Travel Information Benin Cities

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Travel Information Benin Cities
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Ganvie

Occasionally tagged as the Venice of Africa, Ganvie, which is in Benin, is a large lagoon wherein different stilt houses and structures are being inhabited by the locals. Once in Ganvie, you will be amazed by how the locals do their daily routines on top of Lake Nokoue.

Ganvie is a four hundred year old town on top of a lagoon built by Africans to protect their tribe from getting enslaved by other tribes which were then present. Until now, the stilts are still being inhabited by locals and everything seen in normal towns are then made available in Ganvie.

Most of the locals live through fishing and tourism. However, some of the locals, especially the elders, are not that hospitable to tourists and they might find it quite rude once you start taking pictures of them or even their town without asking for their permission.

The main attraction in Ganvie is the town itself and how the locals conduct their everyday lives on top of a lagoon. The beauty of the town is also quite remarkable once you get on one of the boats and roam around the town. Restaurants and other buildings catering to tourists are also available in Ganvie, all of them accessible by boat.

Roaming around the town in a pirogue should be on top of your list of things to do so that you get to see everything about a town on top of a lagoon. Using a pirogue instead of a motorboat will take you quite longer when traveling, but it will be less noisy and more serene.
If you want to spend a few nights in Ganvie, hotels on top of stilts are available and are offered to tourists for a fair price. A good place to stay when planning to visit Ganvie is in Cotonou since most hotels available offer their tourists different packages for a tour in Ganvie via a motorboat.


Abomey The Royal Palaces

Amidst the monarchies of England and France in the 17th to 18th century, little has been known about the kingdoms and fiefdoms in Africa. But, if you get the chance to check out Benin in West Africa, you will find the center of one of the most powerful kingdoms in African history, the Royal Palaces of Abomey.

The Abomey Royal Palaces were constructed by the Fon people between the 17th and 19th centuries. These structures served as lavish dwellings to the twelve successive rulers of the kingdom of Abomey, formerly known as Dahomey. Because the Royal Palace was practically the seat of power in Abomey, it was protected by a mud wall with six guarded gates and surrounded by prickly acacias, a common method of defense in African strongholds. It’s rumored that the sturdiness of the mud walls are because they were made from the blood of human sacrifices to the tribe’s ancestors. During this period, the kings held absolute power over everything in Abomey, even its residents. They enjoyed a life of luxury and prosperity. However, in the 1890s, the Fon people were engaged in a war against the French. France eventually overcame the kingdom and destroyed most of the Royal Palaces of Abomey.

Just like the ones destroyed by the war, the two remaining palaces are simple brick houses with large courtyards. The main attractions for visitors are African artworks, called bas-reliefs, which are on display inside the compound. It is unfortunate that the harsh African weather is slowly contributing to the destruction of this World Heritage Site. Efforts have been extended to preserve the palace buildings, not only for the past they represent, but also for the cultural traditions that they help sustain.

Facts About Benin , Economics , People , Geography

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Facts About Benin , Economics , People , Geography
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Did you know- Soccer is the national sport in Benin. Like much of the developing world today, the French-speaking republic has not qualified for the FIFA World Cup. However, they qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, where finished 18th, ahead of Australia, Panama, Honduras, Egypt, Canada, and Switzerland. The best players were Abou Gariga Maiga and Razak Omotoyosssi ( who plays in Europe).

The Royal Palaces of Abomey

Did you know- Benin is a great destination in West Africa. The French-speaking country is famous for being home to the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a legacy of one of West Africa's most powerful kingdoms. There is so much evidence of Benin's ancient history, and here you can see tombs, sculptures, murals, and buildings. These palaces, Benin's most noteworthy scenery, were built in 1625. Historically, this place was home to the Kingdom of Abomey, which flourished from the 17th century to the 19th century. Aside from being one of the ancient wonders on the African mainland, it was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the French-speaking nation, a land with a number of historic sites. Modern-day Benin has its roots in the ancient Kingdom of Abomey. Later, it was a territory under France until 1960.

