Benin

The birthplace of Vodun in West Africa, with diverse attractions including the Royal Palaces of Abomey, the Ouidah Slave Route and Pendjari National Park.

Benin lies on the northern shore of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, with a coastal lagoon plain in the south and savanna and the Atakora Mountains in the north. It is the land of the old Kingdom of Dahomey and the birthplace of Vodun, and the Royal Palaces of Abomey are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ouidah's Slave Route and Door of No Return record the history of the Atlantic slave trade, and the stilt village of Ganvié is also distinctive. In the north, Pendjari and W National Parks offer wildlife viewing. The dry season, November to March, is a good time to travel. Cotonou Airport is the main international gateway, and the constitutional capital is Porto-Novo.

Destinations

• Cotonou
• Ouidah
• Porto-Novo
• Abomey

Itineraries

• Southern Benin Loop: Palaces, Voodoo & Lagoons – Starting and ending in Cotonou, this loop covers the stilt village, Porto-Novo, Abomey, Grand-Popo, and Ouidah.
• Ghana, Togo & Benin Coastal Cultural Journey – Travel from Accra to Cotonou, connecting coastal castles, Ashanti heritage, Voodoo culture, and stilt villages.
• West African Coast: Lagos to Accra – Traverse four countries along the Gulf of Guinea, connecting slave trade heritage sites, Voodoo culture, and coastal ca…