Benin is the birthplace of voodoo, however there’s a lot extra to this West African nation, together with warrior ladies in historical kingdoms, sacred shrines to put your coronary heart’s deepest wishes, sprawling seashores, cities constructed on lakes, and a devastating historical past of the slave commerce – and that’s simply scratching the floor. Listed here are one of the best issues to do in Benin.
Make a want on the Dankoli Shrine
Voodoo obtained its begin in Benin, and among the best locations to know its apply is the Dankoli Shrine, a decaying heap of blood, bones, feathers, and bile with a tree stump at its middle. It is a fetish, which in voodoo is one thing imbued with non secular energy that is used as a talisman of types. Practitioners deal with the fetish as a web site of animal sacrifice whereas communing with the spirits believed to inhabit the area.
After the sacrifice is made, wood pegs are hammered into the 2 shrines, one male and one feminine, and also you make your request to the spirits. Subsequent, purple palm oil is poured on the hammered stake, and you’re taking a swig of a particular concoction to spit at it. Proceed the method 3 times whereas repeating your want in several areas of the shrine. After which, legend says, your want will come true.
Expertise it on: Ghana, Togo, & Benin: Castles, Coastlines and Voodoo Discoveries
Discover the fortress properties of Tata Somba
Benin’s structure provides a glimpse into the previous, particularly the Tata Somba homes within the north. The phrase “homes” feels inaccurate — they’re extra like fortresses, which is the interpretation of tata for the Somba individuals from Atacora in northern Benin. The mud partitions and conical thatch constructions are powerful and had been constructed to face up to enemies in addition to the weather. Youthful generations are choosing trendy properties, so conventional homes like these are dwindling — all of the extra cause to go to whereas they’re nonetheless within the Natitingou space.
See it for your self on: Togo and Benin: Native Markets, Koutammakou and Voodoo Traditions
Meet the nomadic Fulani individuals
The Fulani persons are a significant ethnic group from western Africa and the Sahara, they usually make up a good portion of the inhabitants of Benin. As much as 10 million Fulani are nomadic, residing pastorally off the land in simply constructed and deconstructed villages. These individuals have been following the identical traditions of fixed motion and residing in concord with the land for hundreds of years, and they’re one of many few remaining actually nomadic teams left on the planet.
Expertise it for your self on: West African Journey: Highlights of Ghana, Togo & Benin
Float round Ganvié
A singular factor to do in Benin is to go to the floating lake city of Ganvié. With properties and companies constructed on wood stilts, Ganvié feels prefer it was organically grown from the shallow waters of Lake Nokoué. With a inhabitants of about 30,000, it’s one of many largest lake villages in Africa. The individuals of Ganvié nonetheless journey primarily by boat, incomes it the nickname of the “Venice of Africa.”
The city’s historical past is fascinating. It was based as a refuge from the Seventeenth-century slave commerce as a result of a city in the midst of a lake made it tougher for slavers to seize individuals to promote to the Europeans. The title Ganvié interprets to “I used to be saved right here” within the Fon dialect.
See it for your self on: Ghana, Togo, & Benin: Castles, Coastlines and Voodoo Discoveries
Wander round Savalou
For insights into Benin’s historical past, the Musée de Savalou is a worthwhile go to, and it is full of historical artifacts and historic paperwork that attest to the world’s cultural significance. If you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to be on the town throughout the Gelede Competition (which doesn’t have a set date however somewhat takes place after the harvest), you’re in for a deal with. This conventional Yoruba celebration is a draw for individuals from everywhere in the world, because of the masked dancers, vivid costumes, and loud music.
For nature lovers, Savalou might be paradise. Loads of pure wonders, equivalent to waterfalls and forests, are inside driving distance. Seize some yovo doko (Beninese dessert) and make a picnic of it. The Tanougou Waterfall is magnificent, as are the Bohicon Domes, pure rock formations believed to have mystical significance.
Expertise it for your self on: West African Journey: Highlights of Ghana, Togo & Benin
Discover the coastal metropolis of Cotonou
Travellers can discover loads of issues to do in Cotonou, Benin’s largest metropolis, after arriving at its worldwide airport. Vivid blue water and sandy seashores are seen from nearly in every single place, however there’s extra to this metropolis than solar and sand. Dig into traditional Beninese cooking (Dahomey fish stew is a favorite) or discover flavours introduced in by Center Jap and Asian communities. Town is a cultural hub, with loads of murals adorning the partitions that commemorate pan-Africanism. You possibly can’t miss the statue (actually, it’s gigantic) of the fierce Amazons, warrior ladies who defended the Kingdom of Dahomey.