Democracy

Did you know- Tomas Boni Yayi is one of West Africa's most respected presidents. Under Yayi's leadership, Benin has been transformed into a new democratic state, where there are several political parties and a good human rights record. A good example of one of the world's poorest nations.

Geography

Did you know- Benin is located in West Africa, and surrounded by Nigeria (an oil-rich republic) in the east, by Niger (the world's poorest nation) and Burkina Faso (once called Upper Volta) in the north, by Togo (a French-speaking country) in the west, and by the Atlantic Ocean in the south. It has an area of 43,500 square miles (112,622 square kilometers). The country's official name is the Republic of Benin (former Dahomey). Geographically, it is made up mainly of valleys, plains, and wilderness.Meanwhile, Benin's capital Porto-Novo is the second largest city in population (over 200,000 people). In addition to the country's capital, other cities include Cotonu ( Benin's largest city), Djougou, Abomey-Calavi, Parakou, Bohicon, and Kandi, among others.

Economics

Did you know- The African republic over the last three decades has changed from a socialist economy to a free market system. Cotton is a key source of foreign exchange. It contributes more income to Benin's economy than any other single economic activity.

World-famous persons

Did you know- On the world stage, he African republic of Benin is well-known for its Royal Palaces and for the songs of Angelique Kidjo, who helped popularize African music in the United States and Europe. This daughter of Benin, a Grammy-Award winning singer, always will be remembered internationally for such songs as "Batonga", "Agolo", "Lombo", "Wombo", "We We" and "Adouma". Kidjo was born on July 14, 1960 in Ouidah, Benin.

United Nations

Did you know- On September 20, 1960, the African country became a member of the United Nations (and many of its specialized agencies). Sixteen years on, between 1976 and 1977, it served on the Council of Security of the United Nations for the first time.

Diplomatic Relations

Did you know- Benin --as large as Indiana and Hawaii together - has maintained good ties with Washington since the mid-1990s when the black republic became a multiparty democracy.

People

Did you know- This western African nation has a population of about 8.9 million people. The chief ethnic groups are the Fon, Adja, Bariba, and Yoruba. French is the official language.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women's rights, among them "History of the Women in America" and "Famous Americans."

Money Exchange for Benin -Services - Money

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Money Exchange for Benin -Services - Money
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Credit cards:

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted on a limited basis. Some banks may advance cash or visa cards.
Travellers cheques:

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros or Pounds Sterling.
Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1500-1700. Some banks may open on Saturday.
Currency restriction:

The import of local currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local currency is unlimited for EU residents; other nationalites must declare currency. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of XOF100,000.
Currency exchange:

Currency can be exchanged at banks and in major hotels.

Hemisphere: Northern

Continent: Africa

Location: In W Africa on Gulf of Guinea. Neighbors: Togo on W, Burkina Faso, Niger on N, Nigeria on E.

Area: 43,484 sq mi, 112,622 sq km

Form of Government: Multiparty republic with one legislative house (national Assembly 83)

Population: (2007) 8,079,000

Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 185.8, persons per sq km 71.7

Principal Language(s): French (official) Fon, Yoruba, tribal languages

Religions: Christian 43%, Muslim 24%, Vodoun 17%

Capital: Porto-Novo (official capital and seat of legislature)

Capital Population: 234,300

Capital Average Temperature: N/A

Major Cities: Cotonou 818,100, Parakou 227,900, Djougou 206,500, Abomey 126,800

Topography: Most of Benin is flat, and covered with dense vegetation. The coast is hot, humid and rainy.

