Visiting Benin

Essential stops

• Ouidah — the Slave Route, the Door of No Return and the Temple of Pythons.
• Abomey — the Royal Palaces of Dahomey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Ganvié — the "Venice of Africa", a stilt village on Lake Nokoué.
• Porto-Novo — the political capital and its Afro-Brazilian architecture.
• Pendjari National Park — one of West Africa's last wildlife sanctuaries.
• The Tata Somba — fortified dwellings of the Atacora.

Entry formalities

The entry visa is obtained exclusively online at evisa.gouv.bj. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.

Health

Yellow fever vaccination is required on entry. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended: consult your doctor before departure.

When to go

The main dry season, from November to February, is the most favourable period. The vodun festival on 10 January is a cultural highlight.