Benin is located in West Africa in the tropical zone between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer (between 6°30' and 12°30' north latitude and 1° and 30°40' east longitude). It is bordered by:

• the north by the Republic of Niger over 277 km with 120 km delimited by the Niger River;
• the northwest by Burkina Faso (over 386 km);
• the west by Togo (over 651 km),
• the east by Nigeria (over 809 km);
• and the south by the Atlantic Ocean (over 121 km).

From north to south, it extends over 700 km; the width varies from 125 km (along the coast) to 325 km (at the latitude of Tanguiéta-Ségbana). The country is quite flat. Five (05) natural regions can be distinguished:

• A coastal belt, low and sandy, bordered by lagoons (coconut groves);
• A central plain, rolling and monotonous, which gradually rises from 200 to 400 m from south to north around Nikki then descends to the Niger valley and the Kandi basin. The Kandi basin in the northeast presents itself as a plain drained by the Sota river and its tributaries which flow through very open valleys;
• The Atacora chain in the northwest, where the country's highest point is located, Mount Aledjo (658m);
• The vast Gourma plain in the extreme northwest, between the Atacora and the border with Burkina Faso and Togo.
• Humid savanna occupies the majority of the country. A few pockets of primary forest remain in the South and Center. Crops, marshy areas and the immense palm grove of Lower Benin occupy the rest of the territory.

Climate Benin has two (02) types of climate: In the south, an equatorial climate with high humidity. Alternation of dry seasons (from November to March and from mid-July to mid-September) and rainy seasons (from April to mid-July and from mid-September to October). In the center and north, a tropical climate. A dry season from November to April and a rainy season from June to September. The harmattan, a hot and dry wind from the Sahara, blows across the entire country during the dry season. In Cotonou, temperatures have low amplitude: highs vary from 28 to 32°C and lows from 23 to 26°C. Annual rainfall in this city is 1245 mm. Benin's topography is relatively unaccidental and includes:

• a coastal region, low and sandy bordered by lagoons;
• a ferruginous clay plateau;
• a silico-clayey plateau, dotted with some undergrowth;
• in the northwest, the Atacora massif (800 meters);
• in the northeast, the Niger plains, silico-clayey and very fertile.

Waterways Several waterways cross the country. The Beninese basin of the Niger River which includes the rivers:

• the Mékrou: 480 km;
• the Alibori: 427 km;
• the Sota: 254 km;
• and the Pendjari.

The Volta basin which includes:

• the Pendjari (420 km);
• the Perma.

The Mono-Couffo basin which includes:

• the Couffo: a river of 190 km (of which 170 km in Benin), which flows into Lake Ahémé which itself flows into the Atlantic Ocean;
• the Mono: with its 500 km, it serves as a border between Benin and Togo on its lower course and then flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Ouémé basin: with its 608 km, the Ouémé flows into Lake Nokoué and uses the Lagos and Cotonou channels to communicate with the Atlantic Ocean. There are also several bodies of water in the south, namely:

• Lake Nokoué: 138 km²;
• Lake Ahémé: 78 km²;
• and the Porto-Novo lagoon: 35 km².

Vegetation and Wildlife Three (03) types of vegetation characterize Benin:

• wooded savanna in the Sudanese regions of the North;
• savanna in the Center with species such as Mahogany, Iroko, Samba;
• and forest in the South and Central Benin.

As for wildlife, two (02) national parks can be found in the North:

• Pendjari Park: 275,000 ha;
• "W" Park: 502,000 ha.

You can encounter elephants, buffalo, hippopotamuses, lions, cheetahs, caimans, antelopes, birds, monkeys, reptiles, leopards, insects, and more.