Experience Sahara and West Africa with us!
Benin, famous for its slave trade, is bathed in the hot West African sun and the waves are crashing against the shoreline of a country on the edge of the Gulf of Guinea. Here tourists are introduced to the ancient Vodun religion, also known as Voodoo in the West.
See our travel suggestions below and contact us if you are interested or need more information about travelling in Benin. It is also easy to combine a trip to Benin with a visit to Togo, Ghana, Nigeria and Niger.
Kameli Travel organises trips to Benin – whether you want to experience the economic hub of Cotonou on coast of the Gulf of Guinea and the idyllic capital of Porto-Novo alone, or continue north to explore ancient kingdoms and their castles in places like Abomey. Or spend a leisurely beach holiday in the village of Grand-Popo on the Gulf of Guinea, meeting super friendly locals and witness Vodun religion with your own eyes.
We can arrange a professional guide and transport services for you or your group, and book your preferred level of accommodation. However, if you wish to travel by public transport, we can arrange for a guide to accompany you on these as well.
Contact us if you are interested, need more information about travelling to Benin or already know where you would like to go in Benin. Or let us know when and let us make a suggestion. It is also easy to combine a trip to Benin with a visit to Togo, Ghana, Nigeria and Niger.
We are organising a guided small group trip in January-February 2025 to Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin, from 28 Jan to 13 Feb 2025. This trip can also take place at other times:
The Grand Tour of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin, 28 Jan–13 Feb 2025
Day 1 - 28 Jan 2025 | Arrival in Ouagadougou, where we will stay overnight
Day 2 - 29 Jan 2025 | Visit to the crocodile lake of Bazoulé and city tour of Ouagadougou, where we stay overnight
Day 3 - 30 Jan 2025 | From Ouagadougou to Tiébélé
Day 4 - 31 Jan 2025 | From Tiébélé to Tengzug in Ghana and on to Tamale
Days 5–6 - 1-2 Feb 2025 | Kumasi and Akwasidae Festival
Day 7 - 3 Feb 2025 | Journey to Cape Coast and Elmina Castles on the coast of Ghana
Day 8 - 4 Feb 2025 | Journey to Accra
Day 9 - 5 Feb 2025 | From Accra to Togoville village in Togo
Day 10 - 6 Feb 2025 | From Togoville via Akodessewa fetish market to Atakpamé
Day 11 - 7 Feb 2025 | From Atakpamé to Koutammakou
Day 12 - 8 Feb 2025 | From Koutammakou to Boukoumbé in Benin and on to Natitingou
Day 13 - 9 Feb 2025 | From Natitingou via Tanéka Koko to Dassa-Zoumé
Day 14 - 10 Feb 2025 | From Dassa-Zoumé via Abomey to Porto-Novo
Day 15 - 11 Feb 2025 | From Porto-Novo via Ouidah to Grand-Popo
Day 16 - 12 Feb 2025 | From Grand-Popo to Cotonou
Day 17 - 13 Feb 2025 | Visit to Ganvié village, city tour of Cotonou and transfer to the airport
The Grand Tour of Benin and Togo, 14 days:
Day 1 | Arrival in Cotonou, where we stay overnight
Day 2 | City tour in Cotonou and visit to Ganvié, night in Cotonou
Day 3 | From Cotonou to Abomey, where we stay overnight
Day 4 | From Abomey to Djougou, where we stay overnight
Day 5 | From Djougou via Tanéka Koko to Natitingou, where we stay overnight
Day 6 | From Natitingou to Koutagou and Boukoumbé, where we stay overnight
Day 7 | From Boukoumbé to the Togo side to Koutammakou, or the lands of the Betammaribe people, and on to Kara, where we stay overnight
Day 8 | From Kara to Atakpamé, where we stay overnight
Day 9 | From Atakpamé to Kpalimé, where we stay overnight
Day 10 | From Kpalimé via Mont Agou to Lomé, where we stay overnight
Day 11 | Lomé city tour, night in Lomé
Day 12 | From Lomé to the Benin side to Grand-Popo, where we stay overnight
Day 13 | From Grand-Popo to Ouidah, where we stay overnight
Day 14 | Return to Cotonou and transfer to the airport
Highlights of Southern Benin, 6 days:
Day 1 | Arrival in Cotonou, where we stay overnight
Day 2 | City tour in Cotonou and visit to Ganvié, night in Cotonou
Day 3 | From Cotonou to Ouidah, where we stay overnight
Day 3 | From Ouidah to Grand-Popo, where we stay overnight
Day 5 | From Grand-Popo to Possotomè, where we stay overnight
Day 6 | Return to Cotonou and transfer to the airport
Benin covers an area of 114 763 km². The country has a population of 13.4 million and its capital is Porto-Novo. The country gained independence from French rule in 1960 and, as a colonial legacy, the official language is French. English is poorly spoken. The people make their living from agriculture, and the country also has mineral resources. Tourism is still relatively low, but growing.
Climate: Benin's climate is tropical. In the south of the country, the rainy season lasts from mid-March to mid-July and again from mid-September to mid-November. During the rest of the year, the south enjoys a dry season. Average annual temperatures in the south are fairly constant - between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius – and humidity remains high throughout the year. In northern Benin, the rainy season lasts from May to September, with most of the rainfall occurring in August. Dry and hot harmattan winds blow in the north from December to March, gradually raising temperatures with March being the hottest month. Temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius can be recorded in the north.
Security: Benin is a safe country to visit, but in large crowds it's a good idea to beware of pickpockets. Do not travel to the border area with Burkina Faso. There are strong currents off Benin, so swimming should be avoided.
Visa: With the exception of some African nationalities, visas are required for everyone. Benin visas are not available at the borders, but you can get an e-visa, which must be applied for and paid for in advance by credit card on the official e-Visa website. The e-visa application must be submitted at least 7 days before the intended date of arrival. Please note that visa policies and prices are subject to change without notice. Passports must be valid for 3 months after travel.
Currency: Benin uses the West African CFA franc (XOF) as its currency, which is pegged to the euro. One euro is worth around 656 francs. You should take euro banknotes with you and exchange them on arrival or withdraw cash from an ATM.
Vaccinations and malaria: Benin requires a certificate of yellow fever vaccination. In addition, hepatitis a and b vaccinations are recommended. Please ensure that your basic vaccinations are up to date. Malaria is prevalent in Benin throughout the year, so anti-malaria medication is recommended.
Travel insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.
