-west, shared with Burkina Faso and Niger, with elephants, buffalo, antelope, hippos and one of West Africa's remaining lion populations.

Best time to visit

The dry season from November to March is the best time to visit, especially for wildlife in the north, though the harmattan wind can bring dusty, hazy skies from December to February. The south has two rainy seasons, roughly April to July and September to October, while the north has one long rainy season from about May to October.

Staying online in Benin

Mobile coverage with 4G is good in Cotonou, Porto-Novo and the larger towns, and generally available along the main roads. It becomes patchy in rural areas and in the national parks of the north, where there may be no signal at all. Wi-Fi is available in mid-range hotels and some cafés in Cotonou but can be slow. Download offline maps, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.