Whether you have no knowledge about Bénin and/or wish to prepare your Beninese adventure under the best conditions, find below a wealth of frequently asked questions about the land of Béhanzin!

How long does the Paris – Cotonou flight last?

The flight from Paris Charles de Gaule to the Beninese capital lasts on average 6 hours 30 minutes. It's worth noting that several airlines offer flights:

• Air France, nonstop to Cotonou
• Brussels Airlines, nonstop to Cotonou
• Royal Air Maroc, with a 4-hour stopover in Casablanca before reaching Cotonou
• Tunis Air, with a 2-hour stopover in Tunis before reaching Cotonou
• Turkish Airlines, with stopovers in Istanbul and Lomé before reaching Cotonou

However, if you have more flexibility, you can depart from other European cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Brussels, Milan… several options are available to you with the airlines mentioned above. We advise you to book your tickets fairly early, as flights fill up quickly during vacations, particularly from June to September.

What is the climate in Bénin?

The climate in Bénin, a small African country facing the Gulf of Guinea, is tropical, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season in summer, due to the African monsoon, which lasts from May to September in the far north, and from mid-March to October in the south. In the far south, the rainy season experiences a pause in August. Annual rainfall drops below 1,000 millimeters in the far north, where the dry season lasts nearly seven months, while in the rest of the country it ranges between 1,000 and 1,300 mm per year.

Winter, from November to January, is hot: in the north it is often scorching, with highs exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, while the coast is less warm, with highs around 31/32 degrees, but more humid, with some morning cloud cover.

In the center-north during winter, a desert wind may blow, the harmattan, which can fill the sky with dust and render it white, creating a characteristic haze in the early hours of the day.

Furthermore, nights are cool in the north, and sometimes even cold, so that temperature lows reach as low as 5 degrees. From January to May, the temperature rises further in the north, often reaching 40 degrees: in the north it is very hot in the W National Park, where temperatures can reach 45 degrees; it is very hot even in the Pendjari National Park, where, however, rains arrive a few weeks earlier, bringing some relief.

The best time to visit Bénin is from November to April: the air is dry and the weather is generally good. It is true that it is very hot during the day, especially in the north, but less so than from February to May. The wettest and most humid months are May and June on the coast, and July to September in the center-north.

When was Bénin founded and who is its founder?

In the eighteenth century, Allada and Ouidah were annexed. The Europeans developed forts along the coast as military bases in order to impose military threats on the coastal ethnicities to supply them with slaves.

In 1863, King Toffa of Porto-Novo, seeking help to secure his kingdom, signs a protectorate with France. The same year, Glèlè, king of Abomey, allows the French to establish themselves in Cotonou. Gradually the kingdoms ceased to be autonomous and were merged into a unified territory divided into circles managed by administrators and cantons.

On June 22, 1894, France created the Dahomey colony. The main politicians of Dahomey at that time were Sourou Migan Apithy, Emile Derlin Zinsou, and Hubert Maga.

Promulgated as a Republic on December 4, 1958, Dahomey elected Hubert Maga on July 26, 1960, who proclaimed its independence and achieved international sovereignty on August 1, 1960.

But on October 28, 1963, Colonel Christophe Soglo seized power, opening a rather turbulent and unstable period for Dahomey. This lasted until October 26, 1972, with Battalion Commander Mathieu Kérékou who took power by armed force and established a revolutionary military government.

The country then became the People's Republic of Bénin on November 30, 1975, and the Beninese Popular Revolutionary Party (PRPB) was created. A single-party system was established. A year earlier, the regime had already decreed Marxism-Leninism as the state doctrine. November 30 was declared a national holiday in place of August 1.

But since February 1990, the political situation in Bénin has become very stable and exemplary with the convening of a National Conference that repealed the existing Constitution with new institutions. Following the presidential election of March 24, 1991, Nicéphore Soglo replaced Mathieu Kérékou as President of the Republic and became the first Beninese president to serve a regular five-year term from April 4, 1991 to April 4, 1996.

