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Area: 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles).
Population: 6,059,000 (official estimate 1999).
Population Density: 53.8 per sq km.
Capital: Porto Novo (administrative). Population: 200,000 (1994). (Cotonou is the economic capital with an estimated population of 750,000 in 1994.)
GEOGRAPHY: Benin is situated in West Africa and is bordered to the east by Nigeria, to the north by Niger and Burkina Faso, and to the west by Togo. Benin stretches 700km (435 miles) from the Bight of Benin to the Niger River. The coastal strip is sandy with coconut palms. Beyond the lagoons of Porto Novo, Nokoue, Ouidah and Grand Popo is a plateau rising gradually to the heights of the Atakora Mountains. From the highlands run two tributaries of the Niger, while southwards the Ouémé flows down to Nokoue lagoon. Mono River flows into the sea at Grand Popo and forms a frontier with Togo.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State and Government: President Mathieu Kérékou since 1996.
Language: The official language is French. However, many ethnic groups have their own languages: Bariba and Fulani are spoken in the north, Fon and Yoruba in the south. Some English is also spoken.
Religion: 35 per cent animist/traditional, 35 per cent Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) and the majority of the rest are Muslim.
Time: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine Franc - Currently 1 XOF = 0.0019 USD $
Climate: Benin has a tropical climate, more hot and humid in the south, and semiarid in the north. The dry season runs from December to April, and the wet from July to October. - Currently 79º, Mostly Cloudy. Back to top
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Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 229. Outgoing international code: 00. There is an additional charge for calls made from a coin box.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900 networks operated by Office des Postes et Telecommunications du Benin, Spacetel-Benin and Telecel Benin. GSM 900/1800 network operated by Bell Benin Communications (BBCOM). Handsets can be hired locally. Further information can be obtained from the Office des Postes et Télécommunications du Bénin (website: www.opt.bj).
Internet: OPT has just launched its own ISP (website: www.opt.bj). Public access is available in Cotonou.
Post: Airmail takes three to five days to reach Europe. Surface mail letters or parcels take from six to eight weeks. There are good Poste Restante facilities at most main post offices. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1400.
Press: La Nation is the daily official newspaper. Other dailies include: L'Aurore, L'Evenement and Le Matinal.
Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to top
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Porto-Novo: The capital of Benin is smaller and further inland than Cotonou and near the Nigerian border, helping to cement its political position. The Musée Éthnographique, the city’s oldest museum, and the da Silva Museum are both good ways of spending a morning, and after you enjoy lunchtime in the landscaped gardens of the Jardin Place Jean Bayol, go and see the Palais Royal, the former home of King Toffa.
Cotonou: Twenty miles to the west of Porto-Novo is Cotonou, which, although not the official capital, serves as the economic and main tourist stepping point. Spend your time shopping in the large Dantokpa market, with a large voodoo area, peruse the art collections in the Artisanal Center, and then make your way to Fidjrosse Beach to enjoy some surf and sun, and a lot of other tourists.
Ouidah: Ouidah has become a major destination in part because of the easy access of its port, and in part because of its rich culture. Considered the voodoo center of Benin, you can gain a historical perspective on the religion at the Musée d'Histoire de Ouidah, or enjoy a walk through the Sacred Forest and along the Route des Esclave, or the route the slaves were forced to walk to the ships hundreds of years ago. The beaches nearby are good to explore, as sacred statues line the way past some of the small villages along the Route.
Abomey: Two hours away from Cotonou is Abomey, once the seat of the Dahomeyan kingdom. You can still see the ruins of the Royal Palace of the Fon, which dates back into the 15th century and has a museum inside the surviving buildings, plus a marketplace with wooden carvings and masks, tapestries and sculptures. Back to top
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Local Customs: Locals value punctuality, a good handshake, and religion, including voodoo, Christianity and Islam. Voodoo, also known as vodun, in particular is taken seriously as an animistic religion, where worshippers seek the spirit in all things.
Cash On Hand: Avoid changing money at anywhere other than a bank, and you will find both credit cards and traveler’s checks have limited acceptance, so bring cash if you plan on a countrywide trek. Banks are open every weekday, but close for a long lunch between 11am and 3pm.
When To Visit: The best time to visit is during the drier season, avoiding some of the heat and humidity in the northern parts of the country, from December to late March, which coincides with several festivals, including the Voodoo Festival, held on the 10th of January in Ouidah, and Martyr’s Day, on the 16th of January in most of the major towns.
Tipping: Follow standard tipping rules for an additional 10% on top of your bill.
Security and Travel: Be particularly wary when traveling through the tourist areas in Cotonou, and check with authorities before traveling outside the capital, as travel is typically restricted and requires approval. Back to top
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