Economy: G.D.P. $12.18 billion

G.D.P. per Capita: $ 1,500

Vital Statistics: Birth rate per 1,000 population (2006): 38.8 (world avg. 20.3) . Death rate per 1,000 population (2006); 12.2 (world avg. 8.6) Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman 2006) 5.20. Life expectancy at birth (2006) male 51.9 years; female 54.2 years

Government Website: www.gouv.bz

Health and Medical Information for Benin

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Health and Medical Information for Benin
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Medical facilities are limited, especially outside the major towns, and not all medicines are available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Food and drink:

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid all dairy products. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks:

Hepatitis E is widespread. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Hepatitis C occurs. Meningococcal meningitis is a risk, depending on the area and the time of year. Immunisation against hepatitis B, tuberculosis and meningococcal A and C is sometimes recommended. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. The hot, dusty, windy environmental conditions in November and December may exacerbate respiratory problems. HIV/AIDS is prevalent. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.

Short History Of Benin and Culture

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Short History Of Benin and Culture
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms. During the 13th century, the indigenous Edo people were run by a group of local chieftains. However, by the 15th century, a single ruler, known as the oba, had asserted control.

Under the dynasty established by Ewuare the Great, Benin's territory expanded to cover a region between the Niger river delta and what is now the Nigerian city of Lagos. The obas brought great prosperity and a highly organised state to Benin.

French takeover and colonisation came in 1872. In 1904, the territory was incorporated into French West Africa as Dahomey. On 4 December 1958, it became the République du Dahomey, self-governing within the French community and gained full independence from France on 1 August 1960.

A succession of military coups brought about many changes of government; the last of these brought to power Major Mathieu Kérékou. The new ruler, who was at the head of a regime professing strict Marxist-Leninist principles, remained in power until the beginning of the 1990s, when the Kérékou government introduced a new democratic constitution and held presidential and legislative elections.

Kérékou's principal opponent at the presidential poll and the ultimate victor was Prime Minister Nicéphore Soglo.

Benin was the first country in the 1990s to successfully effect the transition from dictatorship to a pluralistic political system.

Political newcomer Yayi Boni won the second round of presidential elections in March 2006, gaining more than 74% of the vote. His rival was the former parliamentary speaker, Adrien Houngbedji. Mathieu Kérékou, his predecessor, was barred by the constitution from running for a third term as he was over the age limit of 70. Benin's president heads the government, the state and the military and appoints members of the cabinet.

Benin Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details

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Benin Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details
Travel tips for your trip to Benin Hotel Maps Famous Places in Benin helps you to make your trip to Benin in the holiday a Splendid One

Wrap yourself in luxurious comforts and idyllic surroundings at the fabulous beachfront Benin Marina Hotel situated in Cotonou, Benin. Business and leisure guests can expect the best of both worlds as they are showered with top-class facilities and dedicated services all in the midst of awe-inspiring splendour.

Accommodation at Benin Marina Hotel consists of:

Unwind in Benin Marina Hotel's stunning rooms which include 200 guest rooms, 12 bungalows, 8 junior suites and 1 fabulous royal suite all offering either sea or city views. Fitted with a plush bathroom and decorated to an exceptional high standard, the rooms boast sumptuous beds dressed in the finest bedding and are further enhanced by exquisite soft furnishings and outstanding modern creature comforts. All of the rooms are equipped with DSTV, a direct telephone line, safe, air conditioning and a mini fridge guaranteeing an unforgettable relaxed stay.

Enjoy wonderful themed evenings around the spectacular swimming pool area and sip on a cocktail in the atmospheric bar which also present special karaoke evenings as entertainment. Tantalize your taste buds with scrumptious cuisine and delicious light snacks offered at Benin Marina Hotel's array of superb restaurants. The hotel offers outstanding conference facilities and a variety of corporate / meeting venues as well as an elegant ballroom for a special function or event.

Play a set of tennis or a game of golf at the 9-hole golf course, relax in the sauna and pamper yourself with a massage. Cool down in the dazzling pool which includes a children's pool or laze on the pristine private beach. Partake in guided tours to explore and discover the rich history and heritage of Benin and after a thrilling day of sights and sounds Benin Marina Hotel is just the place to sit back and soak up the unbelievable atmosphere and luxury.