But in April 1996, he had to step down following the presidential elections to Mathieu Kérékou, who would serve two terms until April 2006. A new President of the Republic was elected in April 2006, confirming the country's commitment to and respect for the Republic's institutions. This was Thomas Boni Yayi. He completed his two terms in April 2016.

Where is Bénin?

Bénin is located in West Africa in the tropical zone between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer (between parallels 6°30' and 12°30' North latitude and meridians 1° and 30°40' East longitude). It is bordered to the north by the Niger River, which separates it from the Republic of Niger; to the northwest by Burkina Faso; to the west by Togo; to the east by Nigeria; and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the capital of Bénin?

Porto-Novo is the capital of Bénin, located in the southern part of the country, near the Atlantic coast. It is the city par excellence of the Goun and Yoruba ethnicities and the Tori ethnic minority. In the Goun-gbe language, Porto-Novo is commonly called Xogbonou and Adjatchey by the Yoruba.

Can I use my phone?

The telephone network is highly developed throughout the country, where even in villages it is not uncommon to see men and women glued to their mobile phones. The two main telephone companies are Mtn Bénin and Etisalat Bénin. Therefore, you will have coverage not only in Cotonou, but also in the north of the country (Parakou, Djougou, Natitingou, etc.). You can visit the Mtn website for more details on available offers: www.mtn.bj

What is the most widely practiced religion in Bénin?

Animism remains the most popular, however a large part of the population practices the Christian faith and a small part is devoted to Islam.

What is the traditional dress of Beninese people?

Beninese people love the traditional "bomba" outfit, often worn at cultural events. However, many dress like Westerners, especially the younger generation.

Who is the President of Bénin?

The current president is Mr. Patrice Athanase Talon, who took office in 2016 for a five-year term.

How many inhabitants does Bénin have?

In July 2017, Bénin had 11.18 million inhabitants.

What is the longest river in the country?

The Ouémé is a river that flows through Bénin. It is by far the most important waterway in the country. The Ouémé originates in the Atacora mountain range in the northwest of Bénin, within the Atacora department. Its approximate length is 500 kilometers.

What type of government does Bénin have?

Bénin is a multiparty republic with a presidential system of government, where the president is both head of state and head of government.

What is the agriculture of Bénin?

Agriculture plays a predominant role in the economy and life of Beninese people. It is the primary source of employment for the active population, 41.1%. Cotton is by far the country's leading export product, along with cashew nuts and pineapple. Beninese agriculture also relies on cereals, corn, beans, peanuts, sorghum, and yams.

What are the important facts to remember about the country?

First African country to have organized a national conference of vital forces, first African country to opt for democracy.

What made Bénin famous?

Bénin is the birthplace of vodoun. This country is characterized by peaceful coexistence of religions. Birthplace of democracy in Africa, Bénin is a laboratory where other countries come to learn.

What is the currency of Bénin?

The CFA, shared with countries of the Uemoa.

EKAARO!

What is the unemployment rate in Bénin?

According to the report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of August 7, 2018, the youth unemployment rate is 2.4% in Bénin. The minimum wage is 40,000 CFA francs, or approximately €61.

What is the national anthem of Bénin?

The national anthem of the Republic of Bénin is the Aube Nouvelle (New Dawn). It was written and composed by Abbé Gilbert Jean Dagnon and adopted at the independence of the Republic of Dahomey in 1960.

What is the national sport in Bénin?

Football. The national team has already participated 3 times in the Africa Cup of Nations.

What are the traditional games of Bénin?

''Adji'' is a board game that shapes the mind and awakens intelligence. It is also a recreational system with a very dense mathematical foundation, consisting of mental calculations.

What is the most popular dish in Bénin?

Beninese cuisine is very varied with several recipes. Thus the main culinary dishes that are found fairly often are: pounded yam accompanied by peanut sauce (agou), white paste with vegetables (man tin jan), and black paste with sticky sauce (assrokoin). The preferred drink of Beninese people is local beer: Béninoise