If you happen to’re round in December, the WeLoveYa Music Competition is a should for those who’re an Afrobeats fan. It options artists from throughout Africa and attracts crowds to Cotonou. For procuring, head to the Grand Marché du Dantokpa or the Artisanal Centre (Marcheé des Arts) for crafts and souvenirs. You may as well swing by the Voodoo Fetish Market, the place provides might be collected for rituals, equivalent to these at Dankoli Shrine.
Expertise it on: Togo and Benin: Native Markets, Koutammakou and Voodoo Traditions
Go to the royal residences at Abomey
No listing of issues to do in Benin is full with out acknowledging the unimaginable UNESCO World Heritage web site of the Royal Palaces of Abomey within the northern a part of the nation. Between 1625 and 1900, 12 successive kings dominated from right here. All of the kings (bar one) had their palaces inbuilt the identical space, serving as a relic of the now-vanished kingdom. Abomey was as soon as a busy capital for the Kingdom of Dahomey, which dominated for hundreds of years. The palaces aren’t nicely preserved, so going with a information helps you faucet into the tales of the dominion’s former glory.
See it for your self on: Togo and Benin: Native Markets, Koutammakou and Voodoo Traditions
Dive into historical past in Ouidah
Established within the 1600s, Ouidah, a small port city, turned a much bigger metropolis for a short while as the primary middle for the transatlantic slave commerce. The Slave Route (Route des Esclaves) is a 4km (2.5 mi) path that tracks the final steps enslaved individuals would have taken earlier than boarding the ships that forcibly despatched them to North America. The ultimate spot on the route is the Door of No Return, a bronze memorial arch that commemorates the final time on house soil for 12 million enslaved individuals.
Ouidah has turn out to be a well-liked vacationer vacation spot in Benin, with guests drawn each to the town’s distinct tradition in addition to its devastating previous. Ouidah is the ancestral house of the voodoo faith, with historic websites dotted all through the town, such because the Temple of Pythons, which as soon as housed a pit of writhing snakes that had been owned by the royal household. An enormous voodoo pageant takes place in Ouidah every January, and it’s an unforgettable expertise.
See it for your self on: Ghana, Togo, & Benin: Castles, Coastlines and Voodoo Discoveries
Get cultured in Porto-Novo
Because the second-largest metropolis and the capital of Benin, Porto-Novo stands beside Cotonou as essentially the most well-known and culturally important location in Benin. A central web site within the historical past of West Africa, Porto-Novo is a mosaic of the handfuls of cultures which have influenced the town’s distinctive character. It has seen French colonial rule, Portuguese mercantile rulers, and Yoruba monarchs, after which lastly turned the seat of energy for the Republic of Benin.
Right this moment, Porto-Novo is stuffed with inventive expression that embraces this range and historical past, with dozens of distinctive historic and cultural websites that honour Benin’s numerous inhabitants. The Musée Ethnographique de Porto-Novo is without doubt one of the hottest locations, celebrating the tales of native tribes. Due to the robust Christian and Islamic influences from France and Portugal, there’s additionally a various unfold of structure within the metropolis, together with the Grand Mosque and the Porto-Novo Cathedral.
Go on safari at Pendjari Nationwide Park
What would a visit to Africa be with out a safari? Whereas Benin has a wealthy and assorted cultural historical past, it additionally has spectacular pure websites the place you will get a take a look at a few of Africa’s most iconic animals. The largest and most well-known of those parks in Benin is Pendjari Nationwide Park, which types a part of the WAP Complicated, a three-country UNESCO World Heritage Website park system that is house to a few of the largest elephant, hippo, lion, and buffalo populations on the planet.
Reserving a recreation automobile and a driver information to take you thru the two,755-sq-km (1,064-sq-mi) park is a should, particularly contemplating that this conservation space is house to 90% of the remaining West African lion inhabitants and has the very best focus of elephants in Africa. Pendjari can also be a world-famous birdwatching vacation spot, and its tropical ecosystem implies that greater than 300 chicken species make their nests within the park.
