Benin constitutes a long stretch of land perpendicular to the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It is the old Dahomey, the so-called road most traveled by Europeans from any Africa. Benin’s history may be rooted in the chain of kingdoms.
Benin is a conservative country and you should dress well and behave to respect their culture and not offend. I would suggest the best time to visit this place, regarding its climate, the idea is to visit the southern area from December to March and July/August, while the visiting time for the northern part of the country is from December to April.
If you are interested in exploring the history of Benin, an extraordinary and amazing museum is Abomey, known as the Royal City, the capital of Dan-Home, and known as the Old Kingdom. It has one of the most remarkable museums in Africa. Artists and craftsmen, weavers, jewelers, wood carvers, iron and brass workers are famous far beyond the borders of the Republic of Benin.
Tourists can also try to visit another museum, the Quidah, known as Whydah in English, the Museum City. Quidah shows the European invasion with the first Portuguese, English, Danish and French trading posts or fortresses. It is great to see and discover the remains of the old port from which the slaves were boarded and shipped to America. The upscale Porto Novo offers a good experience. This is the City of Three Names (Porto Novo, Hogbonou, Adjatche). It is the administrative capital of Benin, right in the middle of Yoruba land.
There are also important museums in this particular area, but the difference here is the Adjogan music that is prevalent in Porto-Novo. The style of music is played on an alounloun, a stick with attached metal rings that jingle to the beat of the stick. They say that the alounloun is descended from the staff of King Te-Agdanlin’s office. The music is played as a tribute and respect to the King and his ministers. It is also being used in the city’s Roman Catholic churches.
If you are a nature lover, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Benin is located in Natitiogou. This area has castle-type Tata-Sombas. There are also traditional huts of the Tanekas and other tribes in the north, home to the rich and varied fauna of the Pendjari and W National Parks. This is one of the highlights of visiting Benin and indeed all of West Africa. . You will discover numerous different species of birds, as well as different species of mammals, including baboons, lions, elephants, and water buffalo.
The Tanougou Falls, a natural waterfall, is also a famous attraction in Benin. If you want you can relax and swim a bit, the natural pools located at the base of the waterfall are refreshing and can be used free of charge. It is a natural treasure to enjoy. Kota Falls is also another attraction where you can get experience and get to know the natural beauty of Benin.
Ganvie is the only floating village in Africa built on stilts. It is the fishing village. There you can also see the lake market. Try to experience the motorboats or pirogues that are available for trips across the lake to Ganvie. During the trip there are Akadjas made of stakes and bushes in the shape of open circles or triangles stuck into the unplanted lake bed. By seeking shelter among the foliage, fish can be easily caught or kept for breeding.