Benin

Understand

Benin, known as Dahomey until 1960, was one of the few countries to transition from Marxist rule to a democratic system in the 1990s. The country enjoys an island of stability and provides a complex heritage, handful of spiritual traditions and endless tropical landscapes.

Get in

thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Benin, with countries in green having visa-free access, and in yellow are required to obtain electronic visa

Do

Whale watching Check out sea turtles Shop for artisanal goods and handicrafts Make your own pottery: While in Se (close to Gran Popo) visit for a refreshing drink at North Pole or Victoria Palace. US Peace Corps volunteers say Se is one of Benin's best kept travel secrets, where you can take a tour of the local pottery production and make your own pottery. Observe Christmas: Benin admires a joyful Christmas, celebrated by Christian denominations and adherent religious followers. Typical local festive observances includes outdoor performances and key mass ceremonies.

Buy

Prices for goods purchased in a store, restaurant, hotel, bus tickets, etc. are non-negotiable, but almost everything else is. Depending on the item, it's not uncommon for foreigners to be quoted a price that is double the final purchase price.

You can find any type of African commodity all over Benin.

Eat

thumb|Aloko (fried plantains) and fish in Cotonou In every city/village one will find street vendors selling anything from beans and rice to grilled chicken, goat and turkey. Prices are nominal. But one must be careful, always choose a vendor whose food is still hot, and they have taken care to keep the bowls covered with a lid or a cloth.

Signature dishes Kuli-Kuli Boulettes de Poulet avec Sauce Rouge (Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce)

Drink

The beer is cheap and good. Local pubs (buvettes) are on every corner in every neighborhood. You can get a bottle of local beer "La Béninoise", Heineken, Guinness, Castel and others depending on the bar. They all cost about CFA 250 for a small bottle or CFA 500 for a large bottle. In nightclubs beer is excessively expensive, around CFA 30,000 a bottle. So stick to the local pubs, or avoid buying beer at the nightclub. There is also the local vin de palme (palm wine), an alcoholic beverage that is made from the sap of the palm tree. A fermented palm liquor (Sodabi) is also available, it costs about CFA 2000 for a litre and it is very strong.

Sleep

Benin's sleeping habit is a vast contrast compared to Westerners. While most rise before dawn, they all work until 12:30, when most take a 2½ hour siesta. Then it's back to work for 3 hours.

Depending on how far they've commuted to work, most are back home by 19:00. The next 3 hours are consumed by preparing dinner, TV, dancing or mingling with friends and neighbours. Then it's time for bed around 22:00.

Stay safe

The best way to stay safe in Benin is to always always always be in the presence of a local person whom you can trust, such as a friend or even a hired tourist guide. They know which areas are safe and which are not, they know the prices of things so you won't get ripped off, they speak the native languages, they know which venues sell good food that is safe for westerners to eat.

For women, avoid travelling alone, try to be in the company of other people as much as possible. Do not travel at night alone: attacks along the beaches are frequent, and of course near hotels, nightclubs and other venues. Ignore any person who whistles at you during the night if you are alone. Benin is a peaceful country and the people are very kind and generous, but muggings and robberies occur everywhere, no matter how peaceful the place seems, so be on guard. If you are a victim of a crime, contact the Gendarme (Police) immediately.

Stay healthy

Watch what you eat/drink and where you eat/drink it. If you are going to eat street food, make sure it is served very very hot, since bacteria will not live in hot food. The most common causes of sickness is E.coli bacteria found in undercooked meat.

Drinking water is readily available, if you want bottled water there is "Possatome"- a natural spring water bottled in the city with the same name. It is very good and about CFA 500 a bottle. In Cotonou, the tap water is safe to drink but is treated with chlorine which some people may be sensitive to.

Malaria is a reality in Benin. Mosquitoes appear from dusk to dawn, and they use standing water as a breeding ground. Medications are available by prescription only. The only compulsory vaccination needed to enter the country is against Yellow Fever. The customs agents at the airport generally do not check to see if you have it, but it is strongly advised to get it before entering for your own health. Along with vaccines against polio, hepatitis A and B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus, Rabies and all the other standard childhood vaccines.

AIDS is an issue in Benin as in all sub-Saharan African countries; use of a condom is highly recommended if entering into a sexual relationship with a Beninese partner. Other risks pertaining to unprotected sex are the same as in any other country whether developed or not: Syphilis, Chlamydia, HPV, etc.

If visiting Benin it is highly recommended that you speak to a doctor who specialises